Catchmaster Gro, the horticultural division of Catchmaster, has launched new monitoring products aimed at improving pest management for indoor growers. Segment Manager Alexander Schroeder emphasizes the importance of monitoring—not just to know what's going on in your crop and in your cultivation, but also to save money. "There's a lot of over spraying happening, which costs growers money and creates pesticide resilience in pests. Our monitoring tools allow growers to determine if their sprays are effective or if they can skip a round altogether."
It all started with glue. Catchmaster Gro is part of the company Atlantic Paste & Glue, which at its heart is a glue company. Their glues have proven their use in rodent and pest control since the 1950s. "The combination of the viscosity, the way the glue maintains in different environments, and the fact that it's non-toxic makes it the best way to mitigate rodents and the diseases they might spread," says Alexander, adding that their products are private-labeled for some of the biggest brands in the industry. "Poison is inhumane and can be dangerous. Our stationary glue solutions enable us to monitor and mitigate pests." And as it turns out, the same idea is applicable in other markets. Catchmaster Gro was set up specifically for the indoor growing market: both greenhouse and indoor environments.
This philosophy has carried over into Catchmaster Gro's new range of products, which utilize the company's expertise in adhesive technology. The flagship product, the double-sided sticky card, has rapidly gained popularity, as it combines monitoring and labeling functions into a single tool. "At 3x5 inches, it's not too big, the squares enable you to monitor easily, and thanks to the specifically developed glue, the viscosity ensures both sides are sticky but do not leave residue on your hands," Alexander shows. In addition to the 72 sticky cards, each box contains instructions to ensure proper use and placement. "Just as important as the right product," Alexander says, "you have one below the canopy, one above, and one at the canopy to monitor all different zones. Finding the right position is vital."
Some of the new products
Since Catchmaster Gro heard quite often that growers used only one side of the sticky card and placed them on the substrates, their assortment is now expanded with the crawl card—following the same concept, but with only one side void of glue. "The crawl card lays flat on the substrate, on the side without glue. Like our other products, it's completely waterproof, with strong adhesive to trap pests efficiently. This design, with a cutout so you can get it close to the plant, came in response to growers' needs to use monitoring tools on substrates like rock wool or coco."
The second addition to the assortment is the dual-action plant label, which combines monitoring and labeling functions into a single tool. "Shaped like a plant label, the dual action is what makes it unique," Alexander explained. "One side is void of glue, so growers can write the date or plant information, while the other side serves as a monitoring tool for insects." The labels can be used throughout cultivation, to provide insights on the developments in the crop. "By using different colored pens, you could circle the caught insects, and match the color to the date on the back." The tags can be put in rows, trays, plants, or directly in nursery pots, easily up to two gallons.
Alexander says again monitoring is key in a good IPM strategy. "Our tools determine if your strategy is working. If that proves to be so, you can skip a treatment, which will reduce the overspraying happening in the industry. Important, since it costs money, causes stress in the plants, and over time could even create resilience. Our monitoring tools are a super affordable solution for integrated pest management (IPM) protocols."
As the Catchmaster Gro booth at this year's Cultivate showed, the company offers new solutions in pest monitoring, like Vector lights. "Vector by Catchmaster Gro is our brand for UV fly lights, which attract flies to the glue board rather than using a zapper. The idea is not just to trap pests but to monitor them." There's extensive research behind the development of these products.
Catchmaster Gro's expansion into the growers' market, particularly in Canada, signals a shift from indirect distribution to a more hands-on approach. "We're now working directly with distributors who sell to growers, not just through the structural pest world. This allows us to bring our innovative pest control solutions closer to those who need them most—growers in the food, floricultural, and cannabis industries."
The company's commitment to education and support for its customers has been another driving force. "We pride ourselves on partnering with customers and providing proactive customer service. We educate them on the best practices, from changing glue boards to monitoring different zones in a greenhouse." Or, as Alexander puts it, "We're innovators at heart, and our products are designed to enhance the grower's ability to monitor and mitigate pests effectively."
For more information:
Catchmaster Gro
Alexander Schroeder
[email protected]
www.catchmaster.com