There has been a lot of discussion in the cannabis industry concerning the use of radiation remediation. This is a process that uses radiation to, in layman’s terms, sterilize cannabis so it can pass the testing requirements set by the State of Michigan. The debate centers around how, and even if, cannabis growers should have to let their customers know if they nuke their products with radiation.
Radura symbol
Using radiation for sterilization is not new. You may have seen a Radura on some of your food products. It’s a small symbol, often green, that is applied to food packaging that contains products nuked by radiation to kill off molds, pests, and microbes. This sterilization procedure is known as irradiation. The FDA says it’s safe to use on the things we eat. At the same time, they acknowledge that not everyone would eat irradiated food by choice. This is where the Radura comes in. If the food has irradiated components, the symbol needs to appear on the package so the consumer knows.
Irradiation is also a common remediation practice employed within the cannabis industry. In today’s highly regulated legal cannabis market, remediation is a process that is applied to “clean up” a cannabis harvest that hasn’t been able to pass the state compliance tests. Essentially, cannabis that fails its safety compliance tests at the lab can be treated to make it pass compliance testing on a second try. This product must be clearly marked as “remediated” and it is typically sold to labs for processing.
Here’s the catch. If a grower runs their cannabis through a radiation machine prior to sending it to the state labs for compliance testing, they do not have to disclose that they did this to the consumer.
Even though marijuana is grown and sold all across the country, the federal government still hasn’t made it legal. This means that the federal government hasn’t done any official testing or put out national guidelines for growing, testing, compliance, and remediation. That portion of regulation has been left up to the individual states.
Clean, high quality, exceptional cannabis, it turns out, is hard to grow. Because it’s a plant, it is susceptible to molds, bugs, and diseases. Because it is a legal, but controlled substance on the state level, most states, including Michigan, have put very rigorous testing in place to ensure that the product you purchase doesn’t have harmful levels of foreign substances. The growers have to figure out how to pass those tests.
MJ Verdant has decided to take the natural path. Our plants are grown in an exceptionally clean environment, with very tight environmental controls. We don’t have protocols in place just for light and nutrients, but also for natural, non-chemical processes that allow our product to pass rigorous testing without having to subject it to other harsh remediation methods.
Other growers have decided that they can take care of any possible compliance/testing issues after harvest. The simplest way to do this is to grow, harvest, and then nuke the cannabis with radiation to eliminate any unfriendly organisms. Then, once it is sterile, send it out to the lab to be tested. This works for testing, but not for the fact that mold can begin to grow again a few weeks later.
Cannabis irradiation is actually quite common in the industry. Limited studies have not shown any dangerous after-effects. We do know that irradiation does, however, alter terpene levels, and in many cases produce a drier, brown flower. What the studies say is that irradiation doesn’t seem to do anything really bad to cannabis. With so few studies having been done given the recency of its legal status, there has not yet been a definitive, long-term study that proves that the inhaled smoke from irradiated cannabis is exactly the same as natural cannabis.
The State of Michigan’s labeling rules does not require growers to tell their customers if the product they purchase has been irradiated. There has been an ongoing debate over labeling between producers and the state but lately, consumers are also being heard. In March 2022, mlive.com ran an article about how growers, consumers, advocacy groups, and the State of Michigan are approaching the issue.
MJ Verdant has chosen to follow a natural growing process. By investing heavily in technology, an experienced and passionate growing team, and following the science within the growing process, MJ Verdant is able to grow, harvest, dry, and pass testing on products without resorting to harsh and unnatural remediation methods. We are able to achieve the same level of compliance as anyone else in the industry, with a cleaner, purer, and higher overall level of quality.
Why doesn’t everyone do this? In the simplest terms, it costs more and is much harder to do. Many companies take the easy way and just nuke their products instead of concentrating on a clean growing environment. They seem to think that if the consumer doesn’t care (or doesn’t know) about flower quality, then they don’t need to invest in a natural growing process.
