IPM: Yellowing Hemp Leaves? Lots of Reasons but Always Check pH of Soil and Water

 Yellowing of the lower leaves in hemp plants can be caused by several factors, and it's important to identify the correct one in order to address the issue effectively.

Yellowing Hemp Leaves caused by root zone pH being too high.

We try and provide the optimal growing conditions here at Arendell Hill Nursery in Tallahassee. Yet sometimes, no matter how intentional we are with organic nutrient application, good soil texture, adequate drainage, proper sunlight exposure and continual IPM we still encounter problems with plant growth.

Lately I've been seeing a bit of lower leaf yellowing on some of our container grown hemp plants. I know they have been properly watered and fertilized however the yellow seemed to be persistent.

There are many cultivation variables known to be responsible for yellowing hemp leaves.

Here are some common causes:

1. Nutrient Deficiency: This is often the most common cause. In particular, nitrogen deficiency can lead to yellowing of the lower leaves because the plant moves available nitrogen to support new growth at the top. Other deficiencies that can cause yellowing include potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium.

2. Overwatering or Underwatering: Both of these can stress the plant and cause yellowing. Overwatering can lead to root rot and oxygen deprivation, while underwatering can cause the plant to become dehydrated.

3. pH Imbalance: Hemp prefers slightly acidic to neutral pH levels (around 6-7). If the pH is too high or too low, it can lock out essential nutrients and lead to yellowing.

4. Poor Drainage: If your hemp plant is in a pot or soil with poor drainage, it can lead to waterlogging and oxygen deprivation for the roots, causing leaf yellowing.

5. Pests and Diseases: Certain pests and diseases can also cause leaf yellowing. For instance, fungus gnats can damage the roots and lead to yellowing of the lower leaves.

6. Temperature Stress: If the temperature is too high or too low, it can cause stress to the plant and result in yellowing.

7. Light Burn: If the plant is exposed to too intense light, it can "burn" the leaves and turn them yellow.

In our case the yellowing was a result of our irrigation water's naturally high pH of around 8.0 to 8.5. High pH water can, as mentioned above, prevent the hemp plant roots from taking up nutrients, even if those nutrients are available and exist in plentiful quantities within the hemp plant's root zone.

Irrigation pH balancing involves taking into account acidic rainfall amounts and then pH of natural irrigation water. During droughts, when more higher pH irrigation water from the well is used, more 'pH Down' (a water acidifier we use) must be added to irrigation to keep the root zone pH around 6.0-6.5.

When we have periods of significant rainfall, the hemp plant's root zone is less likely to exhibit a higher pH simply because we are using less well water.

Portable, battery powered pH meters are an important tool for Florida hemp growers (and any gardener for that matter). Here is a link to the pH meter we use.

Remember, identifying the exact cause requires observation and sometimes a process of elimination. Always consider the overall growing conditions including light, temperature, humidity, and the plant's watering schedule. If you're growing indoors, you can more easily control these factors compared to outdoor growing.

Nature Healing; Immersed With Frog & Wading Bird Night Calls, 4 hours

 Doing field-recording & nature audio immersion has helped me manage and heal both my aortic dissection symptoms and my kidney cancer.  Not only do I find immense pleasure in hiking far into the wilderness to place the recorders in isolated habitat, but processing the audio and then listening to the languages of nature makes me feel like I am cloaked with a snug, weighted blanket woven by Gaia.

I really enjoy this one audio clip and think you would enjoy listening to it also.

Four hours of mid-May post-sunset amphibian calls across the wide, tidally influenced West Goose Creek marsh in the Wakulla District of the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. The audio begins around 7pm EST and continues to 11 pm EST during a light drizzly rain. Recorded frogs include pig frogs (Rana grylio), leopard frogs (Lithobates sphenocephalus), green tree frogs (Hyla cinerea) and others. Herons and other wading birds can be heard in the background occasionally and the periodic aircraft engine noise passing overhead. The wide open marsh is covered with black needlerush (Juncus spp.) and crimson marsh mallow (Hibiscus coccineus). Our Sony D10 recorders equipped with Clippy stereo microphones protected with windbubbles and dry bags were placed about 2 meters above the saturated ground secured in evergreen branches of wax myrtle shrubs (Morella cerifera).

