1 Week to go and Powdery Mildew!!!

[TGT]

I have about 1 week to go and have noticed a pretty bad PM problem. It is just on the big fan leaves now and not on the buds, but soon to be. I have leached already for a few days because I noticed this problem, so should I cut the plants now or let them finish?

I am worried the PM will make it's way into the buds. On the leaves it is easily just blown off, but when it gets to the sticky buds it will be there for good like powder on glue. What should I do?

I have never had this problem before and this is quite a large crop. I was hoping to get 6 pounds, but now having to cut early I will probably only get 4. I say I have a week left, but I could easily leave them another week if I wanted to. They are now on week 6.5, and I usually let them go to week 7. I have let them go to week 8 before, but with no noticed improvement. So, what should I do? Any advice would be great. Thanks in advance!

TGT

 

[Guest]

I'd cut em... I know it sucks but there's also the problem of when you are curing. If this is really mold your buds will seriously suffer as they rest in their jars. Maybe only pull half of them, making sure to turn off all fans to prevent the 'powder' from blowing around when you move the leaves. But totally your call... It is good, however, that you're looking to pull em vs. spraying some toxic shit on em.

 

[Devilock]

IMO i would just cut the affected leaves off. It won't spread to the buds in just a week if you cut off the leaves that have it now. Ive had probs with pm before and never seen it make it to the buds. Just watch em carefully. Peace and *bong* :friends:

 

[Tradescantia]

vacuum

 

[Devilock]

Vacuum what? An explanation would really help.

 

[Humanure]

if youre pulling in a week anyway, just cut the leaves that are affected like he said up there..then just let em swell the last week

 

[chosen]

Cut the leaves that have problems. Yet, I would pull early if you've got a good amount of resin. As for the future, neem oil is amazing. The triple threat use it all through veg and until the last couple of weeks of flowering. It controls insect problems, it's an anti fungal, and anti bacterial. I love the stuff. It's not expensive but it rules.
Garden Safe is one brand..

 

[Guest]

I'd cut em... I know it sucks but there's also the problem of when you are curing. If this is really mold your buds will seriously suffer as they rest in their jars. Maybe only pull half of them, making sure to turn off all fans to prevent the 'powder' from blowing around when you move the leaves. But totally your call... It is good, however, that you're looking to pull em vs. spraying some toxic shit on em.

Don't cut them!

It's mildew not mold. A big difference. They won't rot like they do with mold.

First of all the problem is not what is considered at emergency levels. Pluck the most affected leaves like it has been suggested and be careful not to spread the mildew as much as possible. In one week your crop will be down. I doubt it will get critical in that short of time but keep an eye on it.

You can wash them by wiping or spraying if the job is too big. Lots of air will be needed to dry. Be very careful of wet buds rotting. Lots of air again!

Extra care will have to be taken when you manicure your buds. Mostly it will affect taste and bag appeal if you don't.

Talk to you in a week!

PS: Clean the shit out of your gro after. Spray down with bleach or 1/2 strength iso. Use sulphur or Defender while they are in veg next crop as a precaution. I always follow up with that after having a PM issue. You can also buy a sulphur burner to kill airborne spoors. Good luck.

 

[TGT]

Thanks for all the great advice. I just came back from trimming and the sun is just coming up. When I close my eyes I still see buds! I have done half the large buds. I was hoping to get through all the large buds the first night, but it went slower than I expected. Tomorrow I will finish the large buds, and then the next day work on the medium ones. The third day I reseve for the smallest 'pain in the ass' buds. Doing it this way in three steps it gives the larger buds a little more time to dry out, so that they all finish drying around the same time, or close to it. Then I start curing.

I took the advice of cutting off the bad leaves and let them go for a few more days. Even so most of the bad leaves were taken off, the PM started to make me worry, so I cut down a little early. I can see by examining the buds they should have gone another week as some of the bunches of hairs didn't unravel. They are still looking great and are very large. Resin is also almost at its max so it should be just as potent if not as heavy. I left them in pitch black with fans on them for a day and a half. I figured this might speed the finish up? Probably not, but I am sure the lack of light slowed down the PM. I'm not sure if it needs light to spread, but seemed logical at the time. I will post some pics when they are all hanging to dry.

Northern Farmer, thanks for the info about PM not being related to mold. I always thought they were similar and that is why I was so worried. I thought because of the PM my buds might get filled with mold and be garbage. That is why I took such drastic action. I don't use any chemical sprays on my plants, so I think it is best I cut down a little early. Also, smoking PM can't be good. I am making sure all PM is removed to the best of my ability. My friends and family will be smoking much of this and I want it to be as safe as possible.

