All about Allelopathy

Allelopathy is a peculiarity that occurs in plants. Plants produce certain biochemical substances, called allelochemicals, which decide the symbiotic or opposite relationship that is established in the plants of the same crop. Cannabis releases these chemicals through the scents found in flowers and leaves.

Allelopathy, the mutual relationship of these chemical elements affect the growth of marijuana and the ecosystem in which it is found, that is, all fauna, flora and microorganisms that inhabit the crop.

The presence of allelochemical compounds determines the process of allelopathy. The benefits of this phenomenon contribute to plants are different, attractive, repellent and even stimulating.

Plants that promote allelopathy are vegetables, plants with medicinal properties, flowers, and some type of weed.

Planting our marijuana crop with complementary plants that secrete allelochemicals is a very wise decision to guarantee an excellent habitat for plant growth. In addition, allelopathy is in turn beneficial since we get an organic marijuana crop, since it favors the appearance of beneficial microorganisms that will protect it from pests and diseases.

Why associate a Cannabis Crop with Allelopathy?

The reasons for demonstrating the benefits of allelopathy for cannabis cultivation are several, first the organoleptic properties of the plant improve, due to the relationship with different varieties of plants that generate a favorable environment for the growth of marijuana.

Using certain plants as an associated crop for cannabis makes it gain in flavor and aroma.

Allelopathy will also be an excellent ally for our organic crops since it will avoid using chemical substances, thus increasing the organoleptic properties of our plants and keeping harmful pests at bay and attracting beneficial fauna for our cultivation, in short, a marijuana with more flavor. , more robust and abundant.

How to Implement Allelopathy in a Cannabis Crop?

Do you want to practice the allelopathy technique with your plants? Do not worry, because below, we will tell you how to do it so that your experience is successful.

If the idea that we have is to make allelopathy in a cannabis crop and we want to implement other varieties of plants in the crop so that they benefit, several aspects must be taken into account, mainly they must have enough space to be able to develop properly, we do not recommend crowding allelopathic plants since if we are not causing a negative effect, that is, those allelochemicals so highly valued for our marijuana cultivation will not be secreted

For this, we recommend making a good distribution of the plants associated with marijuana that we are going to plant on our land.

As we explained previously, plants secrete allelochemicals that they can classify as symbiotic or antagonistic. From here we differentiate 3 fundamental classes to differentiate allelopathic plants: companion plants, repellent plants and trap plants. Below we detail each of them:

Complementary Allelopathic Plants

This category of plants are the ones that provide some type of benefit to our cannabis cultivation and are the ones that we will have to plant closest to marijuana so that they can benefit.

These benefits are due to the positive associative relationship with similar plants. This helps to fertilize the crop, which translates into an increase in organoleptic properties and an improvement in plant yields.

The benefit obtained is reciprocal, that is, both marijuana and allelopathic plants are favored, there is a reduction in pests and a decrease in diseases.

Allelopathic plants secrete beneficial chemicals through leaves and stems, and marijuana plants near it will absorb them. For example, nettle has a positive effect on marijuana as it increases its aroma. This is because it helps the production of essential oils from cannabis cultivation.

List of Allelopathic Plants

  • Chamomile
  • Yarrow
  • Cilantro
  • Alfalfa
  • Calendula
  • Borage
  • Comfrey

Allelopathic Repellent Plants

These types of plants secrete chemicals that repel insects and pests. It is almost always due to the aroma that these plants give off, it is possible that some varieties of insects are attracted to these aromas, however others will keep them at bay from our precious crop.

These repellent fragrances can be appreciated up to a distance of 10 meters. This means that we will plant the repellent plant away from the rest. These plants not only repel insects, but also prevent the proliferation of certain varieties of plants that are not beneficial for marijuana.

Allelopathic Trap Plants

 These plants are used in a different way: they eliminate the pests of harmful insects present in cannabis cultivation, trap plants work in contrast to repellants. That is, they produce allelochemicals that attract invasive species and insects to them.

By positioning these plants near the marijuana infected with whitefly or spider mite, our goal will be to make the pest clump together in these trap plants and they are not spread throughout your crop. Being localized, it is easier to eliminate them, by applying some type of organic fertilizer.

We also find trap plants that favor the proliferation of varieties of fauna beneficial to marijuana. For example, ladybugs, which is an insect that feeds on whiteflies and other pests that are harmful to Cannabis.

Allelopathic Trap Plants

  • Sunflower
  • Tobacco
  • Ruda

Benefits of Allelopathy for Cannabis Cultivation

After everything explained above, it has become clear to us of the benefits that Allelopathy brings to our marijuana cultivation. In this way we obtain a more balanced, healthy and natural crop, being one of the most sustainable methods to grow. Using these associated crops will always be cheaper than resorting to chemical agents that will undoubtedly affect the properties of marijuana.

Not only does it improve the organoleptic properties of marijuana, it also allows us to get rid of pests and in turn we can prepare healthy infusions.

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