With cannabis illegal on the federal level and no nationally coordinated labeling policies in place, Michigan has not made the Radura symbol a requirement of irradiated cannabis. This seems odd to us. If the federal government says irradiation for food is safe, but consumers have a right to make an informed choice, then why wouldn’t Michigan follow a similar standard with a product fully within its regulatory control?
It mostly comes down to marketing and pressure on the state from large operations that use radiation to remediate their product. If a big grower has the choice between putting a radiation symbol on their product versus not, they will always choose not to. This effectively leaves the concept of informed choice in the wrong hands.
Some growers choose to irradiate, MJ Verdant is one that doesn’t. Shouldn’t the buyer, who is shelling out their hard-earned money and who will be inhaling the smoke, be the one who gets to choose if they want an irradiated or wholly natural product? Shouldn’t the choice to purchase natural versus irradiated cannabis be in your hands? We certainly think so.
We are still at a point where Michigan is figuring out how they want to go forward. The large growers have the access and ability to dominate the discussion at the regulatory level. At MJ Verdant, we believe that it’s the customer that should be in control of this conversation. Now is the time to let the State know what you want before their regulations get set in stone.
Do you want to be heard? Contact your local representatives and let them know how you feel about radiation being used to “clean” your cannabis.
Jokerz, Hella Jelly, Cherry Pie, Purple Majik — we could sit here and list strains all day long. But have you ever wondered how new cannabis strains get made? You’ve come to the right place. In this blog, we explain why cannabis genetics are important, how new strains are created, and what this means for the future of the cannabis industry.
How New Strains Are Made
First, to understand how new cannabis strains are made, we need to talk about genetics. The genetic makeup of a strain can have a significant impact on its attributes and effects. We’ve covered this in some capacity in a couple of other blogs, but here’s a quick summary. Every strain of cannabis has a unique terpene profile, and a strain can have several terpenes. Terpenes are the organic molecules responsible for giving cannabis its unique aroma, flavor, and medicinal properties. There are hundreds of different types of terpenes found in cannabis. Depending on the combination in a strain, effects can be more potent and effective. This is known as the “Entourage Effect.”
To get a new cannabis strain, growers need both male and female plants. These are the parent strains and create the plant’s lineage. Male plants are used to pollinate female plants and the seeds from the resulting plant are grown. In general, a plant’s genetic lineage will influence several factors related to its quality and yield. This includes the color of the flowers, flavor profiles, and the type of high it produces. For consumers and commercial growers alike, understanding the lineage of the plant is crucial to finding the best quality product. Which can help in the search for strains that match activity levels, lifestyles, and overall intended experiences. For example, if the strain Jack Herer gives you anxiety, you would know that Sour Jack — a cross between Jack Herer and Sour Diesel — may not be a great fit for you.
The Best Quality Comes From the Best Source Material
You don’t have to be an expert to understand that premium-quality cannabis is created from the best source material. The starting material is the most important factor in determining the end quality. A cannabis plant’s genetics are the starting material. A plant’s genetics hold a ton of value for each strain to reach its full potential.
Breeders will take cannabis plants and cross them to find offspring that exhibit the best properties of either parent plant. This process is called “selective breeding” (sometimes referred to as artificial selection). Selective breeding has been a common practice in farming for centuries. Farmers have routinely selected the pest plants, breeding their genetics after each crop rotation to improve the following harvest. Cannabis breeders and growers selectively bred over several generations, allowing the experts to push cannabis genetics to their limits. Through this process, cultivators and researchers have been able to create uniquely-tailored strains optimized for a particular use case. Selective breeding has enabled the industry to optimize the size, color, smell, density, and texture of cannabis.
Fun fact: Many of the cannabis strain lineage on the market today can be traced back to the three main foundations of cannabis breeding: Haze, Skunk, and Kush.
The Future of Cannabis Genetics
As the cannabis industry continues to evolve, so will cannabis genetics. The future of cannabis is promising, but more research is required. Currently, cultivars are working to identify commonalities between strains (terpene content, cannabinoid content, etc) that provide positive outcomes for specific symptoms.
