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Many farmers ask about “what is bud rot?”. Bud Rot is a gray mold that grows on the flowers of Cannabis. This infection initially grows on buds and later it spread to the flowers.
This disease is spread by the pathogens called Botrytis cinerea. These pathogens spread diseases on more than 1000 plant species. They can also infect vegetable and ornamental plants even inside the greenhouse.
Many other pathogens can cause these bud rot in cannabis. However, Botrytis cinerea, S. sclerotiorum and F. graminearum are most virulent in Cannabis and cause bud rot.
The Botrytis starts to show on leaves when they turn yellow. Bud rot Cannabis attacks the biggest bud on the plant and spreads to other parts and this results in massive loss of crops.
Signs & Symptoms of Bud Rot in Cannabis
Gardeners can prevent bud rot by recognizing and removing the affected parts of plants before they spread. But what does bud rot look like? How to identify if your plants are affected by bud rot or there is some other disease attack?
To identify, we need to know the signs and symptoms of bud rot on Cannabis plants. Here are some of the clear early signs of bud rot on Cannabis:
- Discoloration of Stem: In some plants, the sign of pathogen growth is the stem starts to change its colour and become mushy grayish. The stem that is attached to buds becomes affected.
- Yellow Leaves: The Bud rot continues to affect the leaves around the affected buds. The leaves present at mid or lower point on the inflorescence begin to change their appearance and become yellow and burnt.
- Calyces: The buds start to show visible signs like calyces. The leaves turn dark and purple. The Botrytis affects the buds of flowers first and then moves to the other parts of the Cannabis plants.
- White Fungus on Bud: Farmers can also observe the mold on the bud. The mold can appear fluffy white, dark gray or brown. You can easily distinguish affected buds from other healthy buds.
- Bud Color Discoloration: The bud rot affects the big and dense bud of the plant. The damaged bud first appears colorful and then changes into yellow or brown color. The affected buds often dried up and died eventually.
The bud is filled with dust and if you open them, the dust will float away. So remove the affected plants at earlier stages to prevent further loss and keep your plant healthy.
What are the Major Causes of Bud Rot in Cannabis?
The pathogens like Botrytis cinerea and F. graminearum cause bud rot but what makes them appear on the Cannabis plant? What are the factors or the conditions that grow these infections on Cannabis?
Here are the major causes that you need to know so that you can prevent your plants in future;
Highly Humid Environment
The pathogens grow in a humid and warm environment especially when the humidity is above 90%. The buds capture the moisture for a long time and this can lead to the bud rot. You can control the humidity in your greenhouse by using ventilation fans and dehumidifiers.
Crowded Plant Areas
When you grow more plants in a small area, they trap the stagnant air. The crowded plants in a greenhouse also prevent the airflow which ultimately leads to bud rot. The crowded canopies create a micro environment which prevents proper air flow and holds the moisture which is perfect condition for pathogens growth.
Cold Temperature
Many pathogens and mold grow in cold temperatures ranging between 10-15°C. That’s why the cool air and temperatures provide the best conditions for bud rot growth. So, bud rot is more common during rainy and cold days.
Large Buds
Larger buds are more prone to the Botrytis and other mold growth. These buds have moist conditions inside them which provides the best environment for pathogens growth and leads to bud rot.
How to Treat Bud Rot in the Greenhouse?
If your plant becomes infected, you should take actions quickly to stop the growth of bud rot in a large area. Let’s learn about proven methods to treat bud rot on Cannabis plants inside a greenhouse.
Remove Infected Plants
The infected part of the plant can result in the growth of bud rot on nearby leaves or neighbour plants. So it is important to remove all the affected portions quickly.
The affected plants have the spores of pathogens which can infect the surrounding plants. Can you smoke bud rot to get rid of affected buds? Well, that’s not recommended as it can cause allergies to some people and also produce mellow odor.
Use Neem Oil & Burning Sulfur
Many gardeners also consider using fungicides for bud rot. We don’t recommend this as fungicides are not that much effective for bud rot. You can opt for neem oil or burn sulfur to stop Botrytis growth. The Neem oil prevents your plants from mold and other diseases.
Avoid Overwatering
Avoid overwatering your plants as this can result in an ideal condition for bud rot growth due to the humid environment. We suggest you use drip irrigation to water your plant as this will save water as well as avoid bud rot.
Overwatering can keep your leaves and buds wet for several hours. The wet leaves and buds are the site of Botrytis growth. In addition, overwatering can spread the spores which infect the surrounding plants.
How to Prevent Bud Rot in Cannabis in the Future?
If your plant becomes infected, you should take actions quickly to stop the growth of bud rot in a large area. Let’s learn about proven methods to treat bud rot on Cannabis plants inside a greenhouse.
Improve Air Circulation
Stagnant and humid air is the main factor toward the growth of bud rot in different plants. By properly ventilating the greenhouse, you can ensure that there is no air stagnant in the greenhouse.
We recommend you to use ventilators inside your greenhouse to improve air flow. The continuous air flow will evacuate all the stagnant air and bring fresh air that is not only good for plant growth but also maintain the moisture level.
Use Dehumidifiers
Use Coairo dehumidifier to control the moisture levels inside your greenhouse. Dehumidifiers will remove the excess moisture and this will prevent the growth of pathogens.
You can adjust the humidity levels to the ideal growing condition. Dehumidifiers will ensure your plants stay healthy and enjoy ideal growing conditions.
Follow Plant Spacing Guidance
Always make sure that you’re cultivating the plants at the right distance from each other. Avoid overcrowding of plants as it traps stagnant air. You can prune the extra plants if they are too dense or packed together.
Conclusion
The bud rot is caused by the pathogens including Botrytis cinerea, S. sclerotiorum and F. graminearum. The bud rot affects the leaves and attacks the larger buds. The bud starts shriveling, rotting and dying.
The bud changes its color into brown and is covered by white fluffy mold. You can stop the bud rot by removing affected parts, using drip irrigation and Neem oil.
We suggest using a COAIRO dehumidifier in your grow room to maintain ideal humidity levels that will stop the growth of bud rot on Cannabis plants. By incorporating a reliable dehumidifier, you ensure your plants grow rich and safe.
