Florida Organic Hemp Cultivation and Fungi Based Integrated Pest Management

 Blue oyster mushrooms, Pleurotus sp., are an important part of our Integrated Pest Management program here across Arendell Hill nursery.

Oyster mushrooms are an integral part of Organic Hemp IPM program here at Arendell Hill

Oyster mushrooms help clean stormwater and detoxify any contaminants that find their way via wind, rain or drift into the garden. 

Interestingly, many fungi are capable of absorbing complex carbon chains found in the environment and converting them into carbohydrates for their own growth.  

Mycoremediation, as the mushroom's decon process is commonly referred to, has been shown to be an effective way to support hemp cultivation area cleanliness while helping to ensure pure surface water. 

Additionally, mycobooms, which are a mixture of hay and fungal spores can be used to contain and cleanup most types of contamination spills and can be an effective pollution control management tool.

Because our cultivation areas are organically managed and free of pesticides and herbicides, the oysters in our garden are usually free of contamination and may also end up in our kitchen for dinnertime sauteing.

For decades, fungi have been successfully used in many organic-focused integrated pest management programs.  Additionally, mushrooms are fun to grow.  Cultivating oyster mushrooms as a companion species to hemp is just one, but an important part, of Arendell Hill's organic hemp integrated pest management program.

Millipedes, A Beneficial Integrated Pest Management Partner for Florida Hemp Cultivation

 Millipedes are an important #IPM partner for our #hemp cultivation plot. 

These scavengers prefer to eat moist leaves and plant litter.  

They do a marvelous cleanup job here at Arendell Hill, mulching up leaf litter and then fertilizing the soils with plenty of organic droppings.  

Millipedes help control fungal and algal explosions by keeping damp leaf debris accumulation to a minimum amount. These small arthropods are constantly foraging here.  I see them occasionally during the day but at night they are visible (with a UV light) almost everywhere across the ground.

Millipedes have 2 legs per segment side while centipedes have one.

Consider your cultivation area lucky if you are fortunate enough to have a substantial population of these beneficial arthropods.

#millipedes #IPM #beneficialinsects #organic #floridahemp

Sow Thistle & Hemp Cultivation

 Pest plant (weed) alert! 

Sow Thistle, Sonchus sp., an invasive weed in the hemp cultivation area

Sow thistle, Sonchus sp., is native to Eurasia and Africa but can be found across Florida in yards, farms and in the woods. 

Each plant can produce up to 10,000 seeds and each seed can last many years, laying dormant until the right conditions come along. The young leaves can also be cooked as potherb greens. 

The problem with sow thistle is that the plant is so prolific and hardy with it's fat tap root that sow thistle takes away habitat from native flora (botanical adverse possession) and can crowd out hemp plants in the cultivation area.

I just mow or weed eat sow thistle down before flowers form, preventing the plants from reproducing, keeping them out of the garden. 

Often mistaken for dandelion, sow thistle is in the aster family. Both have basal rosettes yet the leaves are considerably different. Aphids are often attracted to sow thistle. 

Surinam Cockroach and Organic Hemp Cultivation

 These photos are of the Surinam burrowing cockroach, Pycnoscelus surinamensis, also known as the greenhouse cockroach, an exotic pest insect originally found in south to southeast Asia.

Surinam Cockroach, a potential key pest for hemp plants

Though preferring tropical or subtropical climates, the Surinam cockroach is now recognized to thrive in temperate zones also.

Surinam cockroach is often considered an economic risk pest especially in greenhouse settings. This roach is susceptible to solar desiccation and usually ventures out at night, where in the greenhouse it has been documented to eat tender buds and plant tips.

Surinam cockroach is one of the few insects that can commonly reproduce through female cloning without male sperm. This process is referred to as parthenogenesis. Studies have shown that multiple generations of the Surinam cockroach exist in the same location without the presence of even one male.

Surinam Cockroach in the hemp garden

Because the Surinam cockroach can damage tender buds and plant tips, any roach favorable habitat such as piles of wood, trash or stacks of nursery pots should be cleaned and either disposed of or organized appropriately.

I try and encourage bird presence in areas where I've identified this pest insect as birds will prey on this insect.

Understanding the preferred habitat and taking steps to integrate predatory management approaches in the hemp cultivation plan can lead to a successful Surinam cockroach control program.

Organic Florida Hemp Cultivation, Identifying Crop Pests with UV Light

Evolution has equipped many insects with a sublime ability to camouflage themselves. 