Genetic information will continue to become more readily available, and easier to access, leading to a better understanding of cannabis’ lineage. Before the legalization of cannabis, there were reports of inconsistencies, along with a history of underground trading of seeds and growing methods. By understanding a strain’s genetics, we can better identify strains and their possible effects. This will ensure consumers interested in a specific experience can find what they’re looking for. And as cannabis genetics evolve in response to climate change, researchers, cultivators, and breeders can create new strains with increased resilience.
The Takeaway
When it comes to quality cannabis, consistency is paramount. Cannabis companies of all sizes are optimizing strains to produce effects tailored to specific use cases. That starts with understanding a strain’s genetics. Increased research into cannabis genetics means seeds created will be consistent in effects, flavors, vigor, and growth attributes. At the cultivation level, selective breeding of cannabis strains enables the industry to maximize the size of crops. This will lead to more efficient operations with every harvest.
Genetics hold the key to a strain’s attributes and effects. Every strain’s unique genetic makeup serves as a blueprint for growth within the cannabis industry — whether that’s by stabilizing current strains on the market or by creating brand new strains with highly-tailored attributes and effects.
Do you have a specific question about our custom strains or others you’ve found in the market? Drop us a note and we’ll answer your questions in an upcoming blog.
The cannabis community can be a complicated place. Many consumers have questions about what products actually do and whether they are safe to consume. It takes the right knowledge and tools to sift through new brands, quickly shifting laws and regulations, and misinformation within the industry. It’s not impossible to find quality products that you can trust and that suit your needs and/or lifestyle—you just have to know what you’re looking for and how to interpret the information that is available to you.
Cannabis Testing
The problem with cannabis and hemp product labels is that they can often be inconsistent and confusing, which leads to consumer mistrust. Due to the very grey nature of state and federal stances regarding the legality of cannabis, no one body or agency is designated to ensure cannabis safety and quality for the general public. In the past, brands have launched products with unchecked information and zero transparency. However, now, many states with cannabis programs have taken it upon themselves to set up basic regulatory frameworks for cannabis and require laboratory testing on all products, including the State of Michigan.
Michigan’s Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA) sets clear, stringent standards for cannabis testing after years of confusion and delay. Now the shift in the cannabis community is aimed at keeping products clean and consumers safe. In early 2020, Michigan relegations required testing for cannabinoid and terpene potency, foreign matter, microbial and mycotoxin contamination, pesticide and chemical residue, fungicides, and the presence of residual solvents.
Despite the increase in cannabis testing, many consumers are unsure about what the results mean. If a company does share the results of their testing, it’s important to understand how to read that information and how it might impact your experience with their product. And if a company does not share the results of their testing, you may want to pause and ask them why.
What is a Certificate of Analysis (COA)?
A Certificate of Analysis (COA or “lab results”) is a verified document that provides details about the testing lab, the brand, and the product in question—along with the potency of ingredients the product contains and confirms the product meets certain specifications set out by the MRA. In the case of hemp, CBD, and cannabis flower, the ingredients in the COA most often refer to cannabinoids like THC, CBD, CBG, and CBN. COAs may also include terpenes, which are the aromatic components that contribute to the product’s scent, flavor, and therapeutic profiles.
In summary, a COA ensures the safety and quality of a given product per the State of Michigan’s standard and also helps paint a picture of what effects you can expect. Cannabis laboratories go through a rigorous licensing process with the State of Michigan that includes ongoing inspections to show how they will inspect the product every time they receive a sample. And to avoid conflict of interest, cannabis labs cannot also hold a growing or dispensing license.
Because these tests are very in-depth and highly regulated, they can be very helpful in understanding the product. But in order for the lab results to be useful, you must know what all the numbers represent.
Where can you find a COA?
