Written by: Daniel Enking, Everflux Technologies Founder & CEO Bran Wachsman
One of the most frustrating things a cannabis/hemp farmer goes through when cultivating their crops is the unforeseen risks that can creep up on a new farm. One of the most disheartening of those issues that creep up is known as Powdery Mildew.
Powdery Mildew is the name for the horrific pathogenic fungus that attacks cannabis plants – amongst many other highly valuable plant species. It can affect both indoor and outdoor cannabis crops – particularly in wet months such as late September and into October. Once the fungus punctures the cell wall, the cannabis should be cut down, chopped up, and recycled using vermicomposting. No consumption of this flowered material should be consumed as it can cause serious health issues, especially in the lungs.
Powdery Mildew first appears as a thin layer of white mold on the fan leaves of your cannabis plant, before the fungus begins spreading across the entire grow. This GREATLY diminishes photosynthesis, slowly causing your cannabis crop to die from lack of energy. Your leaves will start to shrivel, turn yellow and begin to die, causing DRAMATIC crop loss!
Powdery Mildew can sometimes be detected early on as small bumps appearing on infected fan leaves. Heavily developed Powdery Mildew produces little black spores in its advanced stages, which can easily be carried by air movement to other parts of the grow room.
How To Distinguish Powdery Mildew?
Here are the standard processes cannabis plants undergo when they become infected with Powdery Mildew:
The white color of the powder spots becomes more vibrant, and the overall size of the infection begins to swell. The sun-facing side of the leaves develops small, translucent white powder spots, generally at the bottom of the cannabis plant.
The newly developed fungus reaches the stems and then the flower bud sites. Once the spores of the fungus colonize the cannabis flower, it is no longer fit for consumption.
How to Treat Powdery Mildew Effectively?
To treat powdery Mildew effectively, it is essential to detect it at an early stage. Be alert when the first symptoms begin to show as early detection can make the difference between active and effective treatment or a completely ruined flip. The more time that elapses from the start of the infection, the more the fungus will begin to spread, and the more difficult it will be to eradicate this flip as well as future flips!
Organic Fungicides To Use For Heavy Infections
Obviously, being proactive and keeping a prevention mindset is the most effective way to keep your cannabis farm investments safe. It makes more sense to take some extra early safety measures and monitor the overall health of your growing environment. Otherwise, you are going to face an uphill battle to try and actually cure an outbreak of this fungal infection.
Three conditions need to be met for Powdery Mildew to take hold. These are:
Wet & Humid Conditions
Cool Temperatures
Stagnant Air
Make sure you have invested in a decent ventilation system set up to ensure constant air movement for your cannabis plants. Thinking proactively, we inhibit the overcrowding of cannabis plants that hinder a healthy airflow in your rooms. Forward-thinking farmers should also be able to control the humidity of their grow rooms using a small dehumidifier to ensure you are keeping your area at the correct humidity level.
Outdoors is a little trickier. A lack of breeze, cold nights, and rain can all stack the odds against you and help Powdery Mildew set in. As such, it is crucial to choose your grow site with care, ensuring there is ALWAYS good airflow. Some growers will erect a tent-like structure over their bud if they know heavy rain is on the way. Proactive farmers take the time to shake their cannabis plants after a heavy rain to shake out any excess water that may have the potential to penetrate fan leaves and buds.
When it comes to these fungal diseases, PREVENTION is the MINDSET.
We here at Everflux Technologies compiled a specific list of organic fungicides you can use for prevention and eradication.
Propolis: A unique, organic fungicide made by bees to protect their hive against bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
Trichoderma Harzianum: Inoculate this beneficial fungus in the soil to prevent the occurrence of Powdery Mildew. Organic Fungicides: Oidioprot is an example of a product available on the market you can use to treat Powdery Mildew.
Horsetail: This unique plant is used both for preventing and fighting several fungal diseases in cannabis and other vegetable crops. You can find horsetail along wet, marshy areas easily.
Preparation Method For Horsetail:
Step 1) Place a small amount of horsetail in a pot containing a quarter gallon of water and let that soak for 12 hours. (Preferably Overnight)
Step 2) Heat your newly soaked horsetail assortment over the stove with low heat for 15 minutes and then begin to squeeze out the liquid
Step 3) Spray the leaves at a ratio of (1 horsetail cup per 3 cups of water)
***Use this recipe once a week for prevention and every 2 days for eradication.
What If Powdery Mildew Occurs During Late Flower?
Mist your infected areas with HIGH pH water (8- 8.5pH) is recommended and begin to repeat the process every 3-4 days.
Mist with a water and milk solution (90% water and 10% milk)
You can also mist a solution of water with a MINIMAL amount of hydrogen peroxide.
What Products Should A Conscious Farmer Avoid?
Sulfur: Even though spraying your plants with sulfur is a reasonably comprehensive protocol against Powdery Mildew, we DO NOT recommend it for cannabis cultivation, as the flowers would preserve the flavor and bouquet of the chemical. Bicarbonate: Spraying your cannabis plants with bicarbonate dissolved in water might be effective against Powdery Mildew. Again we are AGAINST these protocols. Bicarbonates leave visible remnants on the plant material and flowering bud sites. Chemical products: There are systemic fungicides that can effectively fight Powdery Mildew. We DO NOT recommend that you, a consciousminded farmer, use non-organic methods.
These methods are harmful to the overall health of you, your employees, and your customers.
We would like to thank Everflux for sharing this invaluable insights and information to us.
To know more about this technology:
Growing Trial with Bioflux
To learn more about living soil cultivation: