Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is the professional approach to pest control: prevention first, biological controls second, chemical intervention only as a last resort. It's how commercial farms grow clean cannabis, and it works just as well for home growers.
The IPM pyramid
Think of pest management as a pyramid — work from the bottom up:
╱ Chemical ╲ ← Last resort
╱ Biological ╲ ← Beneficial insects
╱ Mechanical ╲ ← Physical barriers
╱ Cultural ╲ ← Prevention
╱____________________╲
Most home growers skip straight to spraying. Professional growers spend 90% of their effort on the bottom two tiers and rarely need the top.
Tier 1: Cultural controls (prevention)
These are the habits that prevent problems before they start.
Cleanliness
- Clean your grow space between cycles — wipe surfaces with hydrogen peroxide or isopropyl alcohol
- Change clothes before entering the grow — pests hitch rides on fabric
- Quarantine new plants for 7–14 days before introducing them to your garden
- Remove dead plant matter immediately — decaying leaves are pest nurseries
Environment
- Keep humidity in range — spider mites thrive below 40% RH; powdery mildew thrives above 60% RH in flower
- Good airflow — oscillating fans and intake/exhaust prevent stagnant microclimates where pests and mold establish
- Proper temperature — most pests reproduce faster in heat; keeping temps below 80°F slows their lifecycle