Growers need to deal with the appearance of pests or mold in their crop at some point. Depending on how quickly the problem is detected, it will be crucial to assess whether it is worth dealing with it or not. Usually, they appear during the flowering phase in just a few areas but can be easily removed. On the other hand, if they are widespread, the situation is much more complicated. In order to know how to deal with cannabis mold, we will detail below all the information you need.
Identify mold on cannabis
To detect flower mold, you need to pay attention to several factors:
- Before cutting the flowers, observe the plants for possible clues, they generally start in the lower areas.
- If you see an accumulation of white spots on flowers and leaves that look like cotton, this indicates the presence of fungi, probably powdery mildew.
- If the spots are yellowish, they may be mildew.
- It is important to look at the leaves and flowers’ colours. If the cannabis has a brown color accompanied by a whitish halo, it could be botrytis.
- If flowers have already been harvested, you will also notice a rotten smell.
Molds can be hard to recognise, so it is advisable to use a strong light or even a magnifying glass. Look for signs of spores, which appear as tiny black dots. Furthermore, when plants grow and feed, a gray, yellow, or brown hairy substance can be seen.
How can it be prevented?
Some specific environmental conditions favour the appearance of molds, such as high humidity, and dark and unventilated spaces. Find out what you can do to prevent head rot in your crops.
- Install a good ventilation and extraction in the crop.
- Control the temperature and humidity, especially during rainfall.
- Use homemade preventive or fungicides.
- Check daily for the appearance.
- Harvest the flowers immediately after harvesting; once harvested, place them in a mesh to dry and with good ventilation.
- For dry manicuring, cut the branches whole and hang them.
- When the curing process is complete, the buds are dried to improve the flavour and aroma of the smoke. Ideally, the dried buds should be left in airtight containers and kept in a cool, dark place. They should be monitored daily to check for mold.
How to deal with cannabis mold?
Mould in cannabis can be dangerous to health, if it reaches the lungs, it can lodge and proliferate there, leading to various problems such as lung infection, bronchitis, or pneumonia. Besides, if it develops in the upper respiratory tract, it can lead to sinusitis. In some cases, they can become chronic.
Here are some methods to rid the plant of mold, so that it can be consumed:
- Wash the buds thoroughly in cold water and let them dry well.
- Heat the water and soak the buds for a few minutes, drying them well.
- The most professional way is to heat the oven to 95ºC and put the tray in for 15 minutes. This temperature is ideal, as mould does not survive above 60ºC and the temperature required for decarboxylation is not exceeded.
However, if mold is found in the crop, the safest thing to do is to throw it away to avoid possible health problems. If you consume moldy marijuana, you may notice some of the following symptoms:
- A similar taste to leftover manicures.
- A slightly sore throat.
- A possible stronger or faster high.
- They are accompanied by a slight dizziness or headache.
Mold emerges in cannabis plants, either during its growth or during the drying and curing process; therefore, mold should be controlled and prevented. However, if you cannot avoid it, there are two options: try to take advantage of it with different techniques or to throw it away.
