Botrytis, commonly known as grey mold, bud rot, or bud mold, is a fungus that may infect a wide range of plants. Botrytis cinerea, alongside powdery mildew, is among the most frequent fungus discovered on cannabis plants, particularly outdoors, and now since most cannabis plants are ready to blossom, we’d like to inform you of several ways to prevent it. If growers let their guard down because their growing conditions are ideal, a botrytis infection may swiftly damage their crops, precisely when the crops are in full flower.

Botrytis may reproduce both sexually and asexually, preying on the target plant’s tissues. The Botryotinia genus has 22 species as well as a hybrid. The one we’re interested in, Botrytis cinerea, is utilized in vineyards for making noble wines of exceptional quality, as this fungus boosts the sugar levels of grapes and dramatically enhances the organoleptic characteristics of any wine made from it.

In this article, we will discuss how to spot a Botrytis disease and how to cure and prevent one.

Outdoor Marijuana Systems and Botrytis

Botrytis is often just a concern for fully bloomed outdoor cannabis plants, and it’s uncommon to find it in indoor growing systems. Botrytis may grow outside for a variety of causes, the most common of which being rainfall and caterpillars.

Growers seldom notice botrytis on crops throughout the summer, which is often a hot and dry season. Showers may gravely endanger the buds in mid-summer, when marijuana plants go into full bloom, particularly if a number of conditions are present: plants that become nearly ripe, rains that last several days, inadequate air circulation, or excessive humidity levels may swiftly ruin your months-long work.

When the fall rains start, some gardeners enclose their plants with greenhouse cloth and a modest structure to keep the plants from getting wet from rain or dampness. This fungus has a variety of organic and chemical preventative treatments commercially available.

Using an organic preventative during the early stages of blooming, particularly if the crops are in a rainy or humid environment, is recommended. Because the drying time of an outdoor crop might cause the same issues as indoor plants, maintaining a reasonable humidity throughout the drying chamber is critical.

Caterpillars, a perennial favorite in many fall gardens, are another likely source of illness. Aside from the harm produced by their feeding, they physically pierce the buds, allowing rains or moisture to cover the openings made by the caterpillars, which leads to the formation of botrytis.

Bud rot, which takes on a grey/brown color and alters structure to become brittle and cottony, is one of the most common signs of botrytis disease. White redbud leaflets are a common early indication; if you cut the bud, you’ll probably notice botrytis in between stalk and the bloom. In this situation, remove any contaminated buds and cure the plant using a disinfectant product as soon as possible, assuming you still have time (we don’t suggest any treatments if the crops are fully ripe).

Thus, the best method to avoid such circumstances is to use a caterpillar preventative throughout the summer and by the time your plants reach the end of the pre-flowering period. It’s vital to note that this is a preventative measure (specifically against caterpillars plus implicitly against botrytis). Therefore even if you do not see any caterpillars around your plants, you should use the solution.

Indoor Marijuana Systems and Botrytis

Botrytis affecting indoor cannabis plants is uncommon unless the humidity, temperature, and air quality are very low. If you detect it, it’ll most certainly be due to high ambient humidity or inadequate air circulation. You can readily address this by utilizing the proper air extraction fans for your grow room size and lighting systems.

You can’t rest just yet after harvesting your plants since botrytis might grow throughout the drying process. We suggest closely monitoring the humidity level within the drying area and never allowing it to exceed 50-60%. It’s also a good idea to have good air circulation within it. Many growers utilize tiny grow tents along with a carbon filter and a fan to provide optimum air circulation to the plants and filtering out the plants’ pungent odour.

How To Prevent Botrytis

The best approach to treat this infection is to avoid it in the first place. To prevent the development of botrytis, maintain cleanliness in your grow area. If the disease has already taken hold, you may prevent it from spreading by ensuring that healthy plants do not come into touch with the ones you suspect are affected. Their proximity will assist aerial infection: when a spore drops on any plants, they would quite certainly get infected.

1.    Maintain a clean environment for your cannabis growth, including your equipment.

The easiest way to avoid the invasion of the nasty grey mold is to ensure that the space in which you are cultivating your cannabis is completely clean. Labels, stakes, scissors, and other instruments must all be thoroughly disinfected before use. Additionally, while handling the plants, use rubber gloves and avoid rubbing them with garments that were used in other locations. Since the fungus may be spread not just via the air but also by your hands, one must avoid handling the buds. Remember to eliminate any contaminated parts.

2.    Avoid Caterpillars.

It’s critical to keep pests and insects away, particularly caterpillars, since their bites may harm plant cuticles, allowing for the fungi to get in there.

You can prevent this from occurring by taking precautions throughout the summer. You will be able to limit the presence of caterpillars throughout the blossoming process this way.

How To Cure Botrytis

If you believe that the grey mold has already infected your crops, the best approach is to eradicate all afflicted parts as soon as possible. If you’re doing this, be sure you’re using sterilized equipment. If you’re going to remove any buds, make sure you leave at least two or three cm below them. After that, eliminate all infected areas.