Drizzly Marsh Night, 4 hours Nature Audio

IPM; Pokeweed, Phytolacca americana, an Important IPM Plant Protecting Hemp and Vegetable Crops

 Phytolacca americana, also known as pokeweed, poke sallet, or poke salad, is a perennial plant native to the eastern United States. It's known for its large, smooth leaves, clusters of dark berries, and distinct red stems. We welcome pokeweed plants and always invite them to grow in the hemp and vegetable gardens because of important roles pokeweed plays in our Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan.

One of our FAMU pilot varieties of hemp, growing near a large pokeweed plant.

Pesky bugs will usually choose a pokeweed leaf over just about any other plant. Pokeweed's lure and trap capabilities have earned it a reputation as an important Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan component.

Another potential benefit is that pokeweed can attract birds due to its berries. Birds play a crucial role in pest control, as they eat many types of insects. So, having pokeweed in your garden may draw birds that will feed on your pest population. However, be aware that the berries are toxic to mammals, including humans. We have also noticed that because pokeweed's leaves are rather large, pest insects, Southern Armyworm, Spodoptera eridana and other caterpillars make easy forage targets for our bluebird, nuthatch, finch and wren populations.

Yes, if certain pests in your local area are more attracted to pokeweed than to other plants, they may congregate on the pokeweed, reducing their numbers on more valuable plants. The efficacy of this would depend on the specific pests in question and their feeding preferences. We find that the armyworms love to forage on our pokeweed plants leaves. While these caterpillars are devouring pokeweed leaves they are not eating our other garden plants, including our hemp and they are becoming meals themselves for foraging songbirds.

Another pokeweed plant in the hemp garden, its leaves eaten by insect pests.

Pokeweed is a common plant native to the eastern parts of North America. It has distinctive red stems and produces dark purple berries that are attractive to many bird species. As for why garden insects are drawn to pokeweed, a few factors could be at play:

1. Plant Chemistry: Like many plants, pokeweed has a unique chemical makeup that can attract certain insects. It's possible that some insects are attracted to particular compounds in pokeweed, whether for food, a place to lay eggs, or another purpose. For instance, pokeweed produces toxic compounds, such as saponins and oxalates, which deter many herbivores but may not deter certain insects adapted to handle these toxins.

2. Leaf Characteristics: Pokeweed has large, soft leaves, which may be easier for certain insects to eat compared to tougher, smaller leaves on other plants.

3. Availability and Accessibility: Pokeweed is a vigorous grower and can produce large quantities of leaves and berries, making it an abundant food source for insects. Its size and growth habit also make it accessible to a wide range of insects.

4. Species-Specific Relationships: Some insect species may have developed a preference or even a dependence on pokeweed through co-evolution, much like monarch butterflies and milkweed. For example, the pokeweed leaffooted bug (Leptoglossus phyllopus) is known to feed on pokeweed.

However, using pokeweed as a trap crop can have some downsides. For example, if the pests are not adequately controlled on the pokeweed, it could become a breeding ground that exacerbates the pest problem. Moreover, pokeweed is a vigorous plant that can become aggressive in its growing habit if not carefully managed. Also, as previously mentioned, all parts of the plant are toxic to mammals when raw and can be dangerous if consumed.

We are convinced that the pokeweed plants growing alongside our garden vegetables, wildflowers and hemp plants offer important IPM benefits as pest insect trap plants. We always remember to treat pokeweed with care because of the plant's toxicity. Importantly, before deciding to use pokeweed as a lure or trap crop, it would be wise to conduct a thorough assessment of your garden's needs and the local pest and wildlife populations. Consulting with a local extension service or a pest management professional could provide valuable insights.

Remember, successful integrated pest management usually involves a combination of techniques, including biological control, use of resistant plant varieties, and crop rotation. A single plant species is unlikely to solve all pest problems yet pokeweed has demonstrated it can lure our garden's pest insects away from our important crops to pokeweed's broad leaves where songbirds and anoles then treat the pest insects as food.

Nature Healing: How Forest Bathing Helps Manage Trauma

Forest bathing, also known as "Shinrin-Yoku" in Japanese, refers to spending time in a forest or natural environment for the purpose of enhancing health, wellness, and happiness. The practice is not exercise, or hiking, or jogging; it is simply being in nature, connecting with the universal through our senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch.

Very real health management substances can be acquired through Forest Bathing

The connection between forest bathing and healing trauma or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been known to traditional healers since the beginning of time but has only recently been acknowledged in scientific literature.  