Finding a company’s COA can either be easy or difficult, depending on the company. COAs are not cheap to create and many companies forgo this step or fail to post this critical information for consumers to read. Fortunately, many larger and/or more established cannabis companies are already up to speed with providing COAs and better transparency. If a product’s COA is available, you might find it printed on a QR code on the product’s outer packaging, which can be scanned and viewed. Other companies publish their COAs online in the product description portion on their website.
➡️ View COAs for MJ Verdant’s cannabis products here. Click on a specific strain to see the harvest date and the unique COA for each batch tested.
Once you have located the product’s COA, it’s important to also look at the lab that produced it. Aboveboard growers and distributors will have their products tested at accredited third-party laboratories. If you can not locate a COA, you should consider contacting the company to request one before proceeding with the purchase or consumption of the product. This is still a very dynamic time for the cannabis industry, however, it is still very much a “buyer beware” environment and it’s important to do your own research.
How to read a COA
On a typical COA there are five main sections that are most important to the average cannabis consumer:
The Header
Results Summary
Potency (Cannabinoids and Terpenes)
Safety Test Results
Footer
Not every COA will refer to each section with these terms, but they are fairly common across the board. In this next section, we will break down each section of the COA, the most important information, and why it’s important.
The Header
The header of a COA is an important section because it contains details that can help you trust the legitimacy of the data to follow. The first thing you should look for in the header is the “Report Date” which ensures the results are recent and relevant. The name of the lab should also be listed prominently on the results, so you can verify the lab’s existence and credentials. You’ll always want to double-check that the name of the products and the brand listed on the product packing match up. Another way to verify that the results are for the right product is to review the batch number and description. As you can see, all this information is helpful in verifying the lab and the product tested.
Results Summary
The next section following the header is the summary. Most consumers don’t typically look past this section of COAs because it provides all of the key results at a glance. In this section, you can see the potency of all cannabinoids, results of the contaminants safety testing, and terpene information at a glance and whether the product passed or failed. If a product fails testing, it shouldn’t make it on the shelves so it’s not likely you would actually come across its COA. If you do find a COA where any of the subsections in the result summary show failing results, it’s not recommended you consume that product.
Potency (Cannabinoids and Terpenes)
The third section of a COA is where you can see what cannabinoids and terpenes the products contain, and how concentrated they are. This section typically has multiple columns: one that tells you how many milligrams of each cannabinoid is concentrated within every gram of the product (or in mg/ml if the product is a liquid or oil). Another column may show a percentage, which converts the concentration of each cannabinoid from mg per gram to a percentage of the overall weight of the product. The column is just another way to look at the same result and is often easier to understand. If you see blank spots in the potency results, that usually means the lab did not detect a significant level of the specific cannabinoid or terpene.
You can use the potency section to determine whether a product will contain enough cannabinoids or a certain terpene to better determine what effect the product will have on your mind or body, or even the flavor and medicinal properties. It’s also important to note that not all potency sections of a COA will include a breakdown of the product’s terpenes. That is not required of cannabis in Michigan, however, growers who are interested in the flavors, scents, and general nuances of the plant will test for terpenes thus making the information available to consumers.
Safety Test Results
Every COA you come across should include a safety test results section. In this section, you can see how the product tested for harmful contaminants and microorganisms that you wouldn’t want in your body. Most safety test results section will include the following:
Chemical Residue (pesticides, insecticides, fungicides)
Foreign Matter (organic and inorganic)
Heavy Metals (the State of Michigan requires testing for 6 heavy metals)
Microbials (salmonella, e. Coli, etc)
Water Activity and Moisture Content
This section of a COA is important, however, it is not necessarily consumer-centric. This section is where you can ensure that the product tested below all of the safe limits for major contaminants before purchasing and ingesting. As stated before, if a product has failed categories on its COA, it’s not often that a consumer would come across it because the product shouldn’t make it to market.
Footer
Just like with the header of a COA, the footer is an important part of legitimizing the document. The footer lets you know the lab is transparent and accountable for the results in the COA. The footer will also provide more information about who the lab is and how to reach them if you have questions.