Pest Insects may remain hidden under most light wavelengths as shown here on a greenhouse lemon balm plant.

Insects may stay hidden under daylight wavelengths too.

Evolution has equipped many insects with effective camouflage appearances

Interestingly and importantly for the grower, ultraviolet lights used at night that produce illumination in the wave range between 300nm and 400 nm can often illuminate otherwise camouflaged pest insects.

UVb light can assist in identifying the presence of crop pests

Pest reconnaissance of crops in cultivation areas including those in row plantings and in the greenhouses can be conducted at night often with successful results for insect identification efforts.

Insects, plant damage, and even chlorophyll containing algae and cyanobacteria can be identified at night by examining plant stems, leaves and flowers using UVa and UVb lights. Many insects react to UV light through florescence of phosphors in their exoskeletons. Chlorophyll on the other hand under UVb absorbs all light waves except for 'red' wavelengths which are reflected back.  Algae growing across cultivation areas can easily be identified using UVb light.

Not all insects that glow under UV light are considered pests.  Potentially beneficial organisms such as stick insects, millipedes and even anoles can be easily spotted using UVa and UVb flashlights.

My personal favorite light for night insect surveillance are lithium rechargable, well built LED units with UVb filters.

Though the grower may not spot all pest insects on their greenhouse or row crop plants, chances are any key pest infestation can be quickly identified.

Warrior Beetles and Organic Hemp Cultivation

 Warrior beetle.  Good insect for hemp cultivation.

Warrior beetles are excellent predatory pests to have in the Florida organic hemp cultivation area.

Pasimachus sp., plays an important role in our organic integrated pest management program. 

Pasimachus has a never ending appetite for pest insects in the garden! What a great predatory beetle. 

#IPM #organic #hemp #Florida #Floridahemp

Florida Hemp Cultivation Bed Preparation

 Hay arrived yesterday for spring gardens.

Hemp cultivation is made easier with a quality mulch such as organic hay.

Excellent quality organic hay is useful as a mulch in the hemp garden, usually a bit more pest free than our mulched leaves.

We do mulch and reuse our leaves too however we find hay to be a favorite for maintaining soil moisture, keeping soils less compacted and not as hot, for buffering pH and contributing to overall organic matter content.

Hay is easily to spread, lightweight and readily & sustainably available on a local basis.

Planting Bed Prep for Spring Organic Hemp Crop

We began breaking soil and adding mulched organic matter from the Arendell Hill site in preparation for spring hemp planting.

In addition to the mulched organic leaf litter bird feeder platforms are now added to the cultivation area. Arendell Hill is a favorite foraging location for all types of birds, from large raptors to small songbirds. 

We enlist the birds to protect our hemp plants. Songbirds work efficiently in eating certain pest insects such as caterpillars, beetles and bugs. 

Planted around the base of the bird feeders are native plants and wildflowers such as spotted bee balm, Monarda punctate. M. punctate attracts predatory wasps and other beneficial insects such as the assassin bug. Predatory wasps and assassin bugs control many cannabis crop pests through a variety of methods.

Arendell Hill Nursery employs a complex and highly integrated matrix of natural and organic pest control approaches. An understanding how the cultivation site's ecosystematics function allows the grower to take advantage of each and every biological, meteorological and geological variable for growing amazing quality CBD and CBG rich flowers. 

Asian Lady Beetles and Organic Hemp (Cannabis) Cultivation

 I've been seeing Asian lady beetles, Harmonia axyridis, almost everywhere lately (early February 2022).

Asian Lady Beeetle, Harmonia axyridis, exotic insect and Organic Hemp Cultivation

Though they do little direct harm to cultivation (they do eat aphids) these exotics can cause serious nuisance issues around plants and especially in buildings. They certainly are not my preference for natural IPM across the hemp farm as they compete with native lady beetles.

Asian Lady Beetles on pepper plants at a local Tallahassee Nursery

Mostly, I tend to ignore them because they do not rise to the nuisance level of a 'key pest'. Beware though the Asian lady beetles can bite humans and they do leave a yellowish staining, foul smelling excretion when congregating in and around building windows.

Asian Lady Beetles should be monitored however across the hemp farm for potential damage

All in all, I'd rank them as a low species of concern, one worth notation (I certainly would not want too many of these insects foraging in plant flowers and buds) but not worth immediate worry over, across the hemp farm.

