If you are searching for natural ways to control pests and improve the overall condition of your cannabis garden, companion planting is an old-fashioned, yet innovative option. Here, fruits, herbs, and vegetables are strategically planted alongside your marijuana plants to improve the ecosystem without unnatural supplements or pesticides. Companion planting is an effective and natural way to control pests, improve soil quality, enhance nutrient uptake, and provide living spaces for beneficial organisms. If you live in a warm state like Hawaii or Texas, take advantage of the long outdoor growing season and develop your green thumb in the process.
Companion Planting is a Form of Permaculture
In permaculture, growers look to imitate the natural ecosystem and use its concepts successfully. The term is a combination of two other words: permanent and agriculture. The idea is to create a permanent agricultural system that incorporates renewable and natural resources into the overall design. With permaculture, growers reduce waste, increase energy efficiency, and bring their efforts to a sustainable, natural level.
The History of Companion Planting
The concept of companion planting has been around for more than 10,000 years with the oldest examples coming from Native American tribes. The natives were known for squash, beans, and corn, which were almost always planted together. Certain tribes thought that these crops were a trinity sent to Earth by the Great Spirit.
When the natives practiced companion planting, the crops helped one another thrive. Corn provided the bean vines with a place to grow, while the beans fortified the soil with nitrogen. When these crops were combined with squash, the squash plants kept predators away and regulated soil moisture levels. Cannabis companion planting works similarly. By creating a micro-ecosystem, companion planted crops grow stronger, produce higher yields, and have fewer pest problems.
Practical Applications of Companion Planting
When you are considering companion planting with marijuana, you are performing several simultaneous functions: nutrient refinement, pest control, and soil preservation. If you are cultivating cannabis in an area where the practice is disallowed such as in Tennessee or Idaho, companion plants serve to hide your crop. A big advantage of the practice is the nurturing of helpful soil microbes.
These organisms convert crucial nutrients into a bio-available form, but they can be killed by some synthetic nutrients. To get the most out of companion planting, you will need organic fertilizers. At its simplest, companion planting is focused on natural and sustainable methods. Though it is easier to undertake outdoors, it can be done in indoor gardens with enough patience and space.
When pot plants are planted with certain other plant species, it is possible to fine-tune your results. Some plant types bring more helpful microbes to the soil, allowing for accelerated nutrient uptake. Certain species, such as basil, repel pests because of their odor. Other plants with specific attributes can be used to nourish the soil, making for a stronger and healthier cannabis crop. Companion planting has numerous practical applications that can be altered to meet your requirements.
Protecting and Nurturing Your Plants
As mentioned above, permaculture is the concept of using or mimicking natural resources in order to increase crop sustainability. Companion planting is just one permaculture technique, and it involves the planting of various crops close together for improved productivity and quality.
Your goal as a grower is to yield a better and cleaner product via improved nourishment, pest control, and harvesting strategies. Growing cannabis, as opposed to different species, implies certain things such as the need for a discreet installation. If you are growing a garden outdoors, there are several companion planting strategies to keep your crop safe.
Making Your Grow Op More Environmentally Friendly
The usage of artificial ingredients to protect or enhance a crop is a relatively recent development. Conversely, permaculture is a long-standing part of the world’s agricultural history. Its roots go back centuries, and the practice is seeing a resurgence. Though synthetic nutrients are preferable in some contexts, particularly in commercial growing operations, small-scale cannabis growers can benefit from a switch to eco-friendly cultivation methods.
The need for safe, fully natural, and organic crops is becoming increasingly urgent, and the marijuana industry is following a similar path. While monoculture is the default strategy for many growers, it has no natural equivalent; it is a man-made concept.
Even if you are a recreational grower who is experiencing great success, there is always the chance of sub-par weather, pest infestation, and other unwelcome circumstances. Having a few beneficial plants in your grow area will only help! There are so many companion plant choices that it is possible to end up with a varied and delicious garden, all without much additional effort.
In the sections below, we will list some of the best plants to grow alongside cannabis.
Beans
Bean planting is an excellent way to supplement your weed plants with nitrogen. Every grower has likely seen what insufficient nitrogen does to a crop. Bean plants absorb airborne nitrogen, converting it into a bio-available form for your plants.
Herbs
An herb such as chickweed is a good way to add natural nutrients to the soil. Basil is another good option; its natural pest control properties are largely due to its signature smell. Cilantro, sage, and chives are other good companion plants as they keep flies, beetles, spider mites, and aphids away from a crop.
Chrysanthemum
These flowers do not just look nice; they protect plants against nematodes (microscopic worms that invade and damage plant roots). Chrysanthemums are used in organic pesticides because of their elevated levels of pyrethrin, a chemical that leads to nervous system issues in insects.
Peppermint
This is yet another plant that is used to create organic pesticides. It is often compounded into an oil. In its botanical state, peppermint repels harmful bugs and may attract helpful ones.
Garlic
Another organic pesticide base, garlic serves as a natural fungus killer in a cannabis garden. Instead of using the man-made version of any of these natural pesticides, companion planting will bring you closer to your goals.
Alfalfa
Alfalfa plants are used to supplement the soil’s nutrients and as a base component. Alfalfa forms a nitrogen-heavy layer that further enhances cannabis plants’ nutrient uptake. This high grass is known to repel lygus bugs, which are especially harmful to marijuana growth.