Thanks again for all the response. I'll post some pics when I am finally done cutting. I think I am going to dream of trimming today as I nap to get ready for another day wave of work.

TGT

 

[Guest]

The important thing is your pot will be nice and you have peace of mind!

For future reference, PM spreads mostly on the lights off cycle. Dark and humid are the catalyst.

Enjoy those buds!

 

[Tradescantia]

Vacuum what? An explanation would really help.

hehe........my bad, as he removes the infected leaves he should run a vacuum over top, to suck up all the spores...

I fancy myself a hobby mycologist, and one who's very paranoid of those little spore bastards.

Suck em up.

Zebrina.

 

[Getawaymonkey!]

It was wise to chop when you did.
Now,...just get em dry quick, and a good cure should take care of the harsh taste IMO

 

[jarff]

vacuum

Right on..I took a big shop vac and sucked everything off the big fan leaf and finished the grow in ten days..never had a prob.I also ran water over the plants after I chopped em,then ran them under the tap then thru my trimmin,machine...not a prob.I hate cuttin,before they,re ready.
it,s an individual,s choice and I respect those who will chop early because of some pm...it is a kick in the butt tho,when the powder hits and you,re just not ready to chop..
good luck to anyone with the dreaded dandruff of weed plants
jarff

 

[Jack Crevalle]

Northern Farmer was right on. You also mentioned why it happened, it was the excessive flushing at the wrong time of day (possibly spilled pooling water nearby also) that probably caused the sudden onset.

PM won't destroy buds like grey or black mold, but can eventually work it's way onto nice trich covered leaves, which sucks.

You really should flush right when the lights go on, so the topsoil is dry by the night cycle. Also make sure the surrounding area isn't swamped with water and humidity either. If PM came on that quick, grey mold could also, depending on your luck, so I would focus on keeping the flower area extra dry next time. (That being said I've only seen grey mold indoors in the cloner, only outdoors have I seen it on buds)

The lamest part of PM is that once it takes hold of a plant or the spores get on the walls etc, it is hard to get rid of without a thorough cleaning, many times involving diluted bleach etc. That's why people here said to do a thorough cleaning. I've rinsed cuts and plants down in plain water thoroughly only for the PM to bounce right back in a few days. I found the best way was cleaning everything and starting with non-diseased mothers or clones.

good luck and I bet you are enjoying some yummy smoke, oh shit did I almost say yummybud LOL

 

[NOFpuXnk]

its always at 1 week isnt it.

 

[Guest]

By the time you see the White Powdery Mildew, it has been anchored on your leaf for 2 weeks already. Wiping off gets rid of the surface spores which can spread but it is inside the surface and will continue to reappear.

This late in the game it is best to pluck the big fans, wipe the mildew off the reaming leaves and spray a rinse but make damn sure your plants dry and you return the humidity to low.

Too cool with the lights off is optimal for PM so keep an eye on that too.

If you can borrow an air filter of some kind or buy one it will help remove spoors out of the air. Anything like that can only help the situation in the future.

 

[TGT]

Well the trimming is long since done and I have let them dry almost to the crispt point. I am a little dissapointed with the yield as I only got 6 pounds 3 Oz. out of four 1000 watt lights. I should have got 8, but I guess the problems I had took care of that. First off I let the plants get too large so when they finished budding they were touching the ceiling. This was not good for light utilization. Then, the crowding problem - too many plants for the available space. The topping on the cake was the PM.

Although there were many problems this time around, I guess I didn't do that badly. It could have been much worse with all those problems working against me. The good news is the quality turned out great and the taste is phenomenal. All-in-all it was a good turn out. I have another batch in the room already and these clones have been vegged for four weeks at another location, so I will be triggering again tomorrow. This new set up I have should make a crop every seven weeks. I was hoping every 6 weeks, but this clone I am using does better in seven weeks and the last week gives them the most bulk in the shortest amount of time.

I wish I could take some pics, but my camera is dead. My friend borrowed it and dropped it at a party. Good-bye to a five hundred dollar camera, but he's takng care of it his next pay check. Anyways, thanks all for the great advice and I will be getting a new camera very shortly so I will log this next grow if anyone cares to see. Thanks!

TGT

 

[kokua]

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Northern Farmer again.

good advice