January Fungi, Florida Hemp Cultivation Integrated Pest Management

 Fungi play an important part in our integrated pest management program. Tracking fungi appearance and location is an important part of the organic matrix at Arendell Hill. January fungi under live oaks, coral fungi, Ramaria sp. considering R. formosa. Leon County

Tracking fungi across Hemp Cultivation area helps us understand the role fungi play in pest control 

Organic Hemp Cultivation, Pests in the Leaf Litter

 Caterpillars, when their population numbers grow unchecked, can devastate a hemp or cannabis crop in a matter of hours.

Organic Hemp Cultivation Pest Control, Managing Eastern Tent Caterpillar Web Masses

Last year there was a significant population bloom of the Eastern Tent Caterpillars, Malacosoma americanum in east Leon County.  The thick, web masses began to appear during spring and continued to grow in size through summer into autumn, finally falling to the ground with winter winds and rainstorms.

Here across Arendell Hill we counted thousands of the Eastern Tent Caterpillars over the course of the growing season.  They would crawl down from the safety of their web nests, across the ground and find any number of plants, including trees, to feed on, devouring blossoms, buds and leaves alike.

Our Myers lemons were hit especially hard from hungry caterpillar appetites.

Arendell Hill Nursery was not the only place infested with an over-population of the M. americanum, I encountered significant numbers of these caterpillars all across the city.  Park benches placed around our local library green space were often covered in masses of M. americanum.

As autumn leaves fall, so often do Eastern Tent Caterpillar eggs.  Their eggs are usually laid en masse around twigs, at the base of leaves. Winter storms often blow these egg masses to the ground where they become mixed with leaf litter and await warmer weather before hatching.

An important part of any organic based integrated pest management program is prevention.  One way to control on-site Eastern Tent Caterpillar populations is through daily ground surveillance.  Make it a habit to be on the lookout for fallen egg or web masses.  When you come across the eggs or webs on the ground, pick them up, place in a trash bag, tie securely then drop the bag into the garbage can for landfill destination pick up.

Chances are the web masses may not actually contain eggs but chances are also they may.

Eastern Tent Caterpillar egg and web masses blend in well with fallen leaf litter.  With a little practice one can soon find these well camouflaged potential future pest masses and begin disposing of in a convenient refuse container.

Much of the time the most successful organic pest control practices spring forth from common sense practices and an understanding of pest insect and bug life cycles.

Controlling Eastern Tent Caterpillars before they hatch is much easier than battling hoards of hungry pests. 

Leaf Footed Bugs, Friend or Foe to Organic Hemp Cultivation?

Leaf footed bugs, Leptoglossus spp., are larger size, primarily vegetarian insects, that feed on seeds, vegetables, plant matter and fruit with their cutting and sucking proboscis-like mouth.

Adult leaf footed bug, Leptoglossus spp. on a pine

Named for their leaf-like feet appendages, Leaf footed bugs are polyphagous and will feed on hemp plants, tomatoes, fruit, squashes and other garden crops when available.  During months when crops are not readily available they will feed on plants and seeds, seeking out 'weedy' areas across the hemp cultivation site. These insects may be often seen on hemp and cannabis plant stems, buds and leaves.

Leaf footed bugs can damage hemp and vegetable crops

Adult leaf footed bugs can fly long distances.  I usually see them hiding, over-wintering, in wood piles during cooler months.  They lay their eggs during spring and summer and may produce several generations in a year.

Birds, spiders and predatory wasps, possibly the sand wasp, are all natural enemies of leaf footed bugs and help keep their population numbers managed.

Though not the worst pest insect to the organic hemp or vegetable grower, they can inflict damage to both plant and flower.  In a well balanced horticultural ecosystem they can provide forage to other insects and wildlife and as such provide a certain level of food chain importance.

Certain species of thistles seem to attract leaf footed bugs as well as citrus.  Thistles are also quite beneficial in their supporting relationship to useful pollinators, birds and other natural pest predators. Native plant species such as milkweeds and mints are an important tool as they attract leaf footed bug enemies, such as predatory wasps.

A organic based integrated pest management approach to managing leaf footed bugs on the hemp farm should include;

• native plants that attract predatory wasps
• plenty of bird feeding opportunities
• removal of unnecessary wood and debris piles
• spider habitat
• sighting notations in daily grow journal.

As long as the leaf footed bug population numbers are not out of control, their occasional presence should not be a priority concern to the hemp grower.  They can be however, a dynamic variable in the hemp garden's ecosystematic matrix and as such their presence should be recognized by the grower in the daily journal.

