Tips for fixing buds with powdery mildew post-harvest?

I've just grown 3 autos in an indoor grow tent over a wet summer and have had ongoing problems with humidity throught the grow

This was my first grow and I have probably made every mistake imaginable in this respect

Late in flowering, I noticed botrytis in one of the colas of one plant. After pruning and discarding it, I checked the other stalks of my two bigger plants more closely and found that it had infected several other sites

On the advice of another forum, I removed the infected branches, harvested all the plants straight away, cut the colas into nugs and spread them over a drying rack in the grow tent with the lights turned off

I speed-dried and vaped one of the nugs and even though the plant was harvested early, it was pretty good

However, I've since done further research and looked at another small nug under a smartphone magnifier, there's definitely an infestation of powdery mildew proliferating the harvest

I wanted to know if anyone can suggest ways to eliminate the fungus (and anything growing in it), post harvest and about two days into drying

Some posts have suggested a solution containing 3% H202, others potassium bicarbonate. There's a spray-on fungicide available at a local hardware chain which will allegedly kill the PM and is apparently safe to use on fruit even on the same day before harvesting

Does anyone have experience with the above solutions or can anyone recommend any others?

There's a lot of bud in that tent and I'll try anything for a chance at rescuing it

Thank you!
 

Marty Time

Member
Really sorry to hear about this.
Do a water cure.
The buds will lose their taste and smell, but will still work.

It's definitely a health risk if you smoke them with the mildew still present.
Any questions only too pleased to help on the water curing.
 

420burn420

Well-Known Member
Are you sure you want to take a chance with your health ? I just had an issue with my last crop I tried to cure it too early without letting it dry. humidity in the jar went up to 99 took it out and put in the a plastic bag , next day mold. I did a quick google and decided I don't want mold spores in my lungs,, so I just tossed it.
 

Hobbes

Well-Known Member
.

I've been having powdery mildew problems the last couple of grows so I've done a lot of research and testing. I've found that a post harvest bath in Dr Zymes Eliminator for 15 minutes dissolves all, or most all, PM on the buds.

I've tried hydrogen peroxide baths and they didn't clean up the PM.

Great product, 1 cup of Eliminator for 2 gallons of warm water and you're ready to clean a 1/2 pound of buds in a bucket.

.


.
 

randallb

Well-Known Member
I've just grown 3 autos in an indoor grow tent over a wet summer and have had ongoing problems with humidity throught the grow

This was my first grow and I have probably made every mistake imaginable in this respect

Late in flowering, I noticed botrytis in one of the colas of one plant. After pruning and discarding it, I checked the other stalks of my two bigger plants more closely and found that it had infected several other sites

On the advice of another forum, I removed the infected branches, harvested all the plants straight away, cut the colas into nugs and spread them over a drying rack in the grow tent with the lights turned off

I speed-dried and vaped one of the nugs and even though the plant was harvested early, it was pretty good

However, I've since done further research and looked at another small nug under a smartphone magnifier, there's definitely an infestation of powdery mildew proliferating the harvest

I wanted to know if anyone can suggest ways to eliminate the fungus (and anything growing in it), post harvest and about two days into drying

Some posts have suggested a solution containing 3% H202, others potassium bicarbonate. There's a spray-on fungicide available at a local hardware chain which will allegedly kill the PM and is apparently safe to use on fruit even on the same day before harvesting

Does anyone have experience with the above solutions or can anyone recommend any others?

There's a lot of bud in that tent and I'll try anything for a chance at rescuing it

Thank you!
2 days into drying?? I'd wash it right now (if not sooner) in 2 oz hydrogen peroxide per gallon of water..............submerge and let sit.
I'm assuming it's not a severe infestation..............good luck. And forget potassium carbonate, that's not a post harvest solution.
 

Rurumo

Well-Known Member
.

I've been having powdery mildew problems the last couple of grows so I've done a lot of research and testing. I've found that a post harvest bath in Dr Zymes Eliminator for 15 minutes dissolves all, or most all, PM on the buds.

I've tried hydrogen peroxide baths and they didn't clean up the PM.

Great product, 1 cup of Eliminator for 2 gallons of warm water and you're ready to clean a 1/2 pound of buds in a bucket.

.


.
I've heard good things about this stuff, it's basically just citric acid right? Any idea what the concentration is?
 

Autofire

Well-Known Member
What ever you spray on it you'll be smoking. Plus citric acid will dissolve the trichs. Why not just cook it?
 

Rurumo

Well-Known Member
I've done h2o2 baths at the end of harvest, some fairly strong ones, and I've used citric acid in foliars before...never had any issue with dissolving trichs. H2o2 worked pretty well, but I'm going to check out that citric/yeast product.
 

Hobbes

Well-Known Member
I've heard good things about this stuff, it's basically just citric acid right? Any idea what the concentration is?
I use the bath at 4 oz of Eliminator concentrate to 1 gallon of warm water.

I think it's mostly or all citric acid, it's fermented fruit juices. Don't drink it though, take it from me. Putrid.

.
 

PJ Diaz

Well-Known Member
How bad is the PM, any pics? Are we talking a spot or two on a couple of leaves, or a full on infestation? I agree with @Autofire that it's safest to turn the bud into edibles. No matter what you wash it with, you may kill the spores, but I doubt that you will completely eliminate dead spores from your bud.
 
How bad is the PM, any pics? Are we talking a spot or two on a couple of leaves, or a full on infestation? I agree with @Autofire that it's safest to turn the bud into edibles. No matter what you wash it with, you may kill the spores, but I doubt that you will completely eliminate dead spores from your bud.
Hi. This is about the state of most buds - and that's AFTER i've sprayed everything with a potassium bicarb solution. There is another plant of a different strain which seemed unaffected before harvest, but of course, they've all been drying together since then so it's probably all compromised by now. What do you think? Anything to salvage?
 

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I've been having powdery mildew problems the last couple of grows so I've done a lot of research and testing. I've found that a post harvest bath in Dr Zymes Eliminator for 15 minutes dissolves all, or most all, PM on the buds.

I've tried hydrogen peroxide baths and they didn't clean up the PM.

Great product, 1 cup of Eliminator for 2 gallons of warm water and you're ready to clean a 1/2 pound of buds in a bucket.

.


.
I had the same experience with H202. I've been using Dr Zymes to control powdery mildew for the past week or so before harvest and am considering doing a bath. Did you notice any ill effects on the trich or terps?
 

Hobbes

Well-Known Member
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I had the same experience with H202. I've been using Dr Zymes to control powdery mildew for the past week or so before harvest and am considering doing a bath. Did you notice any ill effects on the trich or terps?
.

I didn't scope the trichs after the bath, but I asked Dr Zymes at a webinar if Eliminator dissolved trichs and they said no, so long as we keep the bath under 15 minutes.

I didn't notice any ill affects when vaporizing.

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