Interactions
Although no animals are known to eat entire marijuana plants, several organisms like to munch on select parts. White flies or aphids, a common garden pest, have developed a taste for the leaves of Cannabis. Specifically, white flies like to eat the underside of the leaves that lack a waxy cuticle like the top layer. Unlike the white flies, Japanese beetles will eat the entire leaf. Just like home gardens a population of Japanese beetles can kill a whole plant by destroying its leaves so badly it cannot photosynthesize enough to support itself.
Earwigs
are not picky eaters. They will eat other insects and plants.
Earwigs have been known to eat almost all parts of flowering
plants. In Cannabis plants earwigs have developed a special
affinity for young soft tissue like newly forming buds.
Every grower knows the number one pest when it comes to cultivating marijuana, the spidermite. Spidermites terrorize Cannabis outdoors as well, but the species has found a special niche feeding off indoor plants. Spidermites pierce through the superficial layers of young tissue and suck out life giving sap. This pest generally does not kill the plant, but stunts growth and delays its reproductive maturity. These setbacks in the life cycle of marijuana plants result in less resin containing THC. A case of spidermites will delay the time needed for harvest and drastically reduce its value and potency. Spidermites are so common in indoor grown plants that all marijuana dispensaries are required to inspect their products for dead spidermites before selling it to customers.
Of all the organisms marijuana interacts with, the most
documented is without a doubt humans. Throughout time we have
bred and pampered this plant. In the days before the 1960’s
mankind has been producing habitats for mar
ijuana in fields as a
crop. Like other crops, we tilled the soil, planted its seeds,
and even redirected the flow of rivers to nourish it. In the
1960’s we began to bring it indoors and pampering it in ways
unimagined before. Indoors we have set up elaborate utopias for
Cannabis to live its life. To read more about marijuana grown
indoors, see the Indoor Habitat page.
We are also recipients of the benefits of our relationship
with Cannabis. Before the hybridization of the two species,
Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica, Cannabis sativa was the
predominate species. Strains of Cannabis sativa were harvested
for their strong fiber. Textile goods, including clothes and rope,
were made
from
Cannabis sativa for thousands of years and
continues today. Of course, the most well known use for Cannabis
is for its psychoactive effects. Marijuana is usually smoked, but
it can also be vaporized or baked into food.
Like what you've read so far? Earwigs and aphids not your thing? Check out the facts page for some quick fun information. You may never think of two of the American founding fathers the same way.