Library · Plant health & IPM
Pest & Disease ID Guide.
Pest & Disease Identification Guide
Identify common cultivation pests and diseases by visual symptoms. Reference guide; no AI required.
Inspection workflow
- Look at the whole plant. Where are the symptoms? Top, bottom, distributed?
- Look at undersides of leaves. Most pests hide there. Spider mites, aphids, thrips all start under leaves.
- Magnify. A 30x jeweler's loupe ($10) shows mites, eggs, spores you can't see with the naked eye.
- Check for movement. Live insects move when disturbed. Tap a leaf over white paper and watch.
- Inspect at dawn / dusk. Many pests are most visible at low light when they emerge.
- Check the substrate surface. Fungus gnats, springtails, mites — many lifecycles include soil/substrate stages.
- Document with photos. Time-lapse of progression helps distinguish infestations from one-time damage.
Pest pressure forecasting
Different pests favor different environmental conditions. Use the Pathogen Pressure Forecast widget to see which are likely given your current conditions, then inspect for those specifically.
When to act
| Severity | Action |
|---|---|
| None visible | Continue monitoring; preventive sprays per IPM schedule |
| Trace (1-2 spotted) | Remove affected leaves; spot-treat; increase inspection frequency |
| Light (small population) | OMRI-allowed spot treatment; introduce beneficial predators if applicable |
| Moderate (visible spread) | Full canopy treatment; rotate FRAC/IRAC group; track PHI / REI |
| Heavy | Aggressive treatment; quarantine affected plants; consider crop loss vs treatment cost |
| Severe / spreading | Emergency response; cull affected plants if threatening crop; sanitize |
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