Common Molds Found on Cannabis Plants and in Grow Rooms
Mold in your grow room can be a nightmare, especially in the weeks leading up to harvesting. All that work could be in danger of being lost. Although uncommon on plants, black mold can definitely be found inside a grow room. Today we’ll discuss the three major types of mold that grows on CBD plants, and what to do if you discover black mold in your grow room.
What do you do if you find black mold in your grow room?
Black mold in your grow room isn’t a threat to your plants, but it is a threat to you. Any time you enter the room to check on your plants, you’re subjecting yourself to the hazards of black mold exposure.
Upper respiratory inflammation, new or worsening asthma symptoms, and sore throat can all result from exposure to black mold. Prolonged exposure can cause even worse symptoms.
It’s never a good idea to tussle with mold on your own. You could spread it to other rooms in your house, and it’s a major health hazard without the proper personal protective equipment. The best solution for dealing with black mold is to call a professional mold remediation company to handle the mold for you.
What are the most common types of mold on CBD plants?
There are three major species of mold that grow on CBD plants. Each presents its own challenge, and all three can put your crop, your time, and your money at risk.
1: White, Powdery Mildew (Golovinomyces Orontii)
White powdery mildew—or WPM to many growers—is one of the most common types of mold that you can find growing on your plants. Like all molds, it thrives in high humidity environments, like the environment in your grow room. The caveat is that sometimes lowering the humidity isn’t the best answer. Some varieties of plant like humid air, and produce better when humidity is high. So what else can you do?
To prevent WMP, make sure you have a clean environment and adequate air flow. If plants become too leafy, not only will they prevent air flow, they’ll also block light from reaching your other plants, especially if you’re growing some of the indica heavy strains. You’ll want to defoliate your plants often, to prevent trapped moisture, improve airflow, and ensure adequate light is getting to all your plants.
If you’ve discovered a small amount of white powdery mildew on your plants, contact My Pure Environment immediately. We can treat it before it spreads to other plants.
2: Bud Rot (Botrytis Cinerea)
Bud rot is another all-too-common type of mold found on CBD plants. Unfortunately, by the time you’ve identified it, it’s too late to save the plant. You should snip off any infected buds to prevent it from spreading to other parts of the plant, or other plants.
If you’re close to harvesting, you could harvest any plants infected with bud rot early to save some of the plant. Just be sure to carefully identify and dispose of any infected buds. Bud rot is most likely to spread during the drying phase. And smoking moldy CBD bud is incredibly dangerous. You can prevent bud rot the same way you prevent WPM – make sure there’s adequate ventilation in your grow room.
3: Root Rot (Fusarium Oxysporum)
Root rot is another type of mold frequently found on CBD plants. It’s more common in hydroponic setups, since the entire premise is growing plants in water. In soil-grown plants, overwatering can also cause this fungus to infest your plants.
Overwatering leads to fungus gnats and, eventually, root rot. As with bud rot, root rot essentially means that you’ll need to dispose of the entire plant. It doesn’t spread to other plants as easily as bud rot, but it permanently damages the root structure of the plant, and it won’t be able to grow properly.
How do I prevent and treat mold in my CBD grow room?
The best way to prevent mold in your grow room is to maintain a healthy environment with plenty of air flow. Check on your plants often and look for the warning signs of mold. If you do discover black mold in your grow room, or white, powdery mildew on your plants, My Pure Environment may be able to help. We offer free online quotes, and free virtual inspections. Contact us today to find out more about our fast, effective, and safe mold remediation method.
Image used under creative commons license – commercial use (7/30/2021) Richard T (Unsplash)
