Companion plants offer cannabis plants many benefits, such as deterring pests and fixing nitrogen. Some can even improve soil health, increasing your grow’s yield.
Despite their popularity, cover crops weren’t always meant to be used next to your cannabis. They can easily crowd out your cannabis, especially if they’re planted too high or not properly trimmed back.
Beans
Crop underplanting can be a great way to boost the health of cannabis plants, particularly when it is used to improve soil quality and promote nutrient absorption. These companion plants also provide shade and natural support, which is helpful when growing outdoors.
There are a variety of different crops that can be used for companion planting, and each one has its own benefits. Some crops can enhance the flavour of a plant, while others can help deter pests from the garden.
The earliest stages of cannabis cultivation can be very vulnerable to insects and other threats. Companion plants can keep them at bay, and also help give the younger crop a boost in terms of terpene production.
Lavender is a versatile and beneficial companion plant for cannabis growers, as it is a natural insect repellent and can deter fleas, ticks, and mice from the garden. Additionally, lavender is known to help with relaxation and stress reduction, making it a great addition to the grower’s garden.
Yarrow is another plant that can be used as a companion to cannabis, and it can strengthen the plants as it boosts essential oil production. This can help with the overall production of high-quality buds.
Borage is another good plant to have in the garden for companion planting, and it can be used to enhance the soil. The borage plant can be up to three feet tall and its roots can help improve the drainage of the garden, as well as adding a lot of nutrients.
It can also be planted alongside cannabis to act as a weed-suppressing agent. This will allow you to have a healthier environment and prevent weeds from growing out of control.
Basil is another useful companion plant for cannabis cultivation, and it can be used to boost the production of terpenes. It also attracts bees, which can help to repel pests and encourage pollination.
Chamomile is a popular herb for its calming qualities, but it can also be used to protect the earlier stages of cannabis cultivation from pests and whiteflies. It can also be used to increase nutrient absorption and promote the growth of cannabis terpenes.
Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums are beautiful flowers, able to add an array of hues and colors to your garden. They are also a very easy plant to grow. They are hardy and can be grown in most areas of the country. They come in a variety of sizes and shapes, making it easy to find the right one for your space.
There are tens of thousands of cultivars to choose from. They range from a single daisy-like flower to a semi-double. They can be planted directly in your yard, or you can grow them in containers.
When you’re ready to move on from the flowers, you can cut them down and replant them elsewhere in your garden. Some chrysanthemums are even edible. These include ox-eye daisies and purple coneflowers.
For the best results, try to give chrysanthemums plenty of light. You should also make sure that the soil you’re planting them in has plenty of water, too. You can also fertilize them with a nitrogen-based all-purpose liquid fertilizer.
Some chrysanthemums will even tolerate low moisture, but they don’t do well with excess soil moisture. Excess water can cause rot, which is a very serious problem for these plants.
In addition, chrysanthemums are susceptible to several virus and viroid diseases. Infections of CVB and tomato aspermy cucumovirus (TAC) have a major economic impact on chrysanthemum crops.
TSWV is another virus that has a range of different host plants and can infect chrysanthemums. It is spread from infected plants by thrips and can lead to wilt symptoms on the leaves and stems of infected plants.
These symptoms will not affect most cultivars, but older plants may be more prone to TSWV infection. It is important to select a virus-tested planting stock.
Chrysanthemums should be cultivated with strict hygienic practices, and the movement of insects such as thrips and aphids should be controlled. This will prevent the movement of disease-carrying insects to infected plants and help to keep them from spreading to other cultivars.
Chrysanthemums are also known for their ability to attract beneficial insect predators, including bees and wasps. These predators can help reduce the number of harmful insects that may attack your cannabis crop.
Marigolds
Using crop underplanting is a great way to enhance the health and growth of your cannabis plants. This gardening technique involves strategically placing other vegetables, herbs, and flowers alongside your marijuana seeds to improve the environment in which they grow.
Marigolds can be a great addition to any garden or container, as they are very versatile and easy to grow. They are known for their beautiful golden blooms and will add a vibrant pop of colour to any outdoor or indoor space.
Although Marigolds are renowned for their bright, sunny orange glow, they can also offer a variety of benefits to your cannabis growing space. These benefits range from protecting your crops from pests, to improving the soil, and even boosting their nutrient uptake.
Insect Protection: Marigolds naturally repel insects including white flies, mosquitoes, and red spider mites. The flower petals release a chemical that prevents the insects from entering the soil. This chemical also reaches nearby cannabis plants, strengthening their defenses against pests.
It’s important to note that while Marigolds may successfully deter certain insect pests, they are still very attractive to slugs and grubs so it’s essential to keep them at a distance. They’re also an excellent sacrificial plant to help control fungi and nematodes that can be very destructive to your growing space.
They are particularly effective against beet leaf hoppers, Mexican bean beetles and other pests that can damage your cannabis. They also have a reputation for being very fragrant which is useful to attract hover flies and other beneficial insects into your growing area.
Another benefit of the Marigold is that it can be used as a cover crop to protect and improve your soil. It forms a mat that traps moisture and helps to seal in nutrients.
These plants can be sown as an organic mulch around the base of your cannabis seedlings and they also improve soil quality by filling it with nutrients like nitrogen, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. They can also be sown as a living compost to slow the release of minerals and boost your cannabis’s photosynthesis.
Fennel
A good companion plant will not only protect your crop from pests and the elements, but it can also boost yield. This practice is gaining popularity as the industry grows, and it can be used in both indoor and outdoor cultivation.
Companion plants can be herbs, flowers or vegetables. Some are natural pest repellents, while others attract beneficial insects or keep predators away. In addition, many of these species can help enrich the soil around the main grow.
The most important benefit of companion planting is that it promotes a healthy soil ecosystem. This is because the roots of these companion plants develop a symbiotic relationship with bacteria and fungi that are present in the rhizosphere, or the area beneath the surface of the soil. These microbes then release sugars to the roots that they can use for nutrients. This symbiotic relationship helps the cannabis roots grow and access nutrients they would otherwise be unable to get.
Another great benefit of a companion plant is that it can improve the soil fertility by fixing nitrogen. Nitrogen is a key nutrient for cannabis, so using nitrogen fixers to increase the amount of nitrogen in your soil will make your plants stronger and healthier.
For example, clover is a great nitrogen fixer that also improves soil drainage and promotes crop growth by providing deep root systems. You can grow clover as a mulch or simply place it near your cannabis plant and trim it back before the end of each season.
Alternatively, you can try lavender as an effective companion plant for your cannabis cultivation. The scent of lavender deters fleas and ticks, while attracting beneficial nectar-feeding bugs that will boost your marijuana growth.
Sunflowers are a beautiful plant that hides your cannabis crop from curious eyes, while improving the soil by growing extensive networks of roots that improve water drainage and preserve it for other crops. They also help to divert insect pests from your cannabis plants, such as aphids and slugs.
Other herbs and flowering plants that are great for underplanting in your cannabis garden include chamomile, thyme, oregano (or marjoram), and fennel. These plants are easy to grow and add nutrients, such as potassium and calcium, to the soil. They are also effective in preventing erosion, which is a problem that can lead to nutrient loss and reduced crop quality.
