Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a pest control program that combines control methods to prevent, reduce, or maintain populations of pests at a level that is not damaging to cannabis plants. A combination of physical, mechanical, and biological control methods are used with a knowledgeable cultivation staff trained in identifying cannabis pests such as whiteflies, thrips, and aphids, as well as diseases like powdery mildew.
Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) are an important part of any IPM and should include daily and/or weekly inspections, identification and logging of any pests, and immediate control. Prevention methods can include spacing, pruning, and careful procedures to prevent staff from bringing in harmful hitchhikers from the outside into the growing area. An effective IPM includes maintaining a controlled environment, and quickly identifying and removing pests with eradication methods that meet biological control requirements.