Is Potassium Bicarbonate preventative?

[FinestKind]

Hi Everyone!

Is Potassium Bicarbonate in any way preventative (specifically for Botrytis,) or should I save the can of it I have for treatment? I'd love to get a jump on preventing it this year rather than treating it (like I end up doing every year)... I've been using a blend of Green Cure and Serenade, ever couple of weeks, at the max recommended strengths for each... any input would be great. Thanks!

FK

 

[FinestKind]

Bueller? Bueller? (Bump.)

 

[D.S. Toker. MD]

Found it!!!

Fk, dont use the serenade and Gc together as they contradict one another. Serenade is a species of live fungus that kills Pm, botrytis and blight. Greencure produces an acidic and intollerable leaf surface condition for fungal bacteria, (which is what serenade is). The GC is creating an enviroment in which the serenade can not survive.

Greencure is prevtative for mould FK, BUT.... its important to get a good dose(2tbs per gall) on the plant about 2 weeks into flower and before the buds develop to the size that they obscure the branch forks. this prevents the internal mould that you dont see while the plant is growing but becomes apparent when you tear a bud apart to smoke.

Its fairly effective if kept on the plant. Rain and heavy due remove it. Liquid Copper is much more effective and is mostly safe. I wouldnt use it within 2 weeks of harvest though

 

[grapeman]

IMO - PB is no more of a preventative then growing healthy plants in a clean environment. As stated above, copper is more effective, but use it carefully IMO, as I have damaged more tender shoots with copper then I have saved me thinks. The newer copper blends are safer. Look for "Champ". Seems to have a bit more activity even after rains. I wouldn't use a copper based fungicide with 4 weeks to harvest myself...., maybe more.

http://www.amazon.com/Fungicide-Champ-Copper-Pound-Bag/dp/B004CI1MKS

 

[D.S. Toker. MD]

Hey grapeman. Im using Bonide Liquid Copper. Its considered organic and ive found a
number of documents that contend there is no danger using it. I posted one of them over in the "Looking for guerrilla's with..." in outdoor. But like you, im skiddish to close to harvest. In fact, i only use it until mid august. Most of the bud isnt on the plant at that point so its unlikely that you end up smoking it. Plus, the blight that i and others fight seems to be the most prevalant between July 1 and Aug 21 so i dont use it far into flowering.