 

Assassin Bugs, An Organic Hemp Cultivator's Helper

 Assassin bugs are a great pest control partner to have when growing hemp organically.  

Milkweed assassin bug, Zelus longipes, is an important part of an organic hemp pest management program

Members of the Reduviidae insect family, assassin bugs are the perfect hemp (or for that matter any organically grown garden plant) pest predator. They inject a digestive secretion into their prey and then suck out their prey's body fluids through a straw-like snout.  Assassin bugs favorite hunt includes; aphids, beetles, caterpillars, leafhoppers and even bees and flies.

Included with the Assassin bugs in the Reduviidae family are the closely related ambush bugs (subfamily Phymatinae), wheel bugs (Harpactorinae) and kissing bugs (Triatoma spp.).  Some Reduviidae can and will bite humans.  As with any insect bite,  a bite from these insects may be painful and proper first aid should be administered.

Foraging across the garden, the assassin bug's appetite is voracious and non-discriminatory, devouring both bad and beneficial insects.  But on the whole, the assassin bug is welcomed as an eat all pesty pest bug control partner. 

Milkweed assassin bug, Zelus longipes, foraging on Monarda punctata

The key to managing the assassin bug in the hemp growing area includes the use of nectar producing native plants the bug is naturally attracted to.  Strategic plantings of spotted bee balm, milkweed, goldenrod, mountain mint and other wildflowers can direct assassin bug's attention into those areas needing urgent pest control attention.

There are about one hundred fifty species of assassin bugs.  One of the most common assassin bugs seen in the garden is the Milkweed assassin bug, Zelus longipes.  

Milkweed assassin bug, Zelus longipes, have a never ending appetite for hemp cultivation pests

 The photos above are of a Milkweed assassin bug foraging across one of Arendell Hill's spotted bee balm, Monarda punctata, plants.

Though assassin bugs may look wicked, they can help the organic hemp grower keep pest insects to a minimum.

The native plants mentioned are known to attract assassin bugs looking for high-energy packed nectar.  Organic hemp integrated pest management will always use assassin bug attracting native plants around growing areas, either as permanent plantings or in movable growing containers for spot pest control.

The organic hemp nursery is a dynamic site, rich in complex ecosystematic matrices.  The relationships between native wildflowers, the Reduviidae family of insects and the hemp farm are important for the grower to understand.

Welcoming these colorful but alien looking bugs is another key component in a successful organic hemp growing program. 

Gulf Breezes, Crickets and Palm Fronds

 Over twenty minutes of Gulf of Mexico salty breezes blowing through sabal palm (Sabal palmetto) fronds above a black rush (Juncus roemerianus) & cordgrass(Spartina alterniflora) marsh along a remote coastline of the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. Field crickets (Gryllus spp.) can be heard through the audio recording. Peaceful ASMR generating ambiance of nature's coastal breezes. Sony PCM M10 recorder (24 bit 96 kHz) and LOM MikroUsi microphones, furry windshields and dry bags. 9pm.

Gulf Breezes, Crickets and Palm Fronds #ASMR #Ambient #SMNWR

Raptor Perches for Organic Integrated Pest Management

 Arendell Hill has two new raptor perches now and we hope the birds of prey make themselves at home on the fourteen feet tall bird stands. These raptor perches are inexpensive and easy to build, and can be moved as necessary to different locations in the future.

Organic Hemp Cultivation incorporates birds as pest control partners.  Here is one of two raptor perches at Arendell Hill.

The horizontal perch section is a 1 1/4" diameter wooden dowel and is fastened to the vertical support pole.

Raptor perch, horizontal wooden dowel attached to vertical metal support pole

The materials list is for two perches:

• Three 10' galvanized chain link fence top rail posts for vertical support
• One 4' in length 1 1/4" diameter wooden dowel for horizontal perch
• two galvanized chain link fence 1 3/8" T connectors 

Raptor Perch materials, IPM for Organic Hemp Cultivation

The tools I used to construct the raptor perches included; a fence post hammer (so much easier than a sledge hammer), level, portable ratchet, metal screws and portable screwdriver.

Raptor perch support pole should be plumb vertical

I cut one of the three ten foot top rail posts in half and drove the smaller diameter end into the ground using the pipe hammer approximately three feet or depending on the soil composition deep enough to keep the five foot pipe section sturdy.

Using the level I made sure the support pipe I was driving into the ground was vertically plumb, straight up and not skewed or leaning to the side.

