Welcome back! Today we’re here to talk about another beneficial organism you may want to include in your pest control regimen, the mantis. Read on to learn more about you can use this predator can protect your plants.

Quick Look

Scientific Name: Tenodera sinensis
Common Name: Chinese Mantis/Praying Mantis
How They Help: Mantids are generalist predators that will eat nearly any pest that moves.

The stealthy mantis is a natural ambush predator you can include in your grow. As previously mentioned, they are a generalist predator meaning anything it can snatch and eat, it will. In fact, some larger species have been known to hunt and eat small vertebrates such as small reptiles, mice, hummingbirds, and even fish. We doubt you’ll encounter many Cannabis-hungry fish in your grow, but hey, now you know! The deadly mantis will go after a variety of pest species (listed below) with their barbed forelegs, waiting patiently until the unsuspecting pest gets too close, and that’s when they snatch it up with a lightning fast grab. Though there are several native species of mantis in the US, the species most commonly available for pest control is the Chinese Mantis, a species imported seventy-five years ago specifically for killing garden pests.

Pests Controlled with Mantids

1. Plant Lice
2. Aphids
3. Whiteflies
4. Beetles
5. Grasshoppers
6. Crickets
7. Spider mites
8. Caterpillars

Mantid eggs are available commercially, but it’s worth knowing that though each egg case contains up to 150 eggs, only a small fraction of those grow up as the majority will be eaten by their own predators (or each other!) That said, it’s a good idea to purchase several of these egg cases to assure a few will make it to adulthood.

Like any pest control option, mantids are not perfect. They are mobile, and if food is scarce they may fly off, so this predator may be better for your indoor grow. However, chances are that a few of them will set up shop and reproduce, resulting in another brood ready to eat the things that want to hurt your Cannabis.

So what do you think? Have you used mantids before? Are you going to give them a try? We’d love to hear all about your experience, so either leave your comment in the survey below, or better yet, join our forum and start a discussion. Happy growing!

Hello! We’re back with another beneficial profile! Today we’re talking about ladybugs, a great beneficial insect you can add to your pest management program.

Quick Look:

Scientific Name: Hippodamia convergens
Common Name: Convergent Ladybug
How They Help: Ladybugs prey on aphids and a variety of other Cannabis pests

Everyone (almost) likes ladybugs, and can you blame them? These cute little beetles are brightly colored and for the most part leave humans alone. A natural predator of several Cannabis pests, ladybugs are a chemical-free, organic option to combating the pests that would like to thwart your efforts. While they are primarily used for aphid control, they will prey on a variety of arthropod pests.

Pests Eaten by Ladybugs:

1. Aphids
2. Thrips
3. Whiteflies
4. Mites
5. Several species of beetle larvae
6. Additional soft-bodied insects

As mentioned previously, ladybugs are beetles. All ladybugs are members of the family Coccinellidae, and there are over 6000 species of ladybug with varied ecological niches. For control of Cannabis pests, Hippodamia convergens are what you want and are available commercially. H. convergens is a voracious predator. Sure, they look innocent with their spotted red shells, but don’t be fooled, they’re killers.

As they grow, early instar stages can eat up to fifty aphids a day, with a fully mature ladybug eating about twenty a day. Eventually, a ladybug will consume over 5000 aphids over the course of its lifespan. When food is scarce, ladybugs can feed on nectar and honeydew, but they need to feed on aphids and other arthropods in order to reproduce, and reproduce they will! Adult females lay up to 50 eggs a day. The eggs hatch in under a week and the larvae emerge, ready to chow down on pests. One additional thing to note is that ladybugs tend to disperse to new locations as soon as they are able to fly, so ladybugs are best utilized in indoor grows.

So there you have it, your ladybug basics. These insects are a great, cost-effective alternative to chemical prevention methods. This is especially important when cultivating a consumable crop such as medicinal Cannabis where patient safety is key.

Have you used ladybugs or another type of beneficial in your Cannabis grow? We’d love to hear about your experience. Go ahead and leave a comment in the survey below, or better yet, join our forum and start a discussion. Happy growing!

Hello again! How’s your crop? I hope it’s doing well and you’re not dealing with any major pest issues. If you are however, have you considered including beneficial organisms to your pest management program? Well that’s what we’re talking about today, specifically the insects commonly called “lacewings.” These little helpers are great for battling aphids and spider mites organically. Read on!

Quick Look:

1. Scientific Name: Over 1300 species of the family Chrysopidae
2. Common Name: Lacewings (lacewing larvae are also referred to as “aphid lions” or “aphid wolves”).
3. How They Help: Larval lacewings prey on aphids and spider mites. Adults also prey on these to a lesser extent.

