Hand held UV light as a preventitive to mold?

Flowki

Flowki

Well-Known Member
I have read a fair bit on UV light killing mold spores. Just wondering if this is a silly idea, to run a hand held UV light over the top of the canopy every other day or so as a quick routine preventative. Ofc good air flow and RH control is still the emphasis, but could this be used simply as a secondary insurance?.
 
KrazyG

KrazyG

Well-Known Member
Flowki said:
I have read a fair bit on UV light killing mold spores. Just wondering if this is a silly idea, to run a hand held UV light over the top of the canopy every other day or so as a quick routine preventative. Ofc good air flow and RH control is still the emphasis, but could this be used simply as a secondary insurance?.
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If you're using uvc be very careful, I used a uvc to sweep my plants to kill mites.
Worked a treat but the uvc killed the plants too.
Protect yourself from exposure to the light aswell, can cause cancer.
Good luck!
 
Chunky Stool

Chunky Stool

Well-Known Member
KrazyG said:
If you're using uvc be very careful, I used a uvc to sweep my plants to kill mites.
Worked a treat but the uvc killed the plants too.
Protect yourself from exposure to the light aswell, can cause cancer.
Good luck!
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Ozone falls into the same category -- kills mold/mildew but also kills plants and is hazardous to mammals.

If you are worried about it, I'd go with a root drench with southern ag GFF (1 tbsp / gal).
It's cheap, organic, and the stuff works great because it becomes systemic.
1598198214842.png
Good luck. :peace:
-- edit --
Another good option is Regalia, but it's much more expensive.
1598198386312.png
 
Flowki

Flowki

Well-Known Member
I'm not wanting to use anything harsh or that turns out to be bad for the plants or me. I figured a certain low W of simple direcional UV would be enough to kill small spores before they set up shop yet not have any impact on the plants, no more than sunlight anyway. I take that it isn't that simple then?.

Im doing a little more research as we speak since this doesn't now seem like a stupid idea. So far I've read that plants don't like too much UV-C, just like we get sun burn. However the plant can produce it's own protective barrier. I imagine the sensible thing to do is find out how much W of UV-C is ''just enough'' and use it from early veg so the plant has time to build up it's defence to it, rather than blasting it in late flower with no defence.

Seems like I am going to be busy researching this for the next few days o0.. any additional help is more than welcome. If the level of UV-C is safe for plants could I assume it would be within safe range for humans?, or do I need a hazmat suit and a welder helemt? :D.
 
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Chunky Stool

Chunky Stool

Well-Known Member
Flowki said:
I'm not wanting to use anything harsh or that turns out to be bad for the plants or me. I figured a certain low W of simple direcional UV would be enough to kill small spores before they set up shop yet not have any impact on the plants, no more than sunlight anyway. I take that it isn't that simple then?.
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UV-C is harsh.
It is not like UV-B, which is what causes sunburn.

The things I suggested are organic and safe.
 
Flowki

Flowki

Well-Known Member
Chunky Stool said:
UV-C is harsh.
The things I suggested are organic and safe.
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Oh I see sorry, how would this play in a synthetic system though?. That aside I suppose these products build up natural immunity's to such disease?.

Also I understand that anything UV is harsh, but it is ofc part of the sun and life evolotion. If a safe level for humans/plants can be used that isn't safe for mold spores I would also put this in the catigory of organic and safe.
 
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Chunky Stool

Chunky Stool

Well-Known Member
Flowki said:
Oh I see sorry, how would this fair in a synthetic system though?. That aside I suppose these products build up natural immunity's to such disease?.
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I've heard that GFF works like hydro guard (beneficial biological) so it would not be compatible with a sterile res.
Not sure about regalia.
@curious2garden knows more...
 
Chunky Stool

Chunky Stool

Well-Known Member
Renfro said:
Can you cite anything that says bacillus amyloliquefaciens has any systemic effect?
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Only experience.

Same thing can be said for treating thrips with a root drench of spinosad... I can't cite any peer reviewed studies, but it works great.
 
Gemtree

Gemtree

Well-Known Member
Chunky Stool said:
Ozone falls into the same category -- kills mold/mildew but also kills plants and is hazardous to mammals.

