Echter Mehltau bei Cannabispflanzen: Was tun?

Your marijuana plants are exposed to all kinds of dangers, but one of the most feared is powdery mildew.

Before it spoils your crop and all the buds, we are going to tell you what you need to know about powdery mildew and marijuana.

What is powdery mildew?

Discover powdery mildew, it has too many scientific names to mention!

We know that it is a group of fungi species from the Erysiphaceae family. This is an important bit of knowledge as otherwise we would not be able to combat it.

That was precisely the issue when it was first detected in the middle of the 19th century. It was believed that it was caused by the steam from locomotives and that walking through an infected crop could bring on a fever. These misplaced myths meant that no solution could be found!

How does powdery mildew affect marijuana plants?

Powdery mildew on marijuana plants is scary business. Here are just a few of the effects it can have:

• It makes the plant weaker.
• It slows down growth.
• It reduces flowering.
• It affects the amount of buds produced, their quality and their taste.
• If it infects them directly, smoking these buds poses a serious health risk, particularly to the respiratory system.

How to prevent and remove powdery mildew on your marijuana plants?

The most serious problem with powdery mildew is how difficult it is to prevent. Even the most experienced growers celebrate a crop without this pest.

Powdery mildew spores are wind-borne, and are especially prevalent where there are changes in humidity. Even the most protected crops can suffer.

Other causes of infection are through flying insects or even through the clothes or hands of people who are in contact with the crop.

So, can it be prevented? We still have to try to avoid it. We recommend taking these measures:

• Keep your marijuana crop as clean as possible, whether indoors or outdoors.
• Powdery mildew hides among old leaves. Make sure to remove them and any remains.
• Do not come into contact with your crop while wearing clothes you have been outside with.
• Keep humidity below 60%.
• Go for resistant marijuana strains.
• There are also specific UV anti powdery mildew lamps and other preventive treatments on the market.
• Use dehumidifiers to control the humidity level and ensure there are no fluctuations.
• Keep a good distance between plants, to avoid them from infecting each other.

Treatment

If powdery mildew infects your marijuana plants, you will notice a kind of white powder on top of them. It’s time to act! These could be of help to you:

• Use UV lamps.
• Apply specific sulfur spray. Make sure not to do this beyond the plant’s growth phase!
• If the plant is in its flowering phase, use compatible fungicides.
• Make use of powdery mildew’s natural enemies, usually bacteria that disrupt its development.

Home remedies

Combine some of the above powdery mildew treatments with some home remedies and your marijuana plants will be fully protected:

• Remove any infected leaves.
• If there is a general infection, remove that particular plant to save the rest of the crop.
• Regularly check your plants and act quickly if you notice the slightest symptom of powdery mildew.
• Watch out for cuttings! They can be the gateway for this fungus to infect new crops.

At what temperature does powdery mildew die?

Many fungi and bacteria are sensitive to the heat and cold, which makes many people ask what temperature powdery mildew dies at?

The problem is it is really resistant! It can withstand temperatures of up to 40ºC. Above this temperature it slows down in terms of its development and can die, but that could also be fatal for your marijuana plants. The best option is to choose one of the treatments listed above.

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