Most lacewing species used as pest control are classified in one of two genera: Chrysopa and Chrysoperla. These insects are common in North America and Europe and may be a natural part of your operation already. However, you can purchase lacewings yourself and boost their numbers.

While adult lacewings will supplement their diet of pollen and nectar with aphids and spider mites, larval lacewings are the real predators. Sometimes referred to as aphid lions or aphid wolves, these larvae hatch and immediately molt before climbing the nearest plant to begin hunting for pests. In addition to the spider mites and aphids, these larvae will eat any soft-bodied arthropod they can sink their mouthparts into.

Writers Note: Larval lacewings have been known to bite fingers, so be careful!

Consider yourself lacewing literate! Beneficial organisms are a great addition to your pest control regimen, especially when we’re talking about Cannabis, a consumable crop that many patients depend on for relief. The last thing a sick person needs is to inhale chemical pesticides.

Did you like this article? Check out the rest of our profile articles on pests, diseases, conditions, and beneficials! Did we miss one? Leave a comment in the survey below, or better yet, join our forum and start a conversation. Happy growing!

People with sleep issues are turning more and more to cannabis as a natural sleep aid as its legality becomes more commonplace throughout the United States. CBD and THC are the most commonly used cannabinoids in medicinal marijuana that are supposed to help with sleep. CBD oils, in particular, are seeing a huge rise in popularity.

Sleeping well allows you to function better in all aspects of your life. But which cannabinoid works better when it comes to helping you sleep?

What is CBD?

CBD is a cannabinoid that is extracted from cannabis. It works with the body to create non-psychotropic effects to replenish your body’s naturally occurring endocannabinoids and it also helps to regulate homeostasis.

CBD reduces anxiety and convulsions, and also works as a mild sedative, without producing any of the psychoactive effects that weed is known for. Despite its sedative effects, it is also noted to have a mild effect which can make you wakeful, according to some studies. CBD is one of the most common cannabinoids extracted from Cannabis Sativa.

Strains of cannabis sativa that are high in CBD often naturally grow without THC occurring in them naturally.

What is THC?

THC is the layman’s term for Delta 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol.

It is a psychoactive compound that can result in hallucinations, anxiety and heart palpitations. This is what produces the high that you get from marijuana.

At low doses, it has been found to calm anxiety, but the higher the dose gets, the more anxious it will make you. THC can also make you feel more wakeful, which can create issues for some people if taken right before bed. Some strains of marijuana plants are significantly higher in THC than others, so if this is what you’re looking for, talk to a local bud tender or an online resource to make sure you’re getting what you want.

How do CBD and THC help you sleep?

CBD is a mild sedative that helps to calm anxiety and convulsions, and also helps to relieve pain. These are a few of the many reasons people have trouble sleeping, so CBD is the most helpful on its own.

THC also offers a sedative effect in some strains, but it might be hard to find that particular strain without talking to a bud tender or grower.

When you combine CBD and THC, you get an interesting effect. The THC creates a high and possibly some psychotic effects and the CBD counteracts them by helping to calm you. However, THC may be too active for some people to use as a sleep aid on its own.

Which will help you sleep better?

A combination of THC and CBD, like the Sativex used in this study work best for most sleep patients with chronic pain and anxiety issues. The combination works together to relieve pain, allowing you to sleep better, and improve your mood once you wake up.

If you were going to go with just one, you should use CBD oil only. However, you should use it a few hours before you go to bed. That way, when it induces wakefulness, you can either make use of that extra energy or wait for it to wear off. If you do choose to use CBD or THC, avoid smoking marijuana during the day, because that will negate the effect that you experience when you want to go to bed.

Finding your personal balance to get a good night's sleep can be a bit of a process, but it will be worth it, in the long run, to have better sleep on a regular basis.

Editor’s Note: Want to know even more about CBD? You can find articles on GrowersNetwork focused on…

Sleep and Insomnia

Sleep and Insomnia 2

Quality CBD products

Mind and Body

Stress and Anxiety

CBD for Dogs

and CBD for Cats

You can also check out TruPotency, the only online retailer that 3rd party tests every product they sell!

Hello! As promised yesterday, we’re back to talk about the (mixed) results of the various Cannabis measures up for a vote in the states of Michigan, North Dakota, Missouri, and Utah. And away we go!

Michigan (Proposal 1)

Yay Michigan! It’s my home state and though I don’t live there any longer, I was really happy to see that Michigan voters came together to legalize recreational Cannabis. Proposal 1 passed easily by a 12% margin, and the new regulation is set to go into effect by the end of the month.