In the footer, you should find some form of proof that the lab stands by the results. On the results that we received from Cambium Analytica, the lab’s Director and Chief Scientist both signed off on the COA’s data. Depending on the format of the COA, the lab’s license and credentials may be found here or near the top of the document. Regardless of where exactly the information is, it should be easy to locate. Just remember, all labs must have a license number to be legally compliant.
Red Flags to Watch Out For
Now that you have a good understanding of what to look for when purchasing cannabis products and reviewing their COAs, here are some red flags to watch out for:
Missing safety tests
Missing cannabinoids
No lab certifications
Too much THC (flower testing over 40% and vape cartridges over 90%)
Less CBD (or other cannabinoids) than advertised
Fewer terpenes than advertised
Any combination of these red flags should alert the consumer. By knowing what to look out for, consumers can make the most informed purchasing decision, which is crucial when it comes to your body and what you ingest.
The Takeaway
When cannabis growers take testing seriously, they’re showing that they not only value making a profit but the quality of their products and customer safety and satisfaction. Moreover, the willingness to publish COAs along with products shows they are open and honest about what they do and how they do it. The legalized cannabis industry is still in its infancy stage and government agencies are still formulating long-standing regulations and standards, which creates a lot of uncertainty for both producers and consumers.
However, cannabis lab testing is only helpful when used correctly and understood. Full transparency from growers would take the guesswork out of purchasing cannabis and would help the average consumer navigate the industry with more confidence, and be more informed when choosing their cannabis products.
The best cannabis experiences—whether you’re smoking flower, eating edibles, or using tinctures—often come from the best source material or “top-shelf” bud. But being able to identify high-quality flower and other products can be difficult. Even for the most experienced cannabis enthusiasts. There are some key traits that separate good weed from bad weed—and we’re here to break them down and offer some tips to help you spot the good stuff and avoid the bad.
What to look for in high-quality flower:
Look Take a look at the bud and inspect it thoroughly. There are many visual signs that can indicate the quality of the flower. Fresh, healthy flower can display an array of vibrant colors, most often deep green with flaming orange or red hairs. You could also see deep purple and or blue shades within the nugs. Another important visual indicator of high-quality flower is the amount of trichomes and their viability. Trichomes are tiny, crystalized appendages on the plant’s surface. They create the compounds responsible for cannabis’ smell, flavor, and effects. The more frosty trichomes you see, the higher the quality of the flower.
Smell The way bud smells can tell you a lot about its quality. Cannabis cultivated and cured to the highest standards is typically very fragrant and you should be able to easily recognize its herby, sweet, or skunky aromas. The smell may be different depending on the particular strain. But if the product is high-quality, you should be able to pick up on the various notes of its scent profile. The stronger the fragrance, the more nuanced your experience with the bud may be.
Feel High-quality flower should be sticky and slightly spongy to the touch. Good bud is relatively easy to break apart, with stems that snap. It’s not completely dry or crumbly. You don’t want your buds to turn to dust when grinding or breaking by hand. Alternatively, buds shouldn’t be too wet or soft. High-quality cannabis is the perfect balance between dry and sticky. Sometimes buds may seem overly moist but that is most often oily resin glands from the bud (and that’s a good thing).
Taste It may not always be possible to taste the bud before purchasing, but if you do get the chance, try it before you buy it. Similar to smell, taste can tell you a lot about the quality of cannabis. On the palate, good bud is rich, pure, and sharp. The bud’s terpene profile will give way to the flavor—whether it’s gassy, fruity, herby, or earthy—depending on the strain and its intended effects.
Look Whether that’s due to discoloration or an abundance of stems and seeds, low-quality flower has a distinct appearance. Bad weed coloration can range from brown to tan to grey to red and even yellow. Poor coloration may be an indication of mold, age, pesticides, or other chemicals. Bad weed can look very dry, which is not a good sign. Trichomes turn from clear to amber with excess time, heat, and light—which may be a sign that you’ve received an old harvest.