One of my favorite Forest Bathing places is found deep in the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

Importantly, some potential reasons and mechanisms to explain how forest bathing could be beneficial include:

1. Stress Reduction: One of the significant benefits of forest bathing is stress reduction. Natural settings can decrease cortisol levels, pulse rate, and blood pressure, which are typically heightened in individuals suffering from trauma or PTSD. Lowering these stress indicators can help individuals manage their symptoms more effectively.
2. Mood Enhancement: Nature and forest environments are associated with enhanced mood and feelings of wellbeing. This could be beneficial for individuals with PTSD, who often suffer from mood disorders such as depression and anxiety.
3. Mindfulness and Presence: The practice encourages mindfulness and living in the present moment, which can help distract individuals from traumatic memories and intrusive thoughts that contribute to PTSD.
4. Improved Sleep: Forest bathing can contribute to better sleep, which is often a challenge for individuals with PTSD. Better sleep can lead to improvements in mental and physical health.
5. Boosts Immune System: Exposure to forests enhances the activity of natural killer cells, a component of the immune system that helps combat disease. This is partly due to inhaling phytoncides, organic compounds with antibacterial properties released by trees.
6. Therapeutic Setting: A forest can provide a calming and safe environment for therapeutic activities, such as trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy or exposure therapy.
7. Nature Connection: Some research suggests that developing a connection with nature can aid in trauma recovery, as it can promote feelings of peace, resilience, and overall mental wellbeing.

Remember, while forest bathing may provide potential benefits, it should not replace traditional treatment methods for PTSD and trauma, such as psychotherapy and medication. If you or someone else has PTSD or has experienced a traumatic event, it's crucial to seek help from a mental health professional.

IPM: Species Biodiversity in the Garden Promotes Effective Integrated Pest Management Results

 We grow many Florida native plant species alongside our FAMU pilot project hemp (x Hepius & x Master Kush).  

The native wildflower, Rudbeckia hirta growing next to a FAMU pilot hemp x Hepius 

We've found the richer the growing area is with respect to plant species biodiversity, the more beneficial insects we notice foraging or taking up communal presence in the garden.

Hemp can be negatively affected by caterpillars and here in North Florida we have so many different types of caterpillars throughout the year.

Parasitoid wasps are helpful in controlling caterpillars by laying eggs in the caterpillar, using the living caterpillar as a larval host.  Parasitoid wasps are often attracted to the growing areas because of the presence of mint plants, like the native Monarda punctata.  Wildflowers also offer beneficial insect attraction potential.

In our hemp and food gardens, native plants and wildflowers are important components of our Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program.  We believe diversity in species not only plays an important role in pest management but also helps create high quality, unique niche plant product through environmental and epigenetic factors.

IPM is a comprehensive, environmentally safe approach to managing pests. It integrates different pest control methods to achieve long-term pest management solutions while minimizing the harm to people and the environment. Biodiversity in plants plays a critical role in this approach for several reasons:

1. Habitat for Beneficial Insects and Organisms: Different plant species attract different types of insects and other organisms, including those that are beneficial for pest control, such as ladybugs, spiders, and predatory mites. These beneficial insects and organisms feed on pests, helping to keep their populations in check.

2. Resilience to Pests: A diverse garden with a variety of plant species can be more resilient to pests. If a pest does become a problem, it is less likely to wipe out an entire crop because different plants are often susceptible to different pests.

3. Disease Resistance: Just as with pests, different plant species have varying degrees of resistance to different diseases. Having a diverse range of plant species can help prevent the spread of disease in a garden or agricultural field.

4. Crop Rotation and Intercropping: These are two techniques that rely on plant biodiversity. Crop rotation involves changing the type of crop planted in a particular area each season, which can help prevent pests and diseases that favor specific crops. Intercropping, on the other hand, involves growing different types of plants together, which can help deter pests.

5. Healthier Soil: Biodiversity also contributes to healthier soil. Different plants contribute different nutrients to the soil and have different effects on its structure and microbial life. A diverse range of plants can thus help maintain a healthy, balanced soil ecosystem that can contribute to pest management.

6. Cover Crops and Green Manures: Some plants can be used as cover crops or green manures. These plants are grown not for harvest but to improve soil health, suppress weeds, and manage pests and diseases. They can be an integral part of an IPM approach.

In conclusion, plant biodiversity is a crucial component of integrated pest management. It helps create a balanced, healthy ecosystem that can naturally keep pests in check while also providing other environmental benefits.