If you are worried about it, I'd go with a root drench with southern ag GFF (1 tbsp / gal).
It's cheap, organic, and the stuff works great because it becomes systemic.
View attachment 4662187
Good luck. :peace:
-- edit --
Another good option is Regalia, but it's much more expensive.
View attachment 4662188
Click to expand...
I just got a gallon of regalia for 55 bucks on ebay. Has been some good deals on there lately
 
Flowki

Flowki

Well-Known Member
Chunky Stool said:
Only experience.

Same thing can be said for treating thrips with a root drench of spinosad... I can't cite any peer reviewed studies, but it works great.
Click to expand...
Could this be effectively foliar sprayed up until week 4/5?. I run coco-synthetic and not so convinced such products mix well, even though a lot of companies say they can.
 
Chunky Stool

Chunky Stool

Well-Known Member
Flowki said:
Could this be effectively foliar sprayed up until week 4/5?. I run coco-synthetic and not so convinced such products mix well, even though a lot of companies say they can.
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I'm not a big fan of spraying flowering plants, but yes it should be fine.
 
Hobbes

Hobbes

Well-Known Member
.

I've been having some trouble with powdery mildew and as part of my regime to conquer it I came across a hand held UVC light by a company in the NL called CleanLight.

I researched it as I could with a new product and ordered one the same day, it should be in by FedEx tomorrow.

I'll post in here what effects if any I notice. I've got a couple of bud samples with PM and I'm going to do an eyeball of before UVC light and after.

Next week I should have a usb microscope and I'll post some pics.

.

stoppowderymildew.com

CleanLight Hobby Unit - CleanLight USA

The CleanLight Hobby Unit is perfect for smaller grow rooms. Free shipment to all the countries in the world! Box includes: - The CleanLight Hobby Unit - Safety Glasses - Safety Gloves - Bulb Please note that excessive exposure to UV light can be hazardous to your health. The ACGIH has...
stoppowderymildew.com stoppowderymildew.com

.
 
Flowki

Flowki

Well-Known Member
Hobbes said:
.

I've been having some trouble with powdery mildew and as part of my regime to conquer it I came across a hand held UVC light by a company in the NL called CleanLight.

I researched it as I could with a new product and ordered one the same day, it should be in by FedEx tomorrow.

I'll post in here what effects if any I notice. I've got a couple of bud samples with PM and I'm going to do an eyeball of before UVC light and after.

Next week I should have a usb microscope and I'll post some pics.

.

stoppowderymildew.com

CleanLight Hobby Unit - CleanLight USA

The CleanLight Hobby Unit is perfect for smaller grow rooms. Free shipment to all the countries in the world! Box includes: - The CleanLight Hobby Unit - Safety Glasses - Safety Gloves - Bulb Please note that excessive exposure to UV light can be hazardous to your health. The ACGIH has...
stoppowderymildew.com stoppowderymildew.com

.
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That sounds very nice, thank you. Did you find much out on the ill effects toward the plant/humans?.
 
Hobbes

Hobbes

Well-Known Member
.

Skin cancer is the worst part, blindness.

Have to wear googles and gloves, and I'm going to wear a long sleeved shirt when I use it.

Flowki this is exactly what you were talking about in post 1, I thought you'd be a little more stoked!

:weed:

.
 
Flowki

Flowki

Well-Known Member
Hobbes said:
.

Skin cancer is the worst part, blindness.

Have to wear googles and gloves, and I'm going to wear a long sleeved shirt when I use it.

Flowki this is exactly what you were talking about in post 1, I thought you'd be a little more stoked!

:weed:

.
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I really was but then...... I had never given it a though that if bad things can grow on buds and leaves, good things can too. I did a little searching and realised theirs a whole new world of beneficial leaf and fruit microbes. I know nothing about this, how irrelevant/important it might be to indoor mj, so I have to go understand more about this as I was only considering UV as an added mold preventative. You have mites already so that's a whole other thing.

mmbr.asm.org

Bacteria in the Leaf Ecosystem with Emphasis onPseudomonas syringae—a Pathogen, Ice Nucleus, and Epiphyte

SUMMARY The extremely large number of leaves produced by terrestrial and aquatic plants provide habitats for colonization by a diversity of microorganisms. This review focuses on the bacterial component of leaf microbial communities, with emphasis on Pseudomonas syringae—a species that...
mmbr.asm.org mmbr.asm.org

I dunno how I have managed to miss this stuff.
 
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