Raptor perch support poles are fastened together and secured with metal screws

Once the support pipe is hammered into the ground then the small diameter end of the uncut ten foot six inch top rail pipe with the wooden dowel attached are placed into the support pipe. The two vertical pipes are fastened together with two metal screws.  A pilot hole can be drilled for the two metal screws.

Because the raptor perch support post is not permanently anchored in concrete, it can be moved depending upon hawk or other raptor flight patterns.  Disassembly is easy; unscrew the two metal screws, remove the longer top rail with perch attached then pull up the support pipe hammered into the ground.

Birds of prey such as both the red-shoulder and red-tail hawks, swallow tail kites, sharp-shinned hawks, Cooper's hawks, broad-winged hawk, Swainson's hawk, Screech owls, Barred owls, Great horned owls, Barn owls, Peregrine falcons, Kestrels and even vultures scour hemp cultivation areas for rodents and other vermin.

Rats, mice and other vermin will eat hemp and cannabis plants and flower buds for food and also for the phytochemical action upon their bodies. Once a vermin devours enough cannabis flower they make an easy target for a nearby bird of prey.

Raptor perches afford the birds of prey a reason to stop and check out the hemp farm.  For the grower, hawks and owls are an important part of the beneficial organic pest control team.

Rooting Bee Balm Cuttings Organically, Hemp Cultivation and Pest Control With Wasps

 Monarda punctata, spotted bee balm, is a native wildflower here in Florida and an important pest control plant at Arendell Hill.  Spotted bee balm attracts beneficial pollinators and wasps and beetles, such as native ladybugs. Spotted bee balm also serves as a decoy, diverting pest bugs away from hemp crops.  Seeking out Monarda's nectar, potential pest insects soon find themselves consumed by lady beetles, dragonflies and other insects foraging in the bee balm.

Organic Hemp IPM Incorporates Spotted Bee Balm, Arendell Hill Nursery

December, with its cooler and shorter days here in Florida is the perfect time to root cuttings.  I cut six to eight inch healthy stem tips from a thriving bee balm plant and place the cuttings in a 72 count seed tray filled with a mixture of perlite, vermiculite and rockwool.  Cuttings are placed in a shade house and misted every twenty minutes for ten seconds.

Organic Pest Control Plants; Monarda cuttings root easily without hormones

That is it.  In two to three weeks the cuttings are rooted and ready to be potted up into four inch pots filled with an organic potting mixture.

Moreover, a very important benefit of incorporating Monarda punctata into a native plant based organic pest control management plan for the hemp garden is the plant's ability to attract the predatory sand wasps!  Sand wasps are highly effective at controlling hemp damaging marmorated stink bugs.

A stink bug infestation can quickly devour much of a hemp crop in short time.

Fortunately sand wasps love to feed their larvae stink bugs.  Sand wasps are a group of predatory wasps that include the Astata and the brightly colored Bicyrtes species.  Sand wasps seek out the nectar of Monarda, mountain mint (Pycnanthemum spp.) and milkweeds (Asclepias spp).  Adult sand wasps especially love to hone in on the odor of marmorated stink bugs.

Mamorated stink bugs, Halyomorpha halys, are an exotic pest native to the far east but now widespread in North America.  These pests can inflict significant damage on hemp crops as well as cannabis and other agricultural plants.  Yet sand wasps will kill these stink bugs and carry their bodies into tunnels in the ground to feed wasp larvae where they live during maturation.

A single sand wasp may kill dozens of stink bugs across the hemp cultivation area, greatly reducing  potential pest damage risk.

Organic Hemp Pest Control involves many native plants, like Spotted Bee Balm which attracts beneficial insects

Spotted bee balm is also one of the most carefree and easiest native plants and wildflowers to grow, requiring little if any attention while being resilient to salt, wind and drought.

Native plants are often ignored when integrated pest management programs are developed for organic hemp cultivation, yet native plants offer so many benefits to the hemp and cannabis grower.  Just as Monarda punctata attracts the stink bug killing sand wasp, other native species too play host to insects, amphibians, reptiles and birds that work together as an efficient team, keeping ecosystem balanced and effectively reducing pest pressures on crops.

Organic Hemp Pest Control, a Native Plants & Songbird Partnership

 Last post we discussed the important roles wild birds have in organic based pest control for hemp cultivation.  

Ruby throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris attracted to the many native plants of Arendell Hill Nursery, feeds on nectar & tiny insects

Today's post will consider what the hemp grower can do using native plant species to attract and manage birds interactions with the cannabis farm.

