Gray mold is one of the most common ailments in indoor growing. Outdoors few growers have escaped its effects. This type of mold thrives in warm, humid climates like marijuana crops. The gray mold damage resulting increases in wet weather (above 50% relative humidity).
What causes the appearance of gray mold (Botrytis)
The botrytis starts in the center of the buds and difficult to detect. It has a whitish-gray and blue-green. It may appear as hair or threads depending on the weather. In less humid climates may appear as dark brown spots. The affected area is usually dry to the touch and often crumble. Sometimes other pests can weaken the plant and facilitate colonization by the fungus.
Gray mold attacks many other crops, and spores in suspension are present almost everywhere. Although the most common is that you are attacking the buds, also attacks stems, leaves and seeds. Causes bad nursery, decomposed and stored dry buds. Can be transmitted through seed.
Gray Mold Detection
In flowering crops we review the denser and larger flowers especially. Gray mold is usually a bad of farmers get their first big harvest (high relative humidity). If nurseries or greenhouses, high humidity and temperate climates can generate this mold on stems, buds and young leaves.
Damage causes gray mold
Find sheets that mysteriously appear on the buds dry. May signal botrytis attack into the heart. Botrytis can destroy an entire crop within seven to ten days. The damage is less common stems indoors. First the stems turn yellow and develop ulcerative parts. The damage causes wilting growth over the wound, and can cause the stem to bend. It can be transported by air, contaminated hands and tools. Gray mold spreads rapidly in indoor spaces, infecting a growing room in less than a week when conditions are favorable (high humidity and warm weather).
How to remove gray mold
As preemptively remove the affected and surrounding areas. Clean these areas will prevent the rapid spread of the fungus. If we use scissors to remove affected parts should disinfect with alcohol before and after each use.
Once infected area reduced foliar sprays regular recommend specific products against Botrytis. In the market there are many very effective products and security within very low.
* Sant Yerbasi Grow Shop recommends using natural products for the prevention and control of pests.