As a cannabis facility or grow room owner, one of your biggest challenges is to prevent and treat diseases that can ruin your crop. Powdery mildew is one of the most common fungal diseases that affect cannabis plants. This destructive disease can weaken your plant stems, reduce yield, and downgrade the quality of your flowers. Powdery mildew can also spread quickly from infected plants to healthy ones, making early detection and timely remediation critical to safeguard your crop. In this blog, we’ll discuss the causes and symptoms of powdery mildew, how to prevent and treat it, and best practices for powdery mildew remediation.
What is Powdery Mildew?
Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that proliferates in humid and warm environments. The disease appears as a white or gray powdery substance on the surface of leaves, stems, and buds. Infected leaves may become yellow or brown and may twist or deform. The fungal spores can travel through the air and infect other plants, propagating the disease. Powdery mildew can weaken your plant stems and cause them to break, leading to lower yields. The disease can also reduce the quality of your cannabis flowers, making them less marketable.
Preventing Powdery Mildew
Preventing powdery mildew involves controlling your grow room’s humidity levels and maintaining proper ventilation. Indoor cannabis growers should aim for a relative humidity level of 50-60% and keep the temperature between 20-25°C. Proper ventilation will ensure that air circulates freely, reducing the chances of the fungal spores settling on the plant. Outdoor cannabis growers should select resistant strains and maintain sufficient spacing between plants for proper airflow.
Treating Powdery Mildew
If your cannabis plant is infected with powdery mildew, there are several treatment options available. Fungicides are a popular remedy, but they should be used with caution, as some fungicides can be harmful if not applied correctly. It is important to note that infected leaves should be cut off and disposed of, not composted, to prevent the spread of the disease. THC-laden buds should not be treated with fungicides or natural remedies, as the chemicals can harm or contaminate them.
Preventative Measures and Best Practices
Powdery mildew can be prevented by integrating HVAC equipment with measures such as humidity control, air circulation, and UV sterilization. Canna Klean has extensive experience in removing powdery mildew from your growing environment. Utilizing cutting edge technology paired with cannabis compliant methods, Canna Klean will eliminate the Powdery Mildew so you can get even more of your flower to market.
Powdery mildew is one of the most common and destructive diseases that affect cannabis plants. Early detection and applying the appropriate treatment are essential in preventing powdery mildew from damaging your crop. Prevention is the best cure, and controlling the grow room’s humidity levels and maintaining proper ventilation is essential to prevent powdery mildew. If your plants are infected with powdery mildew, cutting off infected leaves and treating remaining leaves with a fungicide solution or natural remedies can be effective. By understanding the causes and remedies of powdery mildew, you can effectively remediate and prevent the disease from damaging your cannabis crop.