how well do de-humidifiers work?

[aussie1]

I have thought about one but have heard they not much good

[Al B. Fuct]

I have thought about one but have heard they not much good

 

Whoever told you that probably hadn't used one or didn't use it correctly. The dehumidifier was the best $400 I have spent in the op, particularly for the winter months. Stopped bud rot/grey mould in mature buds immediately as my RH had been running up to 70% in cool weather during lights off. Dropped the overnight RH to 40-50%.

 

Significantly reduced but didn't stop powdery mildew for me. My fault for really packing in plants too tightly in my SoG, but a spritz of milk/soap spray every 2 weeks deals with it.

[Pam]

Ah Ha!

 

Yes, for gray mold and bud mold/rot there is nothing better than a dehumidifier!

 

But. Both sources I've quoted say without a doubt that moisture will stop PM. It flourishes in dry conditions and air movement helps it to spread.

 

So, yes a misting with milk or even water will keep it from spreading. The full fat milk will leave a fatty coating that will keep the spores from coming loose and flying about as well as smothering them I imagine. It is also a good source of calcium, cannabis being a heavy calcium feeder.

 

I could not understand why there was still a problem with this so I went to the books and I was shocked myself! It makes perfect sense to wash the stuff off to get rid of it.

 

Now as for preventing it in the first place, well that would require a sterile enviornment since it is spread by air currents as are all mold spores. Keeping the area on the dry side won't prevent PM, as it will other molds, but since it is not a very serious plant malady, the only preventitave measures that could be taken would be prudence, (checking plants daily and dealing with PM as soon as it is identified).

 

Do we agree yet? or must we

Edited July 29, 2007 by Granny