Pest control is essential for the gardener, whether the grower chooses indoor hydroponic setups or traditional outdoor farming. Nature can be cruel to the gardener as well – after months of diligent care, potentially beautiful crops that held the promise of high yield can be swept away in a matter of days. Prevention is always better than cure, of course, but once an infestation is noticed, it’s important the grower knows what they are dealing with. Here are some hints on how to properly identify pests in your hydroponic garden:

Your method – examination

Make sure you know your plants – do some research. If you know your crop, you will understand which pests they are most vulnerable to, and this will narrow the investigation somewhat. Get yourself a magnifying glass; if possible one with a magnification of at least 10x – the higher the magnification, the better. Most bugs are very small and can’t be seen with the naked eye.

Inspect your plants regularly so you know what they normally look like. Bugs are often not detected; more likely than not, you will notice the damage they inflict before the pest itself. Here are three of the most common pests:

Spider mites

There are many species of mites, but the red spider mite is probably the most common one. They’re called spider mites because they look like small spiders. They’re more reddish brown than bright red, and chances are you’ll only spot them by the damage they do - you’ll notice pale white-green spots on the leaves of the plant where they’ve been sucking the sap out of it. They can be found at the bottom of the leaves. You’ll also notice web-like structures at the nodes of the crops.

Aphids

Similar to mites, but these annoying creatures come in all different kinds of colours – they could be green, pink, black, or anything in-between. They’re actually much worse than mites because they sprout wings and easily go to other plants. They produce a mould that looks like honeydew, and since ants love to feed on the secretions, aphids and ants often go together.

Thrips

Thrips feed on the chlorophyll and you will notice your plants turning silver and dying. What’s worse – they often carry other diseases such as tomato rot. If your leaves take on a tissue-paper look, chances are thrips are the culprit.

The three kinds of pests mentioned above are only the tip of the iceberg – we still haven’t covered caterpillars, snails, moulds, scales, fleas, and a whole range of other bugs. Properly identifying the pest is the first step in fighting back, as this will decide what remedy you should employ. And if you want not only to rid yourself of pests but also to get the best hydroponic supplies, go with a reputable and experienced supplier.