Question 1

What does bud rot look like in the early stages?

Accepted Answer

Early bud rot often shows as a single wilted sugar leaf on an otherwise healthy cola, dry or discolored pistils in one spot, or a bud that feels softer than the ones next to it. Inside, the core turns grey, brown, or dusty. Log any suspicious bud with a close photo against the specific plant so the timeline holds the exact moment and context.

Question 2

What humidity level puts flower at risk of Botrytis?

Accepted Answer

Risk climbs when relative humidity sits above roughly 60% for long stretches in late flower, especially overnight when temperatures drop and humidity rises further. There is no single safe number — dense colas, poor airflow, and wet foliage all raise risk at the same humidity. Use your source-labeled humidity and VPD history to see how long conditions stayed in the risk band, not just the current reading.

Question 3

Can Verdant automatically prevent bud rot?

Accepted Answer

No. Verdant does not control your dehumidifier, fans, or lights. It gives you plant memory, source-labeled sensor history, and cautious AI Doctor context so bud rot risk is visible earlier. Any equipment change or pruning decision stays with the grower. If AI Doctor suggests one, it reaches the approval-required Action Queue only when the grower chooses to add it.

Question 4

How do I use sensor history to spot bud rot risk?

Accepted Answer

Open the affected plant's timeline and review the humidity, temperature, and VPD readings for the days leading up to the first symptom. Look for humidity above target for long stretches, overnight spikes after lights-off, and VPD values that stayed below your late-flower target. Every reading carries a source label so stale, demo, or invalid values are flagged rather than mistaken for current truth.

Question 5

How is bud rot different from powdery mildew?

Accepted Answer

Powdery mildew shows as a white, dusty coating on the outside of leaves and buds and is usually visible before you touch anything. Bud rot (Botrytis) hides inside the cola — the outside can look normal while the core is grey, brown, or dusty. Both are humidity-driven, but bud rot is discovered by gently probing suspicious buds and cross-checking the plant's humidity and VPD history, not by surface inspection alone.

Question 6

Are dense-cola or indica-leaning cultivars more at risk?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Tight, chunky colas trap moisture and slow drying after any humidity spike, so dense indica-leaning cultivars and heavy hybrids tend to carry more bud rot risk than airy sativa-leaning structures. Log cultivar and structure notes in the plant record so your timeline shows which genetics needed tighter late-flower humidity and airflow the last time around.

Question 7

Can I smoke or salvage buds that had bud rot?

Accepted Answer

No. Any bud showing Botrytis should be cut well below the visible damage and discarded away from the tent — do not smoke, extract, or dry-trim affected material, and do not attempt to salvage it. Inspect neighboring colas the next day, since spores spread easily. Log the removal in Quick Log with a photo so the timeline records what was pulled and when.

Bud rot (Botrytis) identification and prevention with sensor history

Early visual signs to log with a photo

Environmental triggers Botrytis loves

Use humidity and VPD history to identify high-risk periods

A cautious response, not a panic response

Common questions

Download the Bud Rot prevention checklist (PDF)

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