Florida's Predatory Stinkbug, Natural Pest Control in the Hemp Garden

 Euthyrhynchus floridanus, commonly known as the Florida predatory stink bug, is a species of predatory stink bug in the family Pentatomidae. Like other predatory stink bugs, it can serve as a natural form of pest control in gardens due to its predation on various garden pests.

Adult predatory stinkbug on a hemp leaf

Here are some key benefits of having the Florida predatory stink bug in your garden:

1. Predation of pests: Florida predatory stink bugs are voracious predators. They feed on a wide variety of insects that are considered pests in gardens and agricultural fields, including caterpillars, beetles, and other bugs. This can help keep pest populations in check, thereby reducing damage to your plants.

2. Natural pest control: By serving as a natural form of pest control, Florida predatory stink bugs can reduce or even eliminate the need for chemical pesticides in your garden. This can benefit the environment by reducing the amount of toxic chemicals released into it.

3. Biodiversity: Having a variety of different species in your garden, including predatory stink bugs, can help increase its biodiversity. This can lead to a healthier and more resilient ecosystem.

4. Balance in the ecosystem: Predators such as the Florida predatory stink bug can help maintain balance in the ecosystem by controlling the population of pests. This can help prevent pest outbreaks that can cause significant damage to your plants.

5. Cost-effectiveness: Since the Florida predatory stink bug feeds on various pests, encouraging their presence in your garden could potentially save you money on pest control efforts.

Predatory stinkbugs eat caterpillars, slugs, beetles and other garden pest insects

As with any form of biological control, the key is to maintain a balanced ecosystem where no single species becomes too dominant. If the predatory stink bug population grows too large, they might run out of prey and start feeding on your plants.

Predatory stinkbug nymph

So while they can be beneficial, it's still important to monitor their population and the overall health of your garden.

Asclepias lanceolata, Fewflowered Milkweed

Asclepias lanceolata, Fewflowered Milkweed, #nativeplants

 

11 Hours ASMR Whitenoise Ambiance Thunder Rain Evening Crickets

11 Hours Ambiance Thunder Rain Evening Crickets https://youtu.be/vT1sXFicGd0 via @YouTube #asmr #whitenoise #rain #birdcalls #frogs #crickets

Tallahassee Windchimes Playing Approaching Rainstorm Breezes

 Need to chill? One and half hour of chimes playing nature's wind vibes! 

Great for lowering blood pressure & protecting our #aorta. 

Wind Chimes & ASMR, Nature Bathing

Hour and half peaceful, ASMR-like, gentle breezes before yesterday's springtime approaching rainstorm playing wind chimes on front porch of the farm here just outside Tallahassee. 

Zoom F6, MKH416, dead cat & tripod. #fieldrecording #windchimes #ASMR #aorticdissection #dissection #naturebathing

Full Moon Tidal Creek Flow, Frogs, Shorebirds & Crickets

 Spring full moon tides are usually much higher and lower turning gentle flowing brackish creeks into rushing rivers. This audio is one hour of outgoing tidal flow's rushing water sounds along with Pig Frogs, Leopard Frogs, a few Green Tree Frogs calling.

One hour ASMR Nature Bathing Audio, Full Moon Tidal Flow, SMNWR

Shorebirds, songbirds, crickets and the occasional overhead airplane and nearby fishing boat contribute to the rest of the full moon marsh audio. Recording rushing water audio is challenging however I find the sounds ground me with the earth (after all our bodies are mostly water).

The Pig Frogs are the perfect bass accompaniment while Leopard Frogs call with out their soprano melodies. I hear Red-winged Blackbirds throughout along with a number of shorebirds. Mole crickets and Southern Field Crickets round out the recording.

The St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge is always in earth & wildlife orchestra mode. Sony PCM M10 recorders, Clippy mics, Windbubbles & dry bags.

March 2023 Marsh Leopard & Pig Frog Sunset Calls, Field Recording, Forest Bathing

One hour Pig and Leopard Frog Calls, SMNWR

 One hour March 2023 sunset frog calls consisting mostly of Leopard frogs (Lithobates sphenocephalus), Pig frogs (Rana grylio), a few Green tree frogs (Hyla cinerea) with Southern Field Crickets & the strange calls of Marsh Moorhen calls scattered throughout the audio. Audio collected during an overnight recording session in a dropbag set comprised of Sony PCM M10 recorder, LOM MikroUsi microphones, windbubbles & camo-type drybags. Audio location was adjacent the Florida Trail segment running west of East River Pool in the St. Marks National Wildlife refuge.