Smell Scent potency is very important in telling the quality of bud. If your flower smells bland or dull, that could be an indication that it may be old, dried out, or nutrient-rich. A nutrient-rich bud sounds like a good thing, but it isn’t. It could be an indication that the cultivator overloaded the flower with nutrients to get a higher yield—bringing down the quality. Low-quality or bad weed can have a musty or hay-like aroma, which is another indication of age or even compromised cannabis. If you’re wafting unpleasant aromas from the flower, it is generally a sign of mishandling, pour cultivation and curing, or old product.
Feel Low-quality flower will feel dry and brittle to the touch, and easily crumble when handled. Dry bud is light and airy, with little weight behind it—unlike high-quality bud which is dense and sticky. Conversely, bud that is overly wet should also be avoided. Overly wet flower has stems that don’t snap and the extra moisture makes the bud susceptible to mold and milder. Wet nugs tear apart rather than break, which is a sign of poor cultivation and curing.
Taste Lower-quality flower will taste bland and produce harsh acrid smoke, you may be able to pick up metallic or very off-putting chemical notes. This is the case for poorly grown and uncured buds. Buds that may be moldy or mildewy may have a sour taste–if so, stop consuming the cannabis to avoid inhaling dangerous substances that could harm your lungs. Overall, it won’t be an enjoyable experience.
Bottom line
Distinguishing between high-quality and low-quality flower can be difficult. However, with a discerning eye and nose, even novice cannabis enthusiasts can find the perfect bud for themselves. Finding the cannabis strain that appeals to your senses and provides the experience you’re searching for doesn’t have to be complicated. The bottom line is, if the bud doesn’t look, feel, or smell right—it’s probably not. The goal is to find the right strain for you and with these indicators, you’ll find a quality strain that perfectly suits your personal taste.
Bugs?! In our cannabis?! No, not necessarily. As part of our mission to growing and nurturing exceptionally good plants, we have taken a clean approach to our cultivation. Not only is our facility clean and efficient – our methods are too. Keep reading to learn more about IPM and what it means to utilize “beneficial bugs” in our precision cultivation system.
What is IPM?
IPM stands for Integrated Pest Management, it’s a blanket term that describes several different environmentally-conscious practices of controlling pests through the use of biocontrols, bioinsecticides, and biofungicides. IPM approaches pest control with techniques of prevention, reduction, and elimination. It combines the use of physical controls, resistant species, biopesticides, and least-toxic chemical controls to manage and prevent insect pests in agriculture production, with an emphasis on prevention. IPM can be, and is, frequently used in cannabis production.
IPM isn’t an organic practice but does discourage the use of pesticides. This approach seeks to use natural predators or parasites to control pests, using only selective pesticides as backup methods only when pests are unable to be controlled by natural means. Under this approach, growers will spray selective pesticides and other chemicals only when a crop needs it, which means generally fewer pesticides are used.
To reiterate, IPM isn’t a single pest control method, but rather, involves integrating multiple control methods based on site information obtained through inspection, monitoring, and reports. Because IPM isn’t a single method, it can be applied to all pests that need to be managed on either an indoor/greenhouse or outdoor crop, including:
Insects (aphids, beetles, fleas)
Arachnids (mites, ticks, spiders)
Microbial organisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses)
Weeds
Mollusks (snails and slugs)
Vertebrates (rodents, birds, snakes)
When most people think of pests in their cannabis garden they think of the more common varieties: spider mites, russet mites, aphids, and thrips. However, there are also soil-dwelling pests that can exist without your knowledge. Some of the soil-dwelling pests that plague cannabis plants are root aphids, fungus gnat larvae, and grubs. These pests will decrease the health and vigor of your plants by feeding on the roots – so it goes without saying, it’s just as important to control pests below the soil as it is to control those above soil. IPM can be utilized to control both above and below pests for the healthiest cannabis plants possible.