Furthermore, alfalfa helps to moderate the soil’s nitrogen level, which is crucial to the successful growth of your crops. Alfalfa also stores phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, and iron, all of which assist in plant growth and development.
Chamomile
It is more than just a tasty tea; it is one of the best cannabis companion plants. Chamomile can gather sulfur, calcium, and potassium. As it biodegrades, these absorbed nutrients become part of the soil, strengthening your cannabis crop.
Chamomile is a natural repellent of whiteflies and other pests. Though it is well-known for its calming properties, chamomile is also a strong protector of young cannabis plants. Putting it next to your crop will not just keep insects away; it will also give the plants the nutrient boost they need.
Dill
Dill is an herb commonly used to make pickles, but it is also a great companion plant for marijuana. Dill’s strong protective properties make it a great addition to a cannabis garden. It keeps caterpillars and insects away from your crop, as these pests would rather eat dill than other plants. Dill also repels aphids, mites, and other bugs. It is simple to plant, and even a novice grower can plant it without harming their cannabis crop.
Basil
Known as the prince of plants, basil is yet another excellent cannabis companion. Many modern farmers believe that basil improves the flavor of crops such as tomatoes, and that belief transfers over to the cannabis industry. Basil is thought to boost terpene (essential oil) production in marijuana plants. Not only does basil serve this important function, but it also attracts beneficial insects while repelling harmful species such as whiteflies, mosquitoes, and asparagus beetles.
Lemon Balm
Are you growing in an area where cultivation is still prohibited, such as Alabama? Do you need a way to conceal the pungent odor of your crop? Lemon balm is a great place to start. The plant is particularly beneficial in its ability to hide crops from inquisitive neighbors, and it is useful in areas where cultivation is illegal. The concealment benefit alone is a major reason to use lemon balm as a cannabis companion plant. Furthermore, lemon balm repels gnats and mosquitoes, keeping your plants even safer.
Sunflowers
The humble sunflower is one of the best cannabis companion plants. They make a garden more attractive and they also serve important purposes in marijuana cultivation. Sunflowers tend to lure insects away from plants because of their size and dominant presence. Sunflowers’ roots help to preserve and filter the soil, and the plants themselves help to conceal and disguise a cannabis crop.
Lavender
Aside from its aesthetic value, lavender is a crucial part of cannabis companion planting. Ticks, mice, and fleas are repulsed by the aromatic properties of lavender. When it is planted next to cannabis, lavender keeps pests away and safeguards your crop against intrusion. Nectar-eating bugs, which help in cannabis cultivation, are drawn to lavender. This benefits the plants’ growth processes, and lavender combines well with cannabis as a relaxant.
Yarrow
Traditionally used in garden edging, yarrow is a great cannabis companion. Simply planting yarrow near your crop will conserve space and increase crop yield. Yarrow facilitates the production of essential oils in nearby plants, which is a vital aspect for cannabis growers. This plant also attracts aphid lions, hoverflies, ladybugs, and wasps, which protect cannabis plants.
Coriander
The pungent and somewhat undesirable aroma of coriander repels pests such as spider mites, potato beetles, and aphids. Conversely, coriander attracts hoverflies, parasitoid wasps, and tachinid flies that eat harmful bugs. When coriander is used as a cannabis companion, it is a great way to repel pests and keep crops safe from unwanted arrivals.
Marigolds
The smell of marigolds is irresistible, and their bright colors make them particularly appealing to pests that would otherwise feast on your cannabis plants. Plant some marigolds around the outside of your garden to lure pests away.
Peppers
Hot peppers will repel larger pests such as mice, rabbits, and deer. The peppers’ root systems exude a chemical that protects plants from rot, which is a great asset in areas with inadequate drainage or heavy rainfall.
Preparing Your Garden for Companion Plants
The pesticide aspects of companion planting depend on the presence of beneficial bacteria. In fact, it has been proven that some companion plants shield cannabis plants from certain bacterial diseases. The usage of man-made nutrients and pesticides may be harmful to a garden’s soil. Some of these additives can even destroy the fungal and bacterial ecosystem of the rhizosphere, or area where bacteria and roots meet.
The symbiosis of the rhizosphere is crucial to the health of your current crop, your future harvests, and the soil. When non-natural fertilizers and pesticides are used, it may render the soil toxic and unusable for decades. However, companion planting provides many of the same anti-fungal and anti-insect properties in a safe, natural, and attractive way.
Layering for Optimal Growth
Though companion planting is a great way to increase the vitality and health of your cannabis crop, it is useless if the soil in which the plants are placed is devoid of nutrients. Here, layering provides a viable solution.
By placing plant materials atop the first soil layer, it is possible to accelerate the regeneration of the bacterial and fungal ecosystem that turns a crop from adequate to exceptional. The bacteria in the topsoil layer will feed on the hidden plant material, converting it into bio-available nutrients. Fortunately, layering can be done whether you are growing cannabis indoors or outside.
A Few Closing Thoughts on Companion Planting
Ancient cultivation methods are once again coming to the forefront. As American cannabis growers search for safe and natural gardening methods, companion planting is being acknowledged a popular, safe, and effective way to achieve cultivation goals. As synthetic fertilizers and pesticides can kill helpful soil microbes, companion planting is an effective, safe and organic outdoor cultivation option. Using companion plants rather than man-made pesticides and plant foods will foster an ecosystem that helps cannabis plants absorb nutrients, repel pests, and grow healthier. Get started with kindseed.com to choose the strains you would like to see growing alongside companion plants.