North Dakota (Measure 3)

This one was disappointing, but maybe it was to be expected. If you remember, the North Dakota measure was pretty vague with the details and included expunging records for Cannabis convictions. In the end voters just couldn’t get behind legalization with nearly 60% of voters opposing the measure. Oh well, maybe in 2020?

Missouri (Amendment 2, Amendment 3, and Proposition C)

Another vote for Cannabis normalization! Missouri voters passed Amendment 2, which will allow doctors to recommend Cannabis for qualified patients. The measure also allows patients to grow up to six plants at home and purchase up to four ounces of Cannabis a month from licensed dispensaries.

Utah (Proposition 2)

In Utah, Proposition 2 passed and will allow qualified patients to use medical Cannabis. The details are not hashed out yet as the state legislature will now look at the law and make changes. This was part of a compromise between supporters and their opponents, and without it, the proposition could have been overturned by the Utah legislature despite the will of the voters. So, the proposition is safe, but we have yet to see the final form.

Lesser Cannabis Initiatives: Ohio and Wisconsin

In Ohio, decriminalization of Cannabis did not pass. This may have been due to the measure not being focused on Cannabis specifically, but all illegal drugs. Maybe next time Ohio.

Wisconsin residents overwhelmingly showed support for legalization in a non-binding series of advisory questions. Fourteen of sixteen counties voted in support of reforming Wisconsin’s Cannabis laws. If it ever goes legal, I wonder how many new cultivars will be named after cheese...

All in all it was a good night for Cannabis as three of four major initiatives passed, and Wisconsin voters signalling that their state may be next to go legal. It certainly wasn’t a perfect night for Cannabis, but it’s another step in the right direction.

Everybody is talking about blue waves and red waves this midterm cycle, but what we’re more interested in is the forthcoming green wave, and no, I’m not talking about Jill Stein.

We’re non-partisan here at Growers Network, unless we’re talking Cannabis. And we are! So, today we’re going to give you the the 411 on the four states that have 420 and 710 measures on the ballot this year: Michigan, North Dakota, Missouri, and Utah.

Michigan (Proposal 1)

Michigan legalized medical Cannabis in 2008. Ten years later they’re going for recreational legalization with Proposal 1. Both Democrat and Republican gubernatorial candidates have shown varying degrees of support; Democrat Gretchen Whitmer supports recreational legalization, and Republican candidate Bill Schuette says if he wins, he’ll respect the will of the voters. If the measure passes, Michiganders will be able to possess up to 2 and a half ounces of Cannabis and home growers will be allowed up to twelve plants for personal use (about double the amount in the other legal states). Recent polls show the measure passing easily in Michigan, but we all know it ain’t over ‘til the green lady sings.

North Dakota (Measure 3)

North Dakota is another state looking at legalizing recreational Cannabis in 2018. Polling on the measure has been disparate with some polls showing it passing by a wide margin and others suggesting it’s doomed to fail. If Measure 3 does indeed pass, it will be up to the state legislators to hammer out the details as the current bill contains no stipulations for amount of product or number of plants an individual can possess. Despite these legislative hoops, there’s an extra bright spot if it passes, as North Dakota will expunge the records of marijuana offenders.

Missouri (Amendment 2, Amendment 3, and Proposition C)

This year Missouri voters will decide whether or not to legalize medical marijuana. There have been reports of confusion as the residents of the Show Me State will be voting on three separate initiatives, all for medical legalization, the difference among the initiatives being the the tax rate for medical Cannabis and how that revenue will be distributed (Missouri will avoid redundancy by implementing whichever single initiative receives the most votes). Polls have shown that Missourians favor medical legalization generally, and the measure favored to win (if one indeed does) is state constitutional Amendment 2, which will allow doctors to recommend Cannabis for a list of specified conditions, much like the laws in other medical marijuana states.

Utah (Proposition 2)

Utah’s ballot measure on medical Cannabis is pretty messed up interesting. Advocates and opponents have already struck a compromise, agreeing to a special legislative session in which lawmakers will, upon passage, convene to rework the law before it goes into effect. Why would proponents agree to this before the vote? Well, in Utah legislators have the ability to overturn ballot measures with a simple majority vote, something proponents of Proposition 2 want to avoid. What does that mean? Upon passage of the medical initiative, lawmakers will work to amend the law rather than overturn it, and Utah residents will eventually get a watered down version of an already watered down proposal. As currently written, the measure does not allow patients to grow their own Cannabis and prohibits smokeable medicine in all but the most extreme cases.

So, what do you think? Will these new Cannabis laws pass or will they go up in smoke? Be sure to check back tomorrow for a short follow-up with all the results, including a few lesser measures going to vote in Ohio and Wisconsin. What should you do until then? How about joining our forum and discussing Cannabis law or any other Cannabis related topic you can think of. See you there!