As we previously read, a wild songbird partnership begins with native plant landscaping.  Birds have always sought out native plant species for foraging, communal and safe harbor habitat.  Native plant species are their first choice when they are deciding to take up residence on a site.  This also holds true for raptors and migratory birds.  The connection with native plants lies deep within all birds DNA, a quid pro quo arrangement formed during earth's deep time.

Certainly non-native horticultural type plants may be popular and even attractive, however they do not offer the level of wild bird provisions afforded by native plant species.  This is a proven fact.  Moreover, non-native horticultural plants may also provide unwanted hemp pests a place to proliferate and do harm to native plant species through hybridization and even DNA alteration.  

Many non-native plants can quickly spread across the landscape, their seeds dispersed by winds, wildlife and human activity.  An organic hemp farmer will need to be able recognize invasive plants, such as Coral Ardisia, Ardisia crenata, or air potato vine, Dioscorea buldifera  and implement control actions to stop the non-native's spread throughout the hemp agriculture site.

Importantly, one of the keys to high terpene content in flower buds of any variety is a high level of biodiversity and complexity in the surrounding ecosystem matrix.  Non-native species reduce biodiversity, sometimes drastically.  The coral ardisia and air potato vines mentioned above are one particular threat to hemp farms because invasive plants can quickly displace hundreds of native plant species that previously existed within the hemp ecosystem matrix depleting biodiversity and throttling production of complex terpene expression in hemp flowers.

Complexity of terpenes in hemp due to biodiversity is what makes a flower special.  When a flower is desirable to the consumer, demand and sales increase.  High quality hemp is the goal of most growers.  By attracting cultivation site songbirds and planting a diverse landscape of native plants the grower gains more control over unwanted pests and also increases the quality of the hemp product by keeping cultivation site biodiversity high.  The songbird-ecosystem matrix complexity-terpene-hemp plant relationship is a very important grow optimization concept for the farmer to explore. 

History is full of examples of plants providing humans with amazing phytochemicals, substances rich in healing properties.  For instance, yaupon holly, Ilex vomitoria contains caffeine and many terpenes too.  Songbirds love to eat holly berries.  Yaupon also provides a home across its bark for countless different species of lichens and mosses.  Older yaupon plants support a complexity of fungi and mushrooms.  All of these ecosystem variables; the fungi, the lichens, mosses, birds, plant and wildlife litter interact together to help form a web of ecosystem matrix diversity that is essential to comprehensive terpene creation in hemp and other plants.

Native plants have evolved over the ages alongside soil formation, fungi & lichens, plants, weather trends, insects, birds, fish, lake, river and stream creation and flow, climate changes and other biological and geophysical factors. The ecosystems we are a part of today were fashioned and shaped through millennia, a result of 'trial and error' over vast expanses of time.

Native ecosystems are the product of natures long term refinement processes.  In fact the time factor nature has invested into forming the ecosystems around us is so vast that it is practically impossible for us to comprehend what has taken really place.

The result of these evolutionary process can be witnessed in the precisely balanced interactions associated with native ecosystems.  Natural checks and balances keep seasonal life cycles functioning smoothly.  This way no one or two life types becomes over abundant or out of control. 

So for the hemp farmer, outdoor growing can expose hemp plants to geophysical and biological variables that may activate both biological and epigenetic process resulting in increased terpene production and diversity. Many terpenes important to humans for cosmetic, pharmaceutical, agricultural and food purposes are synthesized by plants as responses to outside influences, or ecosystem variables.  Some of these may be related to the ecosystematic complexities surrounding presence of native plants, insects, fungi, birds and wildlife.

A strategically designed native plant filled landscape not only provides the basis for increased terpene development but also serves as the foundation for organic integrated pest management purposes.

Once native flora is established, birds will make themselves at home and begin to assist in managing insect populations.

I've found the following native plant species to be especially helpful in recruiting songbirds, raptors and other wild birds.

Shrubs and small trees:

• Wax myrtle, Morella cerifera
• Yaupon holly, Ilex vomitoria
• American holly, Ilex opaca
• Gallberry, Ilex glabra
• Elderberry, Sambucus nigra
• Firebush, Hamelia patens
• Beautyberry, Callicarpa americana
• Hoptree, Ptelea trifoliata
• Coontie, Zamia integrifolia
• Red mulberry, Morus rubra
• Seagrape, Coccoloba uvifera & Pigeon plum, C. diversifolia (cold tender)
• Groundsel tree, Baccharis halimifolia
• Paurotis palm, Acoelorraphe wrightii (cold tender)
• Coco plum, Chrysobalanus icaco (cold tender)
• and many more.