Another recurring problem in indoor/greenhouse cannabis production is plant diseases. Cannabis plants are especially subject to foliage disease, according to GreenHouse Grower. If you didn’t know, cannabis greenhouses and grow rooms can be quite literally hotbeds for pests and pathogens due to the warm, humid conditions, tightly packed growth, and ample crops for food. Pest problems can develop and spread rapidly in cannabis crops, so getting to the root of the problem before it occurs is a critical pillar of IPM.
In cannabis cultivation, there are two different primary growth cycles: vegetative and flower. These cycles require different IPM strategies which focus on prevention, reduction, or overall elimination depending on where the plant is in its growth cycle.
How does MJ Verdant use IPM?
For MJ Verdant, pasteurization is first and foremost in Integrated Pest Management. We prefer to use applications such as bioinsecticides, biocontrols, and bio-engineered microbes.
“It’s always been important to me to cultivate clean cannabis, far before an MRA existed with an ‘approved pesticide list,’” explains Cultivation Director Chris Gioia.
There are multiple kinds of pasteurization: heat, chemical, dry heat, and steam. We utilized all of these methods to perpetuate our cultivation cycles.
We also utilized a variety of predatory bugs on our crops to do everything from keeping our substrate clean, eliminate pests including aphids, broad mites, thrips, and more, and prevent fungus gnat larvae. The use of these bugs is carefully monitored and adapted as the needs of our crop change. Here is a summary of the predatory bugs we are using right now:
Amblyseius swirskii (swirski mites) are used to target pets like broad mites, thrips, spider mites, and more. When the pests aren’t around A. swirskii consumes pollen.
Aphidius colemani (parasitic wasps) are used to naturally eliminate pests like aphids from the harvest.
Dalotia coriaria (rove beetles) are used to prevent, control, and manage fungus gnat larvae, root aphids, and thrip.
Orius insidiosus(minute pirate bugs) are used to eliminate thrips. They are said to be the most effective because they can attack and kill all mobile stages of thrips.
Steinernema feltiae (parasitic nematodes) are used to keep our substrate clean and the plants in exceptional health.
(Pictured: Orius insidiosus, also known as minute pirate bugs.)
How do we ensure there are no bugs on the final product?
A common concern with the use of IPM is whether predatory bugs and their waste products will be present when the flowers are harvested. This is a myth.
The purpose of biocontrols utilized in IPM is to actively hunt pests to reduce pest pressure.
This means the biocontrols don’t target the flowering nodes and don’t colonize in the inner nodes of a cannabis plant. The predatory bugs utilized don’t inhibit negative effects on the plant, but they do release pheromones to repel pests and create a symbiotic relationship with the plant.
If there is no food source for the predator bugs, they will leave in search of food elsewhere. It’s also important to note that indoor predator bugs are usually very small in size and difficult to see with an untrained eye.
What about waste from the biocontrols? The waste produced is limited and not on the flowering crop itself. It is very unlikely to see signs of predator bugs near the end of the flowering cycle or in the finished product. Even when using larger predatory insects, the bugs will leave the plants when harvested and dried. Here at MJ Verdant, we actively use bioinsecticides and have specific procedures that clean our cannabis plants.
Why does MJ Verdant use IPM?
When deciding to embark on this cannabis grow journey, it was decided early on we would take an exceptionally rigorous and clean approach to our cultivation. We care about every aspect of cannabis cultivation and use precision formulas that take into account strain choices, growing substrate, water delivery, nutrients, and environmental controls.
IPM falls in line with our mission to produce exceptional cannabis and we put the health of our plants, employees, and customers at the forefront of every decision we make. We would never put something on, in, or around our plants that we wouldn’t want in our own bodies. With IPM we can safely minimize both the number of pests and pesticide applications on our plants, which leads to healthy plants with stronger immune systems that can naturally ward off pests and diseases.
IPM is also often considered more labor-intensive than conventional pest control and may require more upfront resources, however, costs generally get lower over time because the underlying cause of the pest problem is addressed.
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