Debunking the Myth that Pests and Contaminants Most Likely Come from Growing Media

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In a 2022 study, 28% of surveyed growers cited contaminated soil or growing media as the source of their pest issues. However, we’re here to debunk the myth that growing media is the most likely source of pests and contaminants in controlled environment grow operations.

More Likely Sources of Pests and Pathogens than Growing Media

Pests and pathogens are often believed to most likely come from horticultural media, but that’s not true in controlled environment agriculture. There are a number of different reasons for this. Let’s use root aphids as an example.

Root aphids usually come from imported plant material. They require host plant materials for their life cycle. In other words, roots must be present to get root aphids. Therefore, root aphids are unlikely to come from growing media unless the media is made outdoors or recycled. Another way root aphids could come from growing media is if the manufacturer used poor manufacturing processes and introduced plant material during production. This won’t happen when you use media that is truly clean.

At bio365, we can say with 100% confidence that our clean, living growing media will never introduce root aphids into your facility. We know this because we don’t use any inputs in our manufacturing process that could act as a host. No plant material is ever in our facility, nor do we allow previously used media into our facilities. Our media is manufactured and stored entirely indoors in a tightly controlled environment.

Another example is Hop Latent Viroid (HLVd), which spreads in two ways – via mechanical transmission (touch) or infected clone transmission. Some growers mistakenly believe their growing media is the source, but the most common ways HLVd spreads via mechanical transmission is through tools and equipment used on both infected and uninfected plants. Infected clone transmission happens when clones taken from an infected mother plant are brought into a grow facility.

With that said, it is possible to use growing media that has been infected with HLVd if the soil is recycled or was manufactured in a contaminated facility. Choose your growing media wisely! Using a 100% clean horticultural media, like bio365, is the best way to prevent bringing HLVd into your facility in your media.

Learn more in the Guide to HLVd Preventative Practices for Cannabis Growers

More Likely Sources of Heavy Metals than Growing Media

There are more sources of heavy metals than growing media. The truth is most products with nutrients in them have some amount of metals present. The more of these products that you use, the greater the cumulative effect. In other words, it’s the combination of soil, fertilizers, feeding practices, and other amendments that are typically the primary source of heavy metal problems for cannabis cultivators. Therefore, it’s critical that cannabis growers track all sources of heavy metals in their growing systems.

Keep in mind, the levels of heavy metals legally allowed in a finished cannabis product for human consumption are very different from the levels allowed in the horticultural media cannabis plants are grown in. That’s because plants require small levels of heavy metals from media for optimum growth.

To get an accurate measurement of heavy metals in growing media, you have to use a certified horticultural testing lab that tests soil using protocol EPA SW-0846. At bio365, we test all of our media for heavy metal contents using accredited labs and appropriate protocols, and all of our media are significantly under the limits for permitted heavy metal contents in fertilizer or compost-based amendments.

Learn more in the Guide to Testing for Heavy Metals in Growing Media for Cannabis Cultivators

Ways to Avoid Contamination

There are so many vectors to contamination in a cannabis grow facility, but with the right systems in place, you can prevent problems that could negatively affect your plants, crops, revenue, profits, and reputation. Here are some key ways to avoid contamination in your facility:

Cleaning Protocols

You should have strict cleaning protocols in place for all people, such as employees and visitors, that includes thorough decontamination procedures. Tools and equipment should not be moved from room to room unless you have a solid decontamination process in place. Pots and containers should be fully sanitized between uses. This is extremely difficult to do, so switching to single-use grow bags is a better option.

Single-Source HVAC and Fans

Your HVAC system and fans should not be linked from one room to the next, which would allow air to circulate through multiple rooms. Air carries contaminants, so each room in your facility should be completely isolated from the rest.

Material Introduction

The most common source of contamination in indoor cannabis facilities is plant material that comes from outside the facility, such as seeds, germplasm, and tissue cultures. Quarantine all plant material brought into your facility for at least 30 days, and if you’re transplanting, always sample and test first.

Material Disposal and Exterior Facility Environment

Uncleaned containers, old plant material, and other materials left outside your facility can attract pests and pathogens very quickly. It’s not difficult for pests and pathogens around the exterior of your facility to find a way inside. Therefore, keep the exterior of your facility clean and seal your facility to the greatest extent possible.

Clean Inputs

The products you bring into your facility can introduce contaminants, so only bring in products that you are 100% confident are clean. See the tips for vetting suppliers below to learn more about choosing clean product vendors.

Tips to Vet Your Suppliers for Quality and Cleanliness

To avoid introducing pests and contaminants into your facility, you have to start by only bringing in clean products and materials. We have a 42-point quality control process that we follow at bio365 to ensure all of our horticultural media is 100% clean.

Here are some of the key factors you should evaluate with any supplier you consider buying from:

  • The supplier purchases raw materials come from a quality source.

  • The supplier has a defined process for receiving raw materials that includes inspection, testing, and storage.

  • The supplier has documented facility and management procedures to ensure materials, inputs, and finished goods are produced, stored, and managed appropriately.

  • The supplier has production controls in place to ensure they produce high quality outputs.

  • The supplier uses comprehensive batch tracking.

  • The supplier has processes in place to ensure consistent packaging.

  • The supplier has and is willing to share test results, certificates of analysis, samples, and quality controls with you.

Learn more in the Guide to Assess Your Supply Chain Quality Control Processes

Key Takeaways

Growing media is the easiest thing to blame for introducing pests and contaminants into a cannabis grow facility, but it’s not the most likely source. It’s time to debunk the myth and acknowledge more common causes, so growers can make changes that will better protect their crops in the future.

Switching to bio365’s 100% clean, living growing media is a great step to avoid bringing pests and pathogens into your facility.

The truth is bio365 is the only horticultural media made in a fully controlled environment. Everything that goes into bio365 media is manufactured and stored indoors in pest- and disease-controlled spaces. All workers have to change their clothes and go through a comprehensive hygiene process to enter. Every input is fully tested and anything that doesn’t meet our high-quality standards is thrown out. We even use elaborate environmental testing that is monitored in 20 different places for pests, pathogens, and contaminants.

Bottom-line, when you use bio365 growing media, you can be 100% confident that it’s clean and pest- and pathogen-free. Ready to test bio365 at your facility? Contact us to start a free trial.