Native tree species to plant for birds are:

• Oaks, such as;
• Live oak, Quercus virginiana
• White oak, Quercus alba
• Myrtle oak, Quercus myrtifolia
• Shumard oak, Quercus shumardii
• Swamp chesnut oak, Quercus michauxii
• and many more
• Red maple, Acer rubrum
• Hickory, including
• Mockernut hickory, Carya tomentosa
• Pignut hickory, Carya glabra
• Black walnut, Juglans nigra
• and others
• Magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora
• Black gum, Nyssa aquatica
• Cypress, Taxodium distichum & T. ascendens
• Pines species:
• Sand pine, Pinus clausa
• Slash pine, Pinus elliottii
• Spruce pine, Pinus glabra
• Longleaf pine, Pinus palustris
• Loblolly pine, Pinus taeda
• Sabal palm, Sabal palmetto
• Sycamore, Platanus occidentalis
• Tulip popular, Liriodendron tulipifera
• Silver buttonwood, Conocarpus erectus
• Mangroves;
• Black mangrove, Avicennis germinans
• Red mangrove, Rhizophora mangle (cold tender)
• White mangrove, Laguncularia racemosa (cold tender)
• and so many others

Native plant societies, wildflower associations, local agricultural extension agencies and native nursery business associations are all excellent information resources on what species to use and how to plant and care for native plants.

Here in Florida, the following entities can provide important growing info about native plants;

• Florida Wildflower Foundation 
• Florida Association of Native Nurseries 
• UF/IFAS 
• Florida Native Plant Society 

Hemp farm landscaping should always be included during initial hemp growing planning considerations. Native plant focused landscapes should be installed concurrent with any hemp cultivation efforts.

The organic hemp farmer needs all available help with pest control.  Hemp agriculture will demand significant amounts of time from the grower.  Native plants can serve as hosts to nature's own great pest control specialists.

Birds and Hemp Cultivation Organic Pest Control

 Guarded greenhouse cultivation of hemp and cannabis is the best way to avoid birds when growing hemp. Yet, the grower might ask, 'why would I want to exclude a great organic pest control partnership from my grow operation?'

We make sure the bluebirds have plenty of nesting boxes ready to use each year.  Bluebirds consume a significant amount of pest insects across the Arendell Hill Nursery.

Birds are practically ubiquitous.  Fences don't prevent their presence, neither does hunting.  Birds always come back to the garden. 

The smart organic hemp farmer understands that though birds will always be around and may present some negative issues (such as potential vectors of disease and damage to crops), they also provide a number of significant benefits, including;

• good control of caterpillar populations
• mitigation of excess squirrel numbers
• reduction in rodent infestations 
• removal of unwanted seed fall from adjacent landscape plants
• aphid and bug control
• cricket and grasshopper management
• and more

Disadvantages brought on by the birds can include;

• feces and droppings
• seeded bud damage
• broken branches

Because many hemp and cannabis growers prefer to purchase seed from seed supply companies, the issue of seed interference by birds comes down to 'are the birds damaging flowers and buds in search of seeds' or did 'the birds take my seeds'.

One approach many growers take is installing bird feeders at strategic locations around the hemp or cannabis growing areas.  Organic black oil sunflower seed and organic wild bird seed can be placed on trays or in dispensers.  Not only will this strategy attract pest eating birds to the area but also direct the birds away from crops and towards the feeders.

I hang the feeding platform about five feet above ground level on a piece of 1/2 galvanized pipe with a tee at the top hammered into the dirt.  We always have squirrels around Arendell Hill Nursery so our feeders must also be squirrel resistant too.  Audubon type squirrel guards work well.

Hawks and other raptors, while perfect for managing squirrel and rodent numbers, will also hunt the garden's songbirds.  Proper bird feeder placement requires sufficient native plant cover nearby.  

Evergreen natives, such as wax myrtle, Morella cerifera or southern magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora and American holly, Ilex opaca each offer good forage and cover for smaller songbirds.  Either place bird feeders close to the evergreen native shrub or plant a good size native close to the hemp garden's bird feeders.  The tightly shaped limb arrangement on the native shrubs allow songbirds a place to safely perch, away from the much larger raptors.

Raptor perches and owl boxes should also be placed around the garden perimeter to attract hawks and night hunters.  Owls are highly proficient when it comes to thinning gophers, moles and rodents. 

