Moldy Marijuana

When mold is found on marijuana, it may be a hard decision to make and carry out, but you should throw it away. If the mold is on still growing plants it could easily spread to other plants. Smoking it could endanger your health.

What Mold Looks Like

Smoking marijuana that has mold on it is not only dangerous, but in extreme cases it can cause death, especially in people with immune deficiency problems, like cancer patients or people receiving treatment for HIV/Aids. Mold is often hard to see on marijuana. It can be easier to spot if you have access to and use a black light to examine your weed. Here’s what to look for:

• If you see dark spots
• If a fuzzy growth that is white, gray, yellow, or brown
• If web-like materials are present that are white, gray, or black in color
• If there is an earthy, musty odor
• If the plant’s roots are discolored

Why Mold Is a Bad Thing

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), being exposed to mold and mold spores can endanger a person’s health in a number of different ways. And know that some people are more mold sensitive than others. Mold exposure can cause symptoms such as a stuffy nose, itchy, watery eyes, skin rashes, and shortness of breath. Exposure can also intensify allergic reactions to people with asthma or who take immune suppressing treatments like chemotherapy or medications for HIV/Aids. It can add to feelings of fatigue and listlessness.

For some time, it has been suggested that young children who are exposed to mold may develop childhood asthma. The World Health Organization has suggested links to children genetically susceptible to asthma development are the more likely ones who have the most risk of this occurring.

You can be exposed to mold through skin contact, inhalation, or ingestion. Adverse health reactions can be immediate or develop slowly over time. There are no blood tests to determine mold exposure. There are also no clinical tests that can point to when or where a mold exposure first took place. About the only thing that can be done by medical professionals when confronted with possible mold sickness is to perform allergy testing.

What Causes Mold on Marijuana

The number one reason for mold on marijuana is related to moisture. Moderate temperatures as well as poor air circulation can also assist mold growth. In fact, poor air circulation and poor lighting are some of the reasons that mold is found in many hoarding situations. Mold decomposes whatever organic materials it uses for food, plants included. Mold spores are everywhere, in your home, in the air, and in the soil your plants are growing in.

There is no eliminating mold entirely. So if your plants receive too much water and mold spores are present, mold will begin to grow. When moisture content rises to around 15%, mold can survive on marijuana. If humidity levels go above 55% the mold may begin to grow and prosper.

And yet another danger is that any mold spores that are released by the mold (and they are easily disturbed and then become airborne) may circulate through the air in your home and affect other, previously unaffected rooms.

The 3 Main Types of Marijuana Mold

These are the three main types of mold that commonly attack the cannabis plant:

White Powdery Mildew – this mildew usually first appears as small white spots on the upper parts of the leaves. It can look like someone dusted the plant with flour. Younger leaves are the most susceptible and this mildew becomes more prevalent later in the growing season.

Bud Rot – commonly referred to as gray mold, this is a fungus that attacks the buds from the inside out. By the time bud rot is discovered, the bud is ruined and must be thrown away.

Fuzzy White Mold – this mold is usually, but not always, white in appearance and can also be powdery in texture, so it resembles white mildew. To remove this mold you need to move the plant outdoors into the sunshine and possibly replant it in new soil.

Caring For Your Marijuana Plants

How do you keep mold away from your marijuana? Examine your growing conditions. Only water your plants when the soil begins to dry out and don’t over water. Try to locate your plants where they will receive some sunlight and their leaves can be rustled by gentle breezes. Remember, mold does not like air movement and sunlight.

Another thing you should try to do is purchase plants that have an increased resistance to mold. Examples of these types of cannabis plants are satori, hashberry, and pineapple express. If one of your plants shows signs of mold growth, dispose of it, and not by smoking it. Stopping mold early on one plant will keep it from affecting the others.

Mold Removal Pros At Water Mold Fire Restoration, 800-905-0277, we may not be able to help you remove mold from your marijuana, but if mold starts growing in your home or greenhouse area, we can help. We have nationally certified mold removal technicians that can handle any size mold problem you may have. You can call us 24 hours a day, any day of the year. We will come to your home, inspect your mold problem, and offer you a plan to eliminate it. And we will do this for free, with no obligation. If you would rather contact us via email, you can do so at help@watermoldfire.net.