Ambient low RH, like 20-50%, lower in the garden @George . I have a inblowing fan at floor level and there’s no top as I don’t do tents, just employ highly reflective side panels. Winter growing should be no problem regarding botrytis and other rots up north.
I would not hesitate to protect my faves with a copper fungicide. I have different fungicides in my tool box and can recommend copper sulfate pentahydrate chemistries like Magnabon CS2005 or Phyton 35 for cannabis. A NIS surfactant is a must BTW.
I’m still in the no defoliation camp, i got similar plants now in the tent and got a bottom intake fan, if i didn’t i would just take some leaves off the bottom just in case you get powdery mildew or other pathogens.
I know it’s a PITA but growers who are stricken with fungus/rot of leaf and/or bud issues need to research the life cycle of these fungi spores, and take preventative action when pressure is high. For example, with PM and to a certain extent Downy Mildew the spores will reproduce and do tissue damage when the RH is high and temps are around 68 to 77 degrees F. Also depends on temps. PM is rendered inactive when temps hit around 90F.
You’re best off working with a variety that is resistant in the first place, that is indigenous to such pressures you might find in S. India, Columbia, etc.
Then it’s easy to understand why you don’t defoliate, in my case with high humidity it would be a winning ticket to mould or bothritis, lucky you, beatiful plant…
I did get sorta low temps( i aim for 75F) and high rh and did not got pm yet, i sterilized the soil with boiling water and scorching sun for weeks, i think it helped curb potential diseases maybe i lost some beneficial bacteria but they seem to be thriving.
Doesn’t seem like I’m getting through. Even if I had a lot of rot pressure I still wouldn’t defoliate.
However, I guess it’s better to have less production (due to the act of defoliation) than to have little to no crop at all due to bud rot, then again, a lot of errors are cause by the nut behind the wheel.
If I had to guess you’re growing mutts which have fairly long internodes and not a thick foliar canopy. High air movement goes a long way toward reducing the threat.
Defoliation allows evaporation, avoids stagnant air, better aeration, no leaves having contact (there are droplets when you separate them), with all my respect you cannot speak about something you haven’t experienced, like growing under high humidity and low temperatures, like Jet and me, I have changed my way of growing after several losses, couldn’t grow the way you do …
You have to be a bit more specific @George - where do you grow, live, and is it outdoors? Growing in indoors in one of those tents? Genetics?
Defoliation allows for the exit of moisture and good air exchange, so does a good fan and proper air exchange if you’re using a tent. If airflow is a problem then install an ass kicking fan. Recommend a Vornado, set on Low.
I have defoliated heavily once and i noticed the leafs grew back. Since they grew back big enough to block the lower buds, it seemed counter productive to me. Plus too much of a hassle with the amount of plants i keep.
