By Hannah Rouillard
Cannabis growers know the best protection against plant pathogens is a preemptive strike, but if you find indicators of disease in your facility the most valuable treatment is an on-contact chemistry with residual activity. The common perpetrators in a cannabis grow are molds and mildew like Botrytis and powdery mildew. Make the environment less hospitable for pests by rotating between our ZeroTol® 2.0, an acidic formulation, and PerCarb®, an alkaline formulation. This duo shifts the leaf tissue pH back and forth and, by constantly changing the environment, the pathogens never get comfortable enough to latch on and commit serious damage.
PerCarb, specifically, is a chemistry that brings a strong defensive line to cannabis production by treating a wide range of inoculum with residual activity. Its main active ingredient, sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate, leaves behind soda ash that stays active on the leaf tissue. There’s no dormant season in cannabis operations, so having a product with residual activity means you can protect your plants through multiple growing stages. Rotating chemistries from propagation through vegetative stage makes for a well-rounded, flexible management plan. Our Cannabis Specialist Zac Ricciardi recommends starting the process with a combination of our core chemistry, ZeroTol 2.0, and OxiPhos® then, “That second week would be just PerCarb. That third week would be just ZeroTol 2.0 and then we would start that process over again.” Contact us for our full cannabis guide.
When growers are fostering mother plants for propagation, PerCarb keeps those plants clean of disease while they develop and prevents contaminating your source for future clones. Then, after pruning your desired cuttings, it is important to clean the wound with either PerCarb or ZeroTol 2.0 to disinfest the plant surface to prevent future infection and cross-contamination.
Pests can infiltrate facilities by attaching to employees’ clothing and latching onto frequently used tools, and algae’s presence often holds the door open for disease. There are sustainable chemical treatments that are strong combatants against plant pathogens and their rotating activity offers constant and consistent defense. Launching an effective weekly treatment program is best, especially when you’ve got a bactericide/fungicide with residual activity like PerCarb that can keep established mother plants, clones, and transplants protected.