Owls being nocturnal do not usually prey upon songbirds so placing roosting boxes around the hemp garden should not significantly impact wild bird presence.

Next post we will begin discussing the specific types of wild songbirds useful to partner with in an organic pest management approach for hemp and cannabis cultivation.

Organic Hemp Pest Control and Anolis carolinensis (Florida's Green Anole)

Lately we've focused on discussing some of the many ecosystem variables associated with hemp (Cannabis sativa) cultivation in an effort to understand how to grow hemp organically, without the need for chemical pesticides and herbicides that may be implicated in toxic or carcinogenic potential.

The green anole is an important member of organic IPM efforts for hemp crops

Today we will briefly discuss one particular lizard, Anolis carolinensis, the common green anole.  The green anole is an insectivore and a native lizard here in the southeastern US.  But what is the difference between lizards and anoles?  Are anoles lizards or are lizards anoles?  

The green anole is a member of the Dactyloidae family, a group sometimes classified as a subgroup of the Iguanidae family (Iguanas).  Anoles and Iguanas are both considered to be 'lizards'.  Anoles range in size from small to large.  

Though native to North America the small green anole is also recognized as an invasive species in eastern countries such as Japan.  But here in Florida Anolis carolinensis is considered a beneficial native lizard.

Importantly to the hemp grower, the green anole is a highly beneficial ecosystem component to include when developing an organic integrated pest management plan.  Although any wildlife, insect or bird can be a vector for diseases that may affect hemp, Anolis carolinensis offers more benefits than risks to the grower.  With their big appetite for pest bugs green anoles can be a beneficial partner, on duty twenty four seven (I've seen them feeding at night), always looking to devour smaller pest organisms.

Organic Hemp Cultivation,  Anolis carolinesis's throat fan

Unfortunately for the hemp farmer and for the native green anole, a larger anole has appeared in Florida.  This also hungry, larger, invasive anole is known as the Cuban brown anole, Anolis sagrei.  Though native to Cuba and the Bahamas, the Cuban brown anole has spread through the Southeastern US by laying eggs in horticultural potted plant soil.

Unfortunately for the native green anole, the larger Cuban brown anole is a predator who loves to dine on green anoles.  But because the Cuban brown anole is significantly larger and heavier, the Cuban brown anole generally avoids heights.

Green anole quickly eats the pest housefly; Organic IPM in action!

Heights however are a preferred foraging and communal area for the native green anole.  The more plant matter growing above, say one meter, the better for the green anole.  Vertical green, especially in the form of native vines such as: Carolina jessamine, Gelsemium sempervirens; Coral honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens; and Virginia creeper, Parthenocissus quinquefolia grow above the larger Cuban anole's normal roaming territory and provide a safe-haven of vertical green to the hemp farm's green anoles.

So by adding what we call 'Vertical or Volumetric Green' to the hemp garden, the grower is providing the Florida green anole with a place to escape predators and contribute to organic hemp cultivation IPM by devouring flies, aphids, caterpillars and more.

The photo sequence here starts with a green anole resting on the palmetto frond siding of a chickee attracting flies (and female anoles) with his 'dew lap' or 'throat fan'.

Green anoles play an important role in organic integrated pest management programs.

The fly, Musca domestica, soon lands and the always searching for bug anole grabs and eats the first fly of many for the day.  This seemingly insignificant act of predation is so important to hemp IPM.  Common house flies are a significant vector of diseases that may affect hemp.  Flies frequently regurgitate their stomach contents and leave fecal matter after landing on a hemp bud.  Salmonella, aspergillus and other noxious organisms can be spread through hemp crops by house flies. Because the green anole eats copious numbers of house flies daily, they contribute to positive hemp crop ecosystem criteria.

Nature is constantly providing examples of how ecosystem matrices and integrated pest management function. 

The Florida green anole and native plant species that provide communal habitat for the anoles are two very important components of a successful organic hemp integrated pest management system.  Ultimately, both the grower and consumer benefit from organically grown hemp.  First, the consumer benefits from the organically grown hemp because the product is free from pesticides and industrial type chemicals that may be toxic or carcinogenic.  Second, the grower can command higher prices for their crops due to the demand for healthier organic products.

Learning to understand the variables in a hemp farm's ecosystem matrices can be a complex undertaking yet the efforts will pay big dividends in sustainability, quality product, health and biodiversity. 

Shout out to Anolis carolinensis!