Cannabis and Crickets: a Strategy to Protect Your Cannabis Plants

06. 11. 2023

Even if crickets seem harmless at first glance, the opposite is true when it comes to your precious cannabis plants. Crickets eat cannabis plants with gusto and leave tiny holes in the leaves. If you come across this pest, it's best to get rid of it before it's too late. In this article, we'll tell you everything you need to know about crickets, including how to spot the signs of cannabis plant infestations. We'll also share with you the best ways to eliminate crickets and tips on how to prevent infestations of these pests.

Everything you need to know about crickets

Crickets, grasshoppers and locusts belong to the same order called the Equinoxes. Crickets are therefore distant relatives of locusts.

Crickets are usually 2-3 cm long, have long hind legs, two elongated antennae on the top of the head and wings on the back. They range in colour from black to brownish yellow and, as they are primarily nocturnal, they do not emerge from their hiding places until late in the evening.

Because of their size and the powerful hind legs they need to jump, these insects are often confused with grasshoppers. The biggest difference between the two is that crickets are darker in colour and smaller than grasshoppers. Grasshoppers are usually 2-8 cm long. Grasshoppers also tend to be more conspicuously and brightly coloured than crickets.

Symptoms of cricket infestation of cannabis plants

Although crickets can destroy your cannabis plants, they are only a real threat if they are numerous. Once their numbers start to increase, the risk of them nibbling on leaves, buds and stems increases considerably.

Crickets are omnivores, so if they have another food source, they focus on it and ignore the cannabis. However, if they have no other food source, they like to attack cannabis seeds, buds, leaves and stems. Also remember that the ideal time to hunt crickets is shortly before sunset, as these insects prefer to attack plants at night.

The first step in getting rid of crickets is to recognize the signs of infestation, which include:

tiny holes on the leaves,
brown spots,
damaged roots,
tunnels/corridors in the soil around plants,
audible chirping.

How to get rid of crickets on cannabis plants?

The most effective ways to get rid of crickets include:

Using a cricket pesticide

If you want to get rid of crickets, there are a number of insecticides and pesticides available on the market. You can even choose between organic and inorganic remedies. Organic pesticides for cricket control are much safer and more environmentally friendly than chemical ones. Inorganic products can pollute the environment and contaminate cannabis, so it is better to avoid them and use organic ones.

One possible product is nimbus oil. This is an all-natural product that is very effective in combating many different types of moulds and pests, including crickets. Cannabis plants should be sprayed directly (avoid sticks though), the unpleasant smell of this oil should deter crickets from possibly returning.

Setting a cricket trap

Another way to get rid of crickets is to set cricket traps. Most store-bought traps will kill these pesky animals, but if you want to take a more humane approach, you can trap them and then release them. Just make sure you release them as far away from your crops as possible.

Molasses cricket traps are one of the easiest and most effective ways to kill these tiny animals. The sweet smell of molasses attracts the crickets and they drown in the sticky solution.

To prepare a molasses trap, mix a cup of molasses with two litres of water and pour this mixture into a small bowl. This paste is then placed near the cannabis plants. After a few hours, check the trap and dispose of the dead plants.

Luring in beneficial predators

Sometimes you can let nature solve the problem for you. Just lure various animals such as frogs, beetles, rats, lizards and newts into your garden. If you are dealing with multiple pests, you can also use chickens to get rid of many of the pests.

However, each of the animals mentioned has its own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, when choosing , be sure to consider the specific conditions in your garden so that you don't cause more harm than good.

How to prevent crickets on cannabis:

Prevention is always better than cure. There are several ways to prevent cricket damage.

Prudence

The best way to prevent a cricket (or any other pest) infestation is to catch them as soon as possible. It takes time for crickets to multiply in number, so it is essential to keep them under control at all times. Keep an eye out for crickets and when you see one, exterminate them immediately. This will prevent them from becoming an army that you will then be unable to control.

Companion planting

Just a few well-placed companion plants can be a great deterrent to crickets. Plant legumes such as beans and peas, as the nitrogen content of these is intolerable to crickets. Crickets are also repelled by strong smelling plants such as coriander, garlic and rosemary. You can also try alfalfa, but it is better to grow this in a separate bed as it roots very quickly and could cause problems for other plants due to lack of space for growth.

Other ways to prevent crickets

Mow the grass regularly and keep the garden clean.
Keep rubbish out of the garden as rotting materials attract crickets to the garden.
Ensure proper ventilation and prevent moisture from creating suitable breeding conditions for crickets.

Protect cannabis from crickets

Prevention is always better than cure. While many people enjoy the reassuring chirp of crickets, for cannabis growers it is instead a warning sign that their plants may be infested. Try to use natural remedies instead so you don't harm your plants and the environment. If you address the problem of crickets in your garden early on, there should be no problem with growing cannabis.

Any pest can be easily and playfully dealt with. This is also the case with crickets. So don't be discouraged and get cannabis seeds with a THC content of up to 1 % from which you can grow your own cannabis plants.