Take everything out of the room.
Mix a small spray bottle 50% bleach and 50% water and spray this on all the surfaces in the room, let it sit for 5mins before wiping off. Took a sponge mop and wipe down all the surfaces after that spray with bleach.
Clean all equipment that was used ballasts, hoods, cords and everything else with the bleach solution, preferable in a different room. Don’t forget the ventilation ducts must be wiped, and if you had an open duct with no filter before it, scrunch up the ducting and submerge it in a bucket with a cleaning mix.
Vacuum the entire room.
Let off a hot shot fogger. The active ingredients are tetramethrin and cypermethrin.
Repeat those steps several times over the next two weeks then washing the room and everything in it down again.
Do not forget to spray outside the grow room; never go to the room after being outdoors, always change your clothes first.
Controlling Spider Mites
- Pyrethrin: Pyrethrin is a natural substance derived from the blooms of plants such as Pyrethrum Daisies and Chrysanthemums. Usually used as a spray, when used correctly the spray will cause paralysis then death. You can buy Pyrethrin sprays at stores or you can go online to see how to make “homemade” sprays.
- Neem Oil: Neem Oil is a natural pesticide that will control and kill many different kinds of pests. Neem Oil only affects chewing and sucking insects.
- Spider Mite Predators: For moderate infestations spider mite predators eat the mites and their eggs(about 5 mites or 20 eggs each per day). The most common species are Phytoseiulus persimilis, Neoseiulus californicus and Mesoseiulus longipes. Humidity must be at least 60%.
For heavily infested areas use spider mite destroyers Stethorus punctipes. They eat all stages of spider mites. These predators have wings and fly around looking for more infestations to devour.
For large areas and greenhouses use Feltiella acarisuga. These predator midge adults fly around the plants laying their eggs in the spider mite colonies, when the eggs hatch, the larvae devour the spider mites. Can be used in low humidity environments.
Although more commonly used for aphid control, Ladybugs and Green Lacewings have been known to eat spider mites as well.
Top Tips For Keeping Your Marijuana Grow Room Clean
There’s an old saying that cleanliness is next to godliness. A grow room for marijuana holds true to that saying.
By taking simple steps in maintaining a clean marijuana grow room you will reduce the risk of getting pests and disease while maintaining higher yields.
Here are a few simple steps than can help you keep your grow room a clean room:
Clean up dead plant matter. When you’re inspecting your plants, look for fallen leaves on the ground, inside plant container or within your hydroponic system.
By removing fallen marijuana leaves you’re also removing a breeding ground for pests and disease.
The same holds true for soil or root matter. Do not store soil or root masses in or around your grow room.
Dead plant matter is extremely attractive to a variety of pests but especially fungus.
Many gardeners with root rot problems don’t ever associate their problem with unkept grow rooms.
Clean your intake filter. If you don’t have an intake filter then go buy one.
Intake filters keep unwanted dirt, dust and bugs from ever entering your marijuana grow room.
Clean the filter once a month to restore maximum air flow and inspect for bugs. Early detection on an intake filter can give a gardener a jumpstart on treatment programs.
Remove grow light bulbs and glass from reflectors and clean them about once a month.
Even with an intake filter, bulbs and reflectors develop a thin layer of dust capable of compromising their performance in your hydroponics cannabis grow room.
Cleaning the bulbs and glass in your grow room can help you maintain the maximum light output at all times. It is a good rule of thumb to also wipe down any reflective material on your walls or ceiling.
Clean up spills, excess water or plant runoff.
Many times indoor soil gardening can leave you with a wet floor. Invest in a wet/dry vacuum to suck up any spillage or run off. Leaving moisture on the floor raises humidity levels and increases your risk of mold or rot.
Clean and maintain your marijuana growing equipment.
Every two months it is a good time to inspect and clean all the hardware in your grow room. An air compressor jet of air blown onto and into an HID ballast can clean out dirt and dust, prolonging its life and efficiency.
If you don’t have an air compressor, the compressed air sold to clean computers will work as well.
Air conditioners, dehumidifiers, heaters, CO2 emitters, atmospheric controllers, light timers and fans should all be inspected and cleaned on a regular basis.
Like most things in your garden, it helps to take notes on a calendar to remember when and what you did.
Keeping your marijuana grow room clean will not only reduce the risk of problems but also make it a more inviting place to spend time. Your plants will appreciate the extra effort you have put in and repay you with healthier cannabis plants and bigger buds!
Source: In Weed World Magazine issue 120
Published By Steve Davis
