Jackson agrees “that it is the period of wetness that promotes fungal growth and not necessarily the ‘heaviness’ of the rain (amount).” 2. “This product is most effective when used preventatively, so begin applying it in the vegetative stage to guarantee that the Bacillus has a chance to colonize the plant prior to periods of frequent rain events,” Douglas says. The naturally occurring bacterium produces antibiotics that suppress fungi, which can minimize damaging outbreaks of Botrytis and powdery mildew. Regular applications of preventative fungicides that contain Bacillus subtilis as the active ingredient can help prevent fungal infections that may occur after periods of prolonged heavy rain, Douglas says. Here are experts’ tips for guarding outdoor cannabis crops against heavy rainfall, from proactively choosing the right cultivars to acting quickly after a weather event to save the plants. It also depends on if plants are on plastic or bare ground as well.” When growing in containers outdoors with soilless growing media, nutrients can be replaced with supplemental fertilizer additions after heavy rains, he adds. “Different soil types can cause nutrient leaching or waterlogged plants, which could cause root rot. Brian Jackson, associate professor and director of the Horticultural Substrates Laboratory at North Carolina State University. “Excessive rain on field grown crops can indeed leach nutrients,” says Dr. Rain can also cause nutrient deficiencies, root rot, overwatering problems and, depending on the growing medium, fluctuations in soil pH, according to Melissa Beseda, co-owner of Wildwood Flower Farm, an outdoor cultivation operation in Washington State. But that is where it is going in the drug-variety hemp space, and, ultimately, where it will have to go in the THC space too.” And have run extensive test populations outdoors and experienced the specific issues. ![]() Most are only working on hype, flavor and potency. “Outside of very few, I would think almost no breeders out there are in the game of disease resistance. “It makes me think of the genetics quandary with regards to the recommendation for resistance,” he says. However, selecting genetics for disease-resistance can be tricky, according to David Bonvillain, owner of Elite Botanicals, a CBD-hemp cultivation, extraction/processing and product development business based in Colorado. Covering plants is not usually effective because during heavy rain, the ambient humidity is so high, condensation still gets onto flowers, and covering reduces airflow, which can make problems worse.” “Otherwise, there is not much that can be done, as we cannot change the weather. “Choosing cultivars that are resistant to Botrytis is the single best way to guard against issues,” she says. Jade Stefano, owner of Puffin Farm, an outdoor cannabis cultivation operation in Washington State, echoes these concerns. ![]() ![]() “Also referred to as gray mold, this disease thrives in cool, wet conditions and can completely destroy a mature flowering cannabis crop within one week.” “Powdery mildew may take advantage of wet conditions to germinate spores, but the real killer is Botrytis cinereal,” Douglas tells Cannabis Business Times and Hemp Grower. Therefore, preventative measures are key. After heavy rainfall, cool night temperatures can create the perfect conditions for spore germination and propagation, he says, and almost nothing can be done to cure an infection once it sets in. Heavy rain can cause physical damage to crops, but the real threat is mold, according to Ryan Douglas, owner of cannabis consulting firm Ryan Douglas Cultivation, LLC. When rain is in the forecast, what’s an outdoor cannabis grower to do? Heavy rainfall during harvest season can leave outdoor cannabis and hemp cultivators across the country scrambling to save their crops. 8, 2021 to remove specific references to 2019 rainfall records in Portland, Ore. Editor's note: This story was updated at 12 p.m.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |