Diagnose buds: bud rot? Smoke cloud coming from cracked bud

[cbdhemp808]

I have Recharge and Mykos(granular). Recharge states it contains Trichoderma and I used it throughout the grow once a week until about 4 weeks of flower.

Keep in mind that Trichoderma may have an expiration date... check the package.

You need fresh air for plants, and old air exhausted out , recirculated air unless scrubbed will mean mould.

Agreed... fresh air source. Also a small dehumidifier if needed to bring down the humidity.

White/Grey mould treatment ......

Get your buds, trim them off the stems into smaller pieces about 1/2 the size of a Bic lighter
Put them on a baking tray and into the oven at VERY low temperature.... I mean like 120C , you want to kill the mould and spores, not the THC. Leave in there for 5-10 minutes tops.

120 C is 248 F... THC decarbs at 220 F. CBD decarbs at 230-245 F. One of the primary cannabis terpenes, beta-caryophyllene, starts to evaporate at 246 F.

After this they are safe to smoke.

Never store moulded buds even with humidity packs until treated.
Hope that helps your dilemma.

I think it's preferable to avoid the mold completely – when trimming, trim it out. If there's just too much, toss it all.

I personally would not rely on washing buds, or heating them up, as a way to eliminate mold. A lot of dead mold will still contain the bad chemicals found in mold, to my knowledge. Sure, you may kill the mold by these methods, but killing the mold and removing the nasty chemicals found in mold are two different things.

 

[pawtz]

I'm reading that mycotoxins tolerate heat very well, but I'm looking @ those found in food and not weed.

It will be a while before I attempt another grow. Just logging all this info down in my notepad. Still looking more into mold and mildew prevention. Thank you all for the help. Wasn't expecting such a response. I do see that some people have had this issue in the past, but it's not a lot from what I'm seeing. Hoping someone may find this thread of use.

 

[Lowrider72]

Keep in mind that Trichoderma may have an expiration date... check the package.


Agreed... fresh air source. Also a small dehumidifier if needed to bring down the humidity.


120 C is 248 F... THC decarbs at 220 F. CBD decarbs at 230-245 F. One of the primary cannabis terpenes, beta-caryophyllene, starts to evaporate at 246 F.


I think it's preferable to avoid the mold completely – when trimming, trim it out. If there's just too much, toss it all.

I personally would not rely on washing buds, or heating them up, as a way to eliminate mold. A lot of dead mold will still contain the bad chemicals found in mold, to my knowledge. Sure, you may kill the mold by these methods, but killing the mold and removing the nasty chemicals found in mold are two different things.

Lol. Sorry I got the temps wrong, 90-100C is more like it. My bad.

My advice is just to save you tossing what is already spoilt buds. I think in 15yrs+ I have done it once. Then I learnt and never had to again.

 

[pawtz]

I already tossed the buds out from both grows. As far as heating goes, I would have to see other instances where people have done the same and it was proven to some degree that it was effective. Seriously doubt that can be done without lab work of some sort with multiple tests being done with multiple samples. If those were indeed spores that poofed out of my buds when cutting them, you're going to have to send them to a specialized lab as I never saw anything of concern except a few areas on my White Widow and it still had a slight spore? poof. Those things are not visible w/ a jewelers loupe. You would need to chop that sucker up, toss it into a petri dish, and launch an investigation on it with a good microscope and someone that knows wtf they're doing (or a machine).

Also not 100% sure what I'm actually dealing with as well (assuming spores). I know zero of mycology. I'd think it would be more of a multi-step process doing heating along with washing of some type. I just wouldn't feel safe.


I did read that radiation can decontaminate weed: X-Rays Can Decontaminate Cannabis While Retaining Terpenes, Study Finds

Pretty neat read except I don't have access to any x-ray device nor would know how to use one if I did . The one referenced ( Products — VJ Scientific, Inc. | Cannabis Decontamination ) looks expensive as hell and weighs 5,000lbs.

I read that another company ("RAD") sold their "RS 3400" blood irradiation device for around $200k in 2011 (not sure what it is now). So not sure what these types of devices cost, but I'm guessing they're around $300-$500k. They also have a 420 line of irradiation devices for weed.

Just assuming that if they're going to the extent of making x-ray machines and the above weed irradiation industry exists, that the oven probably wont work. Maybe for some stuff, but hell I don't even know what my stuff would have been without getting a lab to look @ it, but they're long gone now.