🪐 Multiverse Beans — SOP

Weekly Pest Scouting SOP

5 minutes once a week prevents the "my entire grow is toast" moment. 90% of pest disasters are caught too late because growers don't scout. This SOP fixes that.

Weekly Scout0%
1
Prep (30 seconds)
Get your tools
✓
Jeweler's loupe or phone camera ready for close-ups
✓
Yellow sticky traps hanging near soil level (check & replace if full)
✓
Note today's date — consistency matters, do this same day every week
2
Leaf Inspection (2 minutes)
Top AND bottom of leaves

⚠️ FLIP THE LEAVES. Most pests hide on the underside. If you only look at the top, you'll miss them until it's too late.

✓
Check leaf TOPS — look for: yellow spots (stippling), white powder, brown patches
✓
Flip leaves and check UNDERSIDES — look for: tiny dots, webbing, white flies, eggs
✓
Check new growth specifically — aphids love tender new shoots
✓
Check stem junctions — where leaves meet stems, look for clusters or webbing
✓
Check lower canopy — pests often start at the bottom where it's humid and dark
3
Soil & Base Inspection (1 minute)
Soil surface and stem base
✓
Check soil surface — small flies (fungus gnats)? White mold? Algae?
✓
Check sticky traps — any new catches since last week? What kind?
✓
Check stem base — soft, mushy, or discolored? Could be damping off or rot
✓
Check drainage saucer — standing water breeds gnats and root rot
4
Bud Inspection — Flower Only (1 minute)
Critical in weeks 5+ of flower
✓
Check dense colas — gently pull apart and look inside for gray/brown rot
✓
Look for random dead/yellow leaves poking out of buds — early bud rot sign
✓
Sniff test — musty or off smell from a bud? Investigate immediately
✓
Check caterpillar signs (outdoor) — small black droppings on buds

⚠️ Bud rot is invisible until it's advanced. If you find it in one spot, inspect EVERY bud. It spreads via spores.

5
Environment Check (30 seconds)
Conditions that invite pests
✓
Humidity in range? High humidity (>60% in flower) invites mold and PM
✓
Airflow adequate? Leaves should gently rustle — stagnant air = PM breeding ground
✓
No standing water? Saucers drained, no puddles, wet spots cleaned up
✓
Intake filtered? If pulling air from outside, are you filtering for pests/spores?
!
Quick Reference: What Am I Looking For?
ID guide for common pests
🕷️
Spider Mites
Look for: Tiny yellow/white dots (stippling) on leaf tops. Fine webbing on undersides — especially where leaf meets stem. Dots move slowly when disturbed.
🦟
Fungus Gnats
Look for: Small dark flies hovering near soil surface. Larvae are tiny translucent worms in topsoil. Sticky traps will catch adults.
🐛
Aphids
Look for: Green, black, or white clusters on new growth and stem joints. Sticky honeydew residue on leaves below them. Ants nearby = aphid sign.
⚪
Whiteflies
Look for: Tiny white flying insects that scatter when you shake the plant. Check leaf undersides for small white eggs.
🤍
Powdery Mildew
Look for: White powdery patches on leaf surfaces. Starts as small circular spots, spreads fast. Wipes off with your finger (vs trichomes which don't).
🟤
Bud Rot (Botrytis)
Look for: Brown/gray mushy areas INSIDE buds. Dead leaves sticking out of colas. Musty smell. Usually starts where a leaf touches a dense bud.
🐛
Thrips
Look for: Silver/bronze streaks on leaves. Tiny elongated insects that are hard to see — use a loupe. Black dots (frass) on leaf surface.

Prevention starts with genetics. Premium seeds from 80+ breeders.

🛒 Shop Best Sellers