When you mentioned all the humidity lately I went outside and did an insane inspection on all the plants. And I found that spot, removed the bud and hit with peroxide. Hit it again tomorrow and go from there. I’ll chop before I let it spread
Some may wonder why cannabis is at all susceptible to bud mold and whether it is in principle due to the quality of breeding. The answer to this question would be a yes and no.
On the one hand, a susceptibility to certain pests occurs in all species of plants, on the other hand, the natural resistance of a plant can be supported or also weakened by the breeding or cultivation method. The defense system of a plant can, for example, be weakened through consecutive breeding if the breeder is not working intensely towards preserving this trait. Unfortunately, in the cannabis seed industry the vitality and pest resistance of a strain rarely belongs to the major objectives of the breeder, so many modern varieties and hybrids show increased susceptibility to pests like Botrytis. In agriculture there are many species of plants also prone to Botrytis.
More than 7000 plant species alone can be attacked by grey mold and mildew. This problem is mainly fought against in professional agriculture and horticulture by the use of strong fungicides. Most fruits, vegetables and grains are extremely susceptible to grey mold (strawberries are a common example) and without regular chemical treatments they would yield only a fraction of the current crops. Because of the health risks, it is strongly recommended to refrain from treating flowering cannabis plants with fungicides. It is already a sad fact that our food is hopelessly contaminated, and even certified organic produce continuously suffers from chemical contamination scandals in most countries.
The genetics of the plant genus Cannabis sativa/indica essentially contributes to the risk of Botrytis and other forms of mold. Any plant or animal species should be cultivated and maintained according to it's natural habitat. An orchid thrives just as poorly in the desert, as a cactus in a tropical rain forest. But we expect from cannabis botanical wonders: that it grows in almost all latitudes of the world, or even in a PC case with a feeble light source, and remains healthy and flowers wonderfully throughout. In the long-term even this does not satisfy all expectations: modern varieties of cannabis must produce more and more resin (THC), be as high yielding as possible, but also grow absolutely homogeneous.
Once we awaken from this fairy-tale it's possible to be more realistic and orientate breeding and cultivation according to the biological conditioning. It has ensured the survival of the species over thousands of years and made it one of the hardiest "weeds" in nature. If we look at heirloom (ie. landrace) strains, then we notice they are perfectly adapted to their environment and accordingly possess strong defences. It is also rare that bud mold attacks hemp grown for fibre. Only when selective breeding of certain characteristics begins, or when Cannabis sativa/indica is introduced to foreign climate zones/conditions, the greatest problems with pest infestation and weakening of a plant's defences occur.
All three characteristics that many find desirable in modern cannabis strains contribute to this problem.
Increased resin production, high yielding buds, and inbreeding required for true breeding homogenous strains, are major contributing factors which enhance the susceptibility of bud mold.