Battling mold in rainy climates

[Opie Yutts]

I was thinking about growing outdoors, and the things one might do to help prevent mold or bud rot. If youâ??re lucky enough to grow in an area where end of season rain is not an issue, then this probably wonâ??t interest you.

I envisioned all these contraptions I might build using camouflaged or transparent tarps, plastic bags, or fans with really long extension cords. The more I thought about it, fans were definitely out, plastic bags would only hold moisture in, and the tarps would be a total pain in the butt, and they might be seen from the air. If I were growing right near my house, fans wouldnâ??t be out of the question. Actually I would most likely use them once the rains started coming down on my nice, big mango bush that Iâ??ve put so much effort into. Fans would have to be waterproof or well covered, and they would need outdoor extension cords, with all plug-ins wrapped in silicon tape. How I can run my extension cord across the road is a problem for me.

I also thought of spraying antifungal. Not too bad of an idea, but then it would have to be organic, since Iâ??d probably be smoking some. And spraying a liquid on buds will add moisture, which is the culprit. I thought of a systemic antifungal that you would feed via roots, but then I donâ??t want a systemic at harvest. It might be even worse than a spray.

If youâ??re growing outdoors in a rainy area, about all you can do is either harvest early or plant under a big tree. Planting under a tree will drastically cut down on yield due to lack of light, but it will be more likely to let you harvest at a normal time.

Iâ??ve concluded that the absolute best thing you could do is to grow a variety that is well suited for your environment. In general sativas have lighter, fluffier buds than indicas, which makes them less likely to hold in moisture. The more dense the bud is the more likely it will be to get bud rot. It canâ??t dry out in time, and if it the plant is growing vigorously (arenâ??t all of ours?), then the bud can actually grow around the moisture before it dries. Thatâ??s when youâ??re screwed. A good outdoor variety for wet climates might be advertised as mold resistant or early finishing, or both.

Some of you may have never pictured yourself as someone who would order seeds, but why not? There are a few places left that will ship to the U.S., and itâ??s really pretty safe. If youâ??re worried about it, itâ??s not to difficult to do it anonymously. I donâ??t work for them, but I like kindseed. Some of their stuff may be a little expensive, but they have a great selection and good service, both of which is worth a little more IMO. Iâ??ve been seriously considering the following for outdoors:

- Early Pearl is supposedly very mold resistant.
- Early Skunk is mold resistant and finishes more than a month early.
- Silver Pearl finishes about a month early, and Iâ??m assuming itâ??s at least somewhat mold resistant since itâ??s part Early Pearl.

Early Pearl - Sensi Seed Bank Discounts Apply !
10% off all $1000 purchases!
Early Pearl has always been one of our most popular outdoor varieties. Wonderfully sweet and resinous, the plants have a Sativa dominated growth pattern with excellent potency. Very mold resistant, even during the worst season.
Flowering Time: Outdoor End of September
Approx Yield: Outdoor up to 400 grams per plant
Height: 200 - 300 cm
Price: USD$ 105.00
105.00 CAD

Early Skunk - Sensi Seed Bank Discounts Apply !
10% off all $1000 purchases!
An excellent hybrid between Skunk #1 and Early Pearl. Outdoor growers are usually dissatisfied with the finishing date of the regular Skunk strain. The Early Skunk finishes about 2 weeks earlier than Skunk #1 due to the influence of the Early Pearl. The influence of the latter is also noticeable in the smell and the high: sweet and smooth. On top of that, the strain combines a good yield with mold resistance.
Flowering Time: Outdoor Early October
Approx Yield: Outdoor up to 500 grams per plant
Height: 200 - 300 cm
Price: USD$ 105.00
105.00 CAD

Silver Pearl - Sensi Seed Bank Discounts Apply !
10% off all $1000 purchases!
This 3-way hybrid contains Early Pearl, Skunk #1 and Northern Lights. This hybrid is quicker and sweeter than the Shiva Skunk. Excellent indoor and greenhouse results. Plants exhibit frosted resinous characteristics of the Northern Lights #5, the sweetness and calyx to leaf ratio of Early Pearl and Skunk. One of our favorites and the winner of the mixed Indica/Sativa category at the Cannabis Cup.
Flowering Time: Indoor 45 - 50 days/Outdoor Middle of October
Approx Yield: Up to 100 grams per plant/Outdoor up to 500 grams per plant
Height: 100 - 125 cm
Price: USD$ 160.00
160.00 CAD

If anyone wants to suggest varieties for rainy climates, that would be great. Any other ideas on preventing outdoor mold would be welcome as well.

Hereâ??s a wet and dry shot of what bud rot looked like in an early AK-47 harvest:

Opie Yutts Reviewed by Opie Yutts on 07-25-2008. Battling mold in rainy climates I was thinking about growing outdoors, and the things one might do to help prevent mold or bud rot. If youâ??re lucky enough to grow in an area where end of season rain is not an issue, then this probably wonâ??t interest you. I envisioned all these contraptions I might build using camouflaged or transparent tarps, plastic bags, or fans with really long extension cords. The more I thought about it, fans were definitely out, plastic bags would only hold moisture in, and the tarps would be a Rating: 5

[Opie Yutts]

and two more:

[lunarose]

Those pictures are breaking my heart! I have heard that both Holland's Hope and Swiss Miss are mold resistant. Have you considered one of those pop up portable greenhouses? You could set up a solar fan system I had one all planned out but then moved my grow close to the house so I can run an extension cord to my fan. I won't think anti-fungal sprays would work since the minute it rains its washed away.

[SouthernGuerilla]

what about using landrace species like aghan for indica or thai whatever for sativa?

I like World of Seed's prices.

Can you repost your picks with the molded areas highlighted. Spotting mold on cannabis flowers is as easy as spotting mold on your two week old loaf of bread?

[Opie Yutts]

Those pictures are breaking my heart! I have heard that both Holland's Hope and Swiss Miss are mold resistant. Have you considered one of those pop up portable greenhouses? You could set up a solar fan system I had one all planned out but then moved my grow close to the house so I can run an extension cord to my fan. I won't think anti-fungal sprays would work since the minute it rains its washed away.

Can't use a greenhouse for weed. Anyone who comes to my house will want to see inside. My outdoor grows are way out.

[Opie Yutts]

Can you repost your picks with the molded areas highlighted.

It's pretty easy to spot. It will look different than the rest of the bud. Like wet brownish mush if it's wet, and brown or purplish hairy mold if it's dry.

[SouthernGuerilla]

It's pretty easy to spot. It will look different than the rest of the bud. Like wet brownish mush if it's wet, and brown or purplish hairy mold if it's dry.

Ok Thanks. Just needed some clarification.

[zebulon]

I noticed on my plants, a few years back, that mold starts where there is any small dead plant matter on, or in the bud. Usually where a bug was chewing on the leafs, or there was some damage, dead brown plant matter will appear, and the mold spreads out from there. Another thing are pre-flowers, which get brown by the time the buds get ripe, and mold likes those brown pre-flowers too...maybe some anti bug spray during veg and early flower can prevent that insects create dead spots, from where mold can spread out....

GreenHouse Seeds have a few strains that supposed to be mold resistant....:
AMS, The Church and Himalayan Gold....

Dutch Passion has Frisian Dew and Hollands Hope which supposed to be mold resistant....

[SouthernGuerilla]

:bump2:

[zebulon]

Very interesting discussion on mold...

International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums - Letter from our Publisher

And check out this stuff....

GreenCure fungicide for curing and preventing powdery mildew, blights, molds and other plant diseases