There is a plethora of different pests, including bugs and mildew, that enjoy your plant as much as you do. These pests have symptoms that can help you diagnose the problem that are shown below.

Most of these pests can be dealt with using the natural pesticide spray included in your kit. The spray is comprised of neem oil, a natural pesticide that is derived from the seed of the neem tree, and water. To apply, spray the infected area generously with the spray, make sure to spray the top and the bottom of the leaves, until it drips from the leaf. It is important to catch the pest early on as the pest can multiply quickly and make treatment harder. 

While our kit is perfect to grow any fruiting plant, it is designed for a special herb 🥦 This herb goes by many names: bubatz, green, grass, sticky, loud, zaza, 420, ouid, 710, broccoli, and many more. When we refer to this here, we will use “herb,” and now you will know what we mean.

The following are first sad leaves which identifies an unhealthy leaf, followed by identified pests. Each includes the symptoms to look out for and the solutions to defend your plant and get her back to healthy and happy: 

Sad leaves

Seed not sprouting

Failure to sprout is not uncommon and is usually due to over or underwatering, or unclean/reused soil.

Symptoms:

• Generally, you will see a seed sprout in 3 to 10 days.
• If not sprouting, it can be due to over or under-watering.

Solutions:

• Ensure the soil is damp but not soaked.
• If you have covered the cultivation cup with a plastic bag, you should need to water every 2-3 days when the cup is dry.
• If the cultivation cup is in the open air you may need to water every 1-2 days.
• If you have the fan blowing on the cultivation cup, you may need to water every 1/2 - 1 day.
• Give it some time, some seeds take longer than others.
• Be sure the seed is covered with soil, or else it can take longer to sprout since it is not completely covered by a moist dirt layer.
• If you do not see it sprouting within 10 days, please reach out to us to troubleshoot further.

Powdery Mildew

Powdery Mildew is a fungus that can float through the air and land on your plants.

Symptoms:

• You can identify it by a white powdery substance on your plant’s leaves or precious buds. 
• When pictured up close with your macro lens, white stringy hair-like structures can be seen. 
• It usually affects older leaves or lower buds just before or at the flowering phase but can be seen in all grow phases.

Solutions:

• Prevent with good ventilation – keep the fan on your plant to circulate the air and prevent powdery mildew growth. 
• Keep your grow space at a consistent temperature. Any temperature dip will cause short relative humidity spikes. They may not be felt, as relative humidity doesn’t always rise high enough to cause dew point condensation. But it may be enough for powdery mildew spore germination to occur.
• Skim Milk. Yes, cowmilk works surprisingly well and is natural. Mix 1 part milk to 2 parts water and set in the sun for half an hour (optional). Then spray the solution on the affected areas making sure to soak the top and bottom of the leaves until they drip a bit. The best time to spray is when the lights first come on allowing the spray to fully dry. 
• You can also use the included neem oil spray instead of the milk. Both will work but milk is less harsh on the plant and and a tried and true method.   

Drooping leaves

Drooping leaves are leaves that are weak due to a stressed plant which droop, sag, or slump.

Symptoms:

• Drooping leaves are a sign of underwatering or that the plant is too hot.

Solutions:

• Water your lady
• Stick the tip of your finger into the soil up to the first knuckle to check the moisture level. You don’t want the soil to be completely dry but close.
• If the soil is dry, water your lady (750ml - 1.5l of dechlorinated water) and make sure to check the moisture level of the soil more often. Every 2-3 days during the vegetative phase and every 1-2 days during the flower phase.
• Keep in mind that as the plant grows, she will drink more. Increase watering as each week passes by.
• Check the temperature
• Make sure your grow space and plant is in the 20º C to 30º C range. This is more important for indoor plants as they have less wind to cool them.
• If you have purchased the indoor extension kit, ensure to use the fan. It not only helps the plant breathe fresh air, but helps it regulate temperature better. The fan should be anywhere from 30cm to 1m from the plant.

Yellowing leaves

Yellowing leaves are due to a stessed plant which causes the chlorophyll - the green stuff that absorbs light and provides energy to the plant through photosynthesis - to diminish.

Symptoms:

• Yellowing leaves can be due to over watering or a cold growing environment.
• If your plant is in the flowering phase, this is a normal behavior and nothing to worry about

Solutions:

• The first thing to look at is the temperature around the plant. Make sureyour grow space is in the 20º C to 30º C range.
• Stick the tip of your finger up to the first knuckle into the soil, this is the best way to check the moisture level. You don’t want the soil to be completely dry but close. The plant needs to breathe for it to be able to expand its root structure. Damp soil is fine after watering, but wet soil is too moist.

