🔍 Troubleshooting
Pests, deficiencies, diagnostics, problem-solving in real grows
18 terms
A fungal disease caused by Botrytis cinerea that attacks dense flower structures in high humidity, causing gray mold and internal bud decomposition, and posing a major risk in outdoor and greenhouse growing.
Dakota checked for bud rot on all outdoor and greenhouse plants. He noted even a dead bug lodged in a bud can start mold, yet found almost no bud rot on the outdoor Smackdown or Banana Biscotti. Some greenhouse autos did show bud rot, requiring removal of affected buds.
ep 003, ep 005
A shortage of calcium and/or magnesium in the plant, often appearing as interveinal chlorosis, leaf spotting, or tip burn. Common in coco coir grows due to the medium's cation exchange properties.
Mr. Q called out the CO2 room clones as looking 'nitrogen deficient and cal-mag deficient.' Dakota confirmed he increased cal-mag supplementation along with stepping up the EC when plants recovered. Cronk Nutrients' cal-mag product was used.
ep 001
Manual or preventative removal of caterpillar larvae from cannabis plants, which can chew through fan leaves and bore into buds, causing significant damage in outdoor and greenhouse grows.
Dakota finds multiple caterpillars (some live, some desiccated) while walking the Lance x BOP and Watermelon Emoji beds. He notes they must conduct at least once-daily manual inspections: 'We got our hands cut out with them.'
ep 005
A distinctive downward curling of leaf tips or entire leaves, often associated with nitrogen toxicity or, confusingly, also with overwatering and root oxygen deprivation.
Mr. Q observed 'a claw here and there' on several clones in the CO2 room during the walkthrough. He noted that some phenotypes were clawed out (potentially over-fed) while others showed deficiency symptoms, suggesting inconsistent uptake likely tied to waterlogged roots.
ep 001
An insect that crawls into a dense cannabis bud and dies; the decomposing body can initiate localized mold growth within the bud.
Dakota found a dead bug inside an outdoor Smackdown bud and noted: 'there's even a dead bug in here which is often a good starter of mold little bug crawls in there and dies and molds out but not even that's molding' — emphasizing the strain's resistance.
ep 003
The development of both male and female reproductive structures on a single cannabis plant, usually triggered by environmental stress. Hermaphrodite plants can self-pollinate and seed an entire crop.
Mr. Q and Dakota discussed the herm check while defoliating the greenhouse plants. Both agreed outdoor grows typically show far fewer herms than indoor runs, attributing it to lower overall stress outdoors and the plants' natural defense mechanisms. Dakota stated herms have 'always really been the case' more indoors.
ep 001
A nutrient deficiency caused by insufficient nitrogen uptake, presenting as yellowing of older lower leaves progressing upward, often seen in plants recently transplanted into fresh soil before nutrient programs begin.
Mr. Q identified that the CO2 room clones looked 'nitrogen deficient and calcium-magnesium deficient overall,' attributing it to either pH or EC being off—or both. Dakota linked it back to the overwatering event blocking nutrient uptake.
ep 001, ep 005
A condition in which plants cannot absorb nutrients from the substrate, typically caused by incorrect pH, excessive salt buildup, or root zone oxygen deprivation.
The Blueatti 11 phenos in the CO2 room were described as 'completely locked out' even after the other plants in the room recovered. Dakota attributed this to a combination of the initial overwatering event and the extreme sensitivity of that phenotype.
ep 001
A plant's tendency to show deficiency or toxicity symptoms at nutrient concentrations that other plants tolerate well, used as a selection criterion in pheno hunting.
Dakota observes that Cheetah Piss #19 clone shows visible deficiency while most others remain dark green under the same conditions. He notes this in the pheno hunt spreadsheet as a trait to weigh against the plant's potential output quality.
ep 004
Applying water to the root zone too frequently or in too large a volume, resulting in oxygen-deprived roots that cannot uptake nutrients effectively.
Identified as the primary cause of the CO2 room clones struggling post-transplant. Mr. Q explained that roots deprived of oxygen become blocked and cannot absorb nutrients even when pH and EC are correct. Dakota confirmed the substrate was visibly too humid and that cutting off water and performing a proper dryback started the recovery.
ep 001
Growing multiple individual plants from seed in challenging conditions to identify which phenotypes display natural genetic resistance to pests, diseases, or environmental stressors.
A secondary theme of the episode: the autoflower batch clearly showed individual-level variation in PM resistance even between neighboring plants in identical conditions. Yaya from Seed Stalkers reportedly told Dakota to 'throw it outside, throw rain on it, throw everything you can at it.'
ep 003
A fungal disease (commonly Golovinomyces cichoracearum or similar species) appearing as white powdery patches on leaves and buds. It thrives in high humidity with poor airflow.
A central concern throughout the episode given Colombia's humid climate. Dakota was pleasantly surprised to find zero PM on the outdoor patio Smackdown and Banana Biscotti plants. Some autoflowers in the greenhouse showed heavy PM, and a nearby infected zucchini/squash plant was identified as a likely source.
ep 001, ep 003
A plant's genetic capacity to resist infection by Podosphaera xanthii or related fungi that cause powdery white growth on leaf surfaces, particularly problematic in humid, warm climates.
Marji's Magic from Huckleberry Hill Farms is specifically selected by Johnny Casali for its extreme PM resistance — he advises no preventative spraying at all. Lance is noted as susceptible to PM in Colombia's high-humidity environment, while BOP is described as resistant.
ep 005
Raw or improperly processed rice hulls used as a coco/soil amendment can leach compounds that significantly lower substrate pH, causing nutrient lockout and deficiencies.
Dakota explains that non-parboiled rice hulls in the Autopot coco mix caused major pH swing and nutrient deficiencies in the Peyote Zkittlez and Blood Moon Gelato. Some rice hulls also germinated into weeds. The fix for the next run is switching to perlite. 'The rice hulls were what were causing the issue on the last run.'
ep 005
A fungal leaf spot disease caused by Septoria cannabis, producing small yellow-brown spots on lower fan leaves and spreading upward in wet conditions.
Dakota notices a suspicious leaf on one plant in the Marji's Magic bed and speculates aloud 'Septorium? No. I forget the name of this.' He asks viewers to comment if they recognize it. Only one plant appeared affected.
ep 005
The observable difference in disease or pest resistance between individual plants of the same strain grown under identical conditions, reflecting genetic variation within a seed batch.
Dakota highlighted this phenomenon when one autoflower was 'just riddled with powdery mildew' while its direct neighbors showed none: 'it's crazy to see literally with your own two eyes that some are just good and resistant... whereas other ones just riddled.'
ep 003
A period of stress experienced by a plant after being moved from one container or medium to another, potentially causing wilting, slowed growth, or temporary nutrient lockout.
Dakota acknowledged potential transplant shock after the double re-transplant of the AutoPot seedlings. He noted he preferred allowing slight droopiness and a dryback after transplant rather than overwatering. The plants ultimately took well to the second transplant.
ep 001
Cucurbit plants such as zucchini and squash are highly susceptible to powdery mildew and can act as a reservoir or source plant that spreads spores to neighboring cannabis in a shared greenhouse environment.
Dakota discovered what he believed was the powdery mildew source: 'I think I found the source of the powdery mildew dude look at this thing it's just riddled with powdery mildew and I've noticed too with other plants like zucchinis or squashes... often are very susceptible to powdery mildew, probably not a good idea to have this kind of stuff going on in the greenhouse next to the ladies.'
ep 003