Scissors , trellis netting , and anything else that came in contact with the plants will need to be sterilized as well .”
by Lee G . Lyzit
Q
I think at least a couple of plants in my crop have fallen victim to a virus . What steps should I take to protect the rest of my plants from infection ?
— Geoff G . a
Thank you for your question . When a plant gets infected by a virus it should be immediately removed from the rest of the crop to avoid further contamination . If all plants have fallen victim to a virus , a grower has two options : 1 . Allow the plants to finish the cycle and hopefully salvage a harvest or 2 . Remove the entire crop and start over . With either choice , a decontamination of the room and equipment is absolutely necessary to avoid reoccurrence . The simplest and most effective way to sterilize a garden space is with a diluted bleach solution . The percentage of bleach in water should be about 10 percent for this purpose . In other words , mix nine parts water to one part bleach . This solution can be used to wipe down walls , planting containers , hydroponic systems , etc . Scissors , trellis netting , and anything else that came in contact with the plants will need to be sterilized as well . After wiping the equipment with the bleach solution , it is a good idea to rinse the equipment with pure water ; especially any items that come in direct contact with the plant ’ s roots or medium ( hydroponic systems , reservoirs , planting containers , etc .). Rinsing is important because bleach can leave a residue behind that can be harmful to plants . This is why many growers will choose to sterilize with hydrogen peroxide instead of bleach . Unlike bleach , hydrogen peroxide will not leave a residue behind , but instead becomes water after oxidization occurs . Higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide ( 35 percent ) should be diluted to a one-part peroxide , one part water solution . Whether you use bleach or hydrogen peroxide , make sure to wear proper safety equipment during the decontamination process . Rubber gloves , respirators , and eye protection are all crucial when using strong solvents . To avoid this problem in the future , do not use equipment that has been used elsewhere in the indoor garden . Viruses are generally brought in by an unsuspecting gardener who shares equipment with an outdoor garden . Viruses can also be brought in on the hands or clothing of the grower or a vector pest insect . A quick hand washing and change of clothes before entering an indoor garden or greenhouse is a great way to reduce the likelihood of introducing plant viruses or other pathogens .
Keep on Growing , Lee . G . Lyzit
LL
Lee G . Lyzit has been involved in the cannabis industry for nearly 20 years . His passion for natural healing motivates him to learn as much as he can about the miraculous cannabis plant . Lee ’ s knowledge of cannabis gardening stems from his own extensive cultivation experiences and his past work as a hydroponic shop owner and manager .
16 Maximum Yield