Curled or twisted leaves

Curled leaves are when the end of the plant leaves start to curl.

Symptoms:

• Curled, clawing, or twisted leaves is often a sign of root rot or waterlogged plants.

Solutions:

• First check the soil by sticking the tip of your finger up to the first knuckle into the soil. You don’t want the soil to be completely dry but close before you water again. Also look for dry soil along the edges of the pot or the topsoil starting to crack, another sign your substrate is drying enough.
• The best way to fight root rot is to allow the soil dry out before watering. You don’t want it to be bone dry as that will kill the live soil, but you should barely notice moisture with the finger check.

Identified Pests

Aphids 

Aphids are common pest of indoor plants. They are sometimes called plant lice and can be brought indoors on clothing, through an open window, or on infested plants. They feed on all parts of the plant including the leaves, stems and buds compromising the health of your plant.

Symptoms:

• Twisted or curled leaves, yellow leaves, dead branches. 
• Check under the leaves and on branches to find these pen-tip sized round bugs.

Solutions: 

• Spray with included neem oil to soak the leaves top and bottom until dripping. Once applied, continue to monitor for more bugs. If pests are still present after two days, spray again.

 

Gnats 

Fungus gnats are small, dark gnats that are short lives. They are attracted to moisture and are often found in homes where plants are overwatered. Though they dont affect the plant negatively, they are very annoying to have around. 

Symptoms:  

• Small flying bugs coming from the soil and on the plant, especially after watering.   

Solutions:

• Luckily Fungus gnats aren’t necessarily bad for the plant itself. They like to lay their eggs in wet soil, which means they are a good indicator of overwatering your plants. Step one is to let the soil dry for an extra day before watering.  
• Spray with included neem oil to soak the leaves top and bottom until dripping. Once applied, continue to monitor for more bugs. If pests are still present after two days, spray again.
• You can also get some sticky gnat traps that stick into the soil. When the gnats land on the trap, there is no leaving!

 

Thrips 

Thrips are tiny, slender insects with fringed wings. They feed by puncturing the epidermal (outer) layer of leaves and sucking out the cell contents, which results in stippling, discolored flecking, or silvering of the leaf surface.

Symptoms:

• Small squiggly lines on the leaves (circled in orange). 
• This is caused by thrips (circled in yellow) that eat the bottom of the leaf. Check over and under the leaves to find them. 

Solutions:

• Spray with included neem oil to soak the leaves top and bottom until dripping. Once applied, continue to monitor for more bugs. If pests are still present after two days, spray again. 

 

Spider Mites

Spider mites generally live on the undersides of leaves, where they spin protective silk webs, and can cause damage by puncturing the plant cells to feed.

Symptoms:

• Small spider webs on and around the leaves or buds. 

Solutions: 

• Spray with included neem oil to soak the leaves top and bottom until dripping. Once applied, continue to monitor for more bugs. If pests are still present after two days, spray again.
• Remove any webs with your fingers or a towel.  

 

Root Aphids 

Root aphids are aphid species defined by their habit of feeding on plant roots during part of their lifecycle. As they eat the root system, they cause a large amount of damage to the plant and hinder the ability to uptake water and nutrients. 

Symptoms:

• Stunted growth or wilted leaves. 
• Root aphids like to lay eggs in the soil and eat the roots. 

Solutions: 

• Check the soil, under leaves, and on the branches after watering to find them. They will surface after watering making this the best time to check for them.  
• Spray with included neem oil to soak the leaves top and bottom until dripping. Once applied, continue to monitor for more bugs. If pests are still present after two days, spray again.

  

Springtails 

Springtails are your friend! They are common in leaf litter, compost piles, and lawn soils. They can also be found in homes with high humidity, organic debris, or mold. Springtails feed on molds, mildew, fungi, bacteria, and decaying plant material. They can actually be beneficial to indoor plants and likely originated from the live soil mix. 

Symptoms:

• No plant symptoms
• Small white bugs crawling around in the soil. 

Solutions: 

• These little guys are beneficial to the soil and plant! Leave them be! 
• They more than likely came with the live soil and are part of the ecosystem that allows live soil to be beneficial as they will eat any fungus and mold that gets into the soil and leave little bits of nutrients behind in their place.