Show Grows 2023 Newman Tests RotBlock

[FarmerJake]

Every year I read comments in the outdoor auto/photo competition thread where participants rave about a product called Rot Block or Phyter. This season I was one of the lucky cultivators to be chosen to put Rot Block to the test in my 2023 outdoor grow. I will be applying it to my greenhouse, which is in the early stages of my first Light Deprivation grow. I tarp the greenhouse from 7pm-7am daily and as you can guess humidity spikes for this dark period.

It’s pretty unregulated in here, and I don’t think this photo includes the nighttime humidity as the thermostat resets in the AM for high/low readings every 24hrs, not unusual to see humidity in the 90’s. I had a lot of budrot last year in the greenhouse

I mixed up a full gallon for my first application which was way too much but I sprayed it all for a good soaking anyway.
Stoner move not just making the recipe amount. I added 19g of Rot Block to 1 gallon of RO water and put it in a hand pump sprayer.

began the application with a fine mist

But once I realized I made too much I switched to a jet of water and got deep canopy penetration

Every bit of plant in the greenhouse was dripping wet by the end of it

And my initial reaction when I returned to check how the drying was progressing is that it left a white film that is reminiscent of powdery mildew. So now if I do get powdery mildew I won’t even know because it looks like it already has it, here’s to hoping it works so well that’s a moot point!

I’ll update as I apply more or as I notice changes, like if the pistils turn from exposure etc.
since I made too much solution I also hit my fully outdoor Smell of Success photoperiod, even though she’s just vegging

 

[Bob's Auto's]

The residue is a normal after effect. And doesn't harm the plants what so ever.
These plants will be good for the rest of the season as you've completely inoculated them.

 

[FarmerJake]

Two days after application I noticed some pistils had turned presumably from the spray. Particularly it seems the unicorn poop varietal was more prone to pistil change and the Smell of Success exhibited less but still some
Unicorn Poop

Smell of Success

And the two little auto Mephisto testers in greenhouse also had pistil change but I was apparently too high to photograph it
Average humidity today is 82%, perfect mold testing weather this summer

 

[Phyter]

Sorry, I didn't notice this going up, but just to reiterate, these are all very normal observations, and I think it has been mentioned in previous years with people doing trials. The residue is usually what happens, and yes I would expect some pistils to change coloration.

Best of luck, and thank you for trusting the product to trial it in harsh conditions.

 

[FarmerJake]

Sorry, I didn't notice this going up, but just to reiterate, these are all very normal observations, and I think it has been mentioned in previous years with people doing trials. The residue is usually what happens, and yes I would expect some pistils to change coloration.

Best of luck, and thank you for trusting the product to trial it in harsh conditions.

And you recommend I reapply weekly/ upon new growth to cover the new surfaces as they grow correct? So maybe gear up for another round if so

 

[Phyter]

And you recommend I reapply weekly/ upon new growth to cover the new surfaces as they grow correct? So maybe gear up for another round if so

Yes. It can't jump to new buds, so anything new, needs fresh product applied. I have advised people weekly during this stage.

 

[FarmerJake]

Mold and we reach a quick conclusion for this test of RotBlock.
Would I buy it?
No, the method of application is enough to cause the rot itself in an environment like mine
Would I recommend it?
No
Will I even apply the remainder of my test material?
No

Even deep in the buds

 

[Phyter]

Mold and we reach a quick conclusion for this test of RotBlock.
Would I buy it?
No, the method of application is enough to cause the rot itself in an environment like mine
Would I recommend it?
No
Will I even apply the remainder of my test material?
No
View attachment 1613407View attachment 1613408
Even deep in the buds
View attachment 1613409

Sorry to hear.
I trust your word, but the photos make it difficult to see, and I don't think any of these photos show mold imo. It doesn't appear to be botrytis (budrot) imo. and it honesty looks like a normal situation,

The method of application can't add mold spores to your plants. It's a different type of fungi. It has sugar in the packaging, which can appear like the photos. Again though, it's literally impossible for the method of application to (spray water with the powder added), to *CAUSE* any infection. There could be too much botrytis in area and overwhelm, or it could be applied late, but it's not causing any problems.

They are your plants, and you should absolutely do what you think is best for your plants

 

[FarmerJake]

The method of application can't add mold spores to your plants

Spraying developing buds purposely with water can create conditions that are conducive to mold growth, so while it may not inoculate my plants with the mold it may enable existing mold spores to proliferate. Maybe consider a powder application with a duster?

but the photos make it difficult to see, and I don't think any of these photos show mold imo

I’ll grab my scope

 

[FarmerJake]

I was holding the scope by hand, so bear with the photo quality but it’s 100% mold unfortunately

Wait those aren’t amber trichomes!

TBH the buds are just in early flower and RotBlock couldn’t protect skimpy airy buds, I’m sure it would do nothing in thick close to harvest buds.
I wonder when they were testing this product, what environmental stress was the limit for its functionality? I.E. totally theoretical but if a bud would rot at 60% humidity under standard conditions, do they reckon I could push to 65% safely with RotBlock applied? If you had scientific backing that proved functionality for an increased allowable relative humidity in flower what would the amount be? If there was scientifically viable results it would be published and touted