Wow, not only are you following in my footsteps, you're also stepping in a lot of the shit I stepped in along the way. LOL
1st it was the Ph problem. Then the K def. And now you've graduated on to the moldy portion of the adventure. Been there done that.....
JRP: "My concern is that I've read several threads that say once PM gets into your grow its nearly impossible to get rid of. Anyone had a similar experience?"
Umm, yeah..... I've done battle with mold (
Botrytis) a couple of times now. Recently, I believe I have found the solution. (I hope)
My (somewhat educated)theory is that there is a direct relationship between the K def and the mold problems I have had.
I've had some plants get attacked by mold while ones sitting right next to them are fine. The difference between the plants that got attacked and the ones that were not....? Health. The plants I have grown that have exhibited what I now know to be a potassium deficiency are the ones that were attacked by mold. Potassium has a great affect on the plants ability to fight infection and disease. All the mold problems I have had happened on plants that had small dead (yellow) leaves. These leaves prematurely yellowed and died as a result of the K def. Other deficiencies could also cause this. Any condition or deficiency that will cause unhealthy, dead or dying leaves will increase your chances of a mold attack. I don't know for sure but I dont think that mold can successfully attack and multiply on a 100% healthy MJ plant. I think it needs some dead or rotting tissue to get established.
You need to take a VERY VERY close look at your buds. You will have to be a little rough with them. You need to pull them apart a little bit to look at the "crotch" (where the buds lay against the stem) and look at the inside of the buds. Anywhere you see or think there might be a yellow. brown, dead , or dying leaf(s). It's either chop it down or inspect the hell out of it EVERYDAY until harvest. if you see leaves sticking out of buds that otherwise look healthy (mostly green, maybe a little yellow) that are starting to WILT, that is a sign of mold inside the bud. That is usually the first sign.
I have been inspecting and removing dead and/or moldy buds from my twin towers plant for a couple weeks now. I would just chop it down at this point but I'm making some seeds on it so.....hanging in there waiting for those to mature.
Ok so check this out>
Bud Rot Wars....Or how to Survive a Botrytis Attack
And I know you do your own thorough research on these types of things, so lemme know what you think about my K-Def theory etc... and best of luck.
I've got some powdered organic pottasium sulfate on the way to add to my soil mix.