By Michele Green
Gardeners know that Powdery Mildew is a common threat, occurring on indoor grows, as well as outdoor grows. For most gardening it is a threat, but for the cannabis grower, Powdery Mildew can be devastating. To help you prevent loss of valuable high-quality production from your grow, we wanted to help you know your enemy.
Powdery mildew is an age-old disease, that has been plaguing farmers for centuries. There are many different species of the mildew; Erysipelas infects mainly vegetable crops and flowers, Podosphaera infects mainly stone fruits such as apples and peaches, Sphaerotheca is most common on berries, and roses, along with some vegetables and stone fruits. These are characterized by a powdery to grey growth on the leaves, stems and heads of the plants.
Although contrary to popular belief, powdery mildew doesn’t require free water to establish and grow. The mildew can grow on dry leaves as well. Warm moist temperatures are prime for the growth and spreading of this disease. Powdery Mildew is most sensitive to extreme heat and sunlight. The life cycle of the powdery mildew requires living plant tissue to grow and reproduce. Powdery Mildew does this the best in temps between 68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
One of the most effective ways to kill the fungus \mold is to spray the Powdery Mildew affected plant with a sulfur spray or garlic spray, as it will kill the disease and prevent it from reoccurring. Spay are effective when used in a preventive regimen with 7-14 days between treatments. Just make sure when treating your plants with any of these sprays that you spray tops and bottoms of the leaves. Neem oil is another effective spray in treating Powdery Mildew. Neem oil comes from the Azadirachta Indica tree and contains many different substances and at least one of them acts as a fungicide.
The best tactic, is to avoid contaminating your grow, by limiting environments that promote Powdery Mildew growth and limit access of people to your grow, as they could be possible carriers if they grow. Watch your plants closely, as Powdery Mildew is best caught early, before it spreads. Another important note is if Powdery Mildew spreads to the Buds of your cannabis grow and penetrates the bud, or Powdery Mildew develops on your buds in curing, it is not fit for consumption or use.
Article Produced by Green Magi Labs Inc. www.greenmagilabs.com