As more states are moving towards legalizing marijuana for medicinal reasons dispensaries are becoming increasingly and more widespread to meet the demand. As the industry of cultivating marijuana for medicinal use expands it is imperative to give serious thought focused on ways to increase yields, automate and reduce the cost of cultivation. One of the main reasons for losing money in a hydroponic dispensary is the fungus known as powdery mildew.weedbates marketplace
Powdery mildew is an extremely frequent fungus and is well-known to many gardeners and farmers. It can pose a challenge for marijuana growers but not everyone. The mold thrives in a climate that is characterized by extreme humidity and mid-range temperatures. This means that marijuana plants are extremely prone to powdery mildew because they also are the conditions in which cannabis flourishes the best. Plants infected by powdery mildew start to show white patches, which will then expand to cover the entire plant if it is not taken care of. If the fungus continues to reproduce the mildew will eventually overtake the plant, killing it.
Naturally, the fungus that is this type could cause a significant amount of harm to the production of the crop and the profits of medical dispensaries. Certain kinds of commercial fungicides are available that kill mildew before it spreads to a dangerous degree. Unfortunately, these chemicals can only be applied at certain phases of the development of marijuana plants, without adversely impacting their health. Within the hospitable environment, the hydroponic marijuana dispensary offers one plant that is affected by the fungus powdery mildew will rapidly allow its spread to other plants and increase the overall cost of using these fungicides. In any event, the profit margin is reduced due to it being infected by this disease.
One alternative that medical cannabis dispensaries have who are looking to prevent problems with mildew is to install commercial filters for air. Air purifiers with a large capacity that use one of the carbon filters will remove mildew and mold spores out of the atmosphere before they get the chance to develop on plants, which reduces the chance of the disease spreading to the crop. It also provides a healthy working environment for employees of dispensaries who could be exposed to mold spores. A lot of commercial air purifiers are equipped with ultraviolet light sources that neutralize mold spores found in the air. They also help keep mildew from growing.
As with all areas that are related to agriculture, the growing marijuana business is likely to move towards more sophistication and efficiency as time passes. In other crops, the use of selective hybridization and anti-microbial chemicals have succeeded in reducing the loss of crops due to mildew. But hydroponic dispensaries have particular challenges because they provide ideal conditions for the growth of mildew that is powdery. In the meantime, unless further advances enable plants to be created which are more resistant to the fungus, the loss of profits due to mildew that is prevalent in medical marijuana dispensaries is an unfortunate reality for the industry and something which producers must be aware of.