White powdery mildew/mold

[pozoutlooker]

Okay, I am a medical patient on disability and on a limited income. About 6 months ago I decided that investing in a hydro hut and a grow set up would make more sense than paying for it. So I invested like $800 for equiptment, bought clones, got nutes, did my reading. Well, here I am 6 months later, with the 6 surviving girls which really are not much to look at. I have been using neem oil to battle white powdery mildew/mold over the last several months, yet it always returned. I guess that it is nearing harvest time and I was reading that it is dangerous for someone with a supressed immune system to smoke moldy weed. I am freaking out, because I have ended up paying like $500 extra in electricity these past 6 months and all the other expenses... and common sense seems to dictate that I do not smoke what I have grown. I have no experience growing at all and I do not know if the white stuff is all mold or if it should look like that.

What the hell should I do? (other than slit my wrists)

[birdgirl73]

I'm going to take this as a medical question since you placed your post here, but another version of this question might be better placed in our cultivation area where someone with hydroponic grow experience can answer it. Are you quite sure it's mold? The mold I've seen more concern about here is the white powdery substance that occurs when weed's not properly dried or cured, where, after harvest, residual moisture and improper storage cause mold spores to thrive, but I'm clueless about cultivation and I know mold can occur on plants before they're harvested, too. I've seen it on bedding plants in our yard.

From a medical standpoint, what you read is true. It's less than ideal for you to inhale mold spores, particularly if you're immunosuppressed. It won't necessarily be a guarantee for problems, but a lot of people have allergic reactions to molds, responding to the irritation with asthma, rashes, itching, breathing and sinus troubles. Even more problematic is that some mold spores can produce mycotoxins, which are basically harmful chemicals. You certainly wouldn't want to inhale mycotoxins into your lungs or set up a situation where you put yourself at risk for a myco-driven infection such as pneumonia to set in.

Therein lies the problem. You wouldn't necessarily get an infection or even an allergic reaction, and your mold on your plants certainly may not be one of the dangerous or toxic ones. But you can't really know whether it's dangerous or nor or predict how you'll react.

So I would be very leery about smoking it, especially if you're immunosuppressed. Check out our cultivation area and see if you can find a place to post a related version of this question for our resident cultivation experts to see.

[Lanietheberner]

1. Go on Craislist and buy a dehumidifier with a digital reading. (about $65.00)

2. plug it into the wall

3. run it at 40-45%

4. empty the bucket when it is full

5. in about 1-2 months you will not have any more of them there white spots on da herb...

There is no instant cure, but this is the best long term, permanent cure that I've found and it works. Neem is a waste of money and this does not add oils to the mix!:thumbsup:

Best of luck

[theforthdrive]

man, first understand that most grower go thru a stage like this and that it never warrants slitting your wrists! I fought with powdery mildew once, not fun. but be happy its not spider mites! The dehumidifier is a good suggestion but I might also suggest a sulfur burner! I found that neem only slows the powdery down, but after three days with a light sulfur cover it will disappear. use caution with the burner. Filling your whole house with sulfur is not good for you and will give you one hell of a head ache. good luck bother, good things will come!

[Lanietheberner]

What's in it? I just don't buy something because it comes in a shinny new bottle?

Gotta get more info on that page as for all I know it could be filled with something I really don't want on my stuff...