What is Verticillium Wilt in Cannabis?

Have you ever experienced a fungal infection? They aren't fun, but they are easily treatable with a bit of OTC medications. Unfortunately, the same can't be the case for our beloved cannabis plants. When they get a fungal infection, it might just be their last. 

One such fungal infection is verticillium wilt. It's a sneaky infection that can sometimes attack your cannabis plant with little to no warning. So, what exactly is it and how can you prevent it? Keyword: prevent — you can't treat this. In this article, learn more about what is it and how you can prevent it on your cannabis plant. 

What is Verticillium Wilt?

Imagine your cannabis plants, thriving one day, then suddenly wilting and yellowing for no obvious reason. What gives? Enter verticillium wilt, a sneaky fungal disease caused by the verticillium fungus, lurking in the soil. 

This fungus, part of the Deuteromycetes class, also known as fungi imperfecti, patiently waits in the soil until a suitable plant — like your beloved cannabis — appears. Then, it springs to life, spreading through the plant's water-carrying structures and slowly shutting down its hydration system.

In other words, verticillium doesn't just kill a plant — it essentially dehydrates it to death, cutting off its water supply. 

And the worst part? This fungus is in it for the long haul; once in your soil, it can stick around for years, waiting for its next host. So, unless you're sterilizing the soil between every harvest, you could be setting up an unintentional fungus buffet.

Cannabis isn't the only victim, though. Verticillium affects a wide range of plants, from potatoes and mint to maples, creating headaches for gardeners everywhere. To add salt to the burn, you can't treat your plant once this fungus infects it. 

Causes of Verticillium Wilt in Cannabis

Verticillium's main base of operations is in the soil, making it a soil-borne pathogen. Plant a cannabis seed in soil carrying verticillium spores, and you've likely just served your plant its eviction notice. 

Soil-born fungi of the genus verticillium mainly verticillium dahliae and verticillium albo atrum cause verticillium wilt. These fungi enter a plant's vascular system which carries water and nutrients. Thus, when they infect a plant, they block the flow of water through the stems and leaves. At first, the cannabis wilts and turns yellow. However, verticillium is highly adaptive and can survive in the soil for long periods without the presence of a host plant by forming structures called microsclerotia that are very resilient. 

The life cycle of verticillium fungi is designed to maximize survival and spread the infection. Also, the microsclerotia of the fungi allow them to lie dormant in the soil for many years. Such structures can withstand adverse environmental conditions which can spread through water, soil movement, or contaminated tools.

Under suitable conditions (eg., warm temperatures, the presence of susceptible plants, etc), the microsclerotia start germinating and produce fungal hyphae. 

They infiltrate the roots of plants,  penetrate into the vascular tissue, and spread through the xylem of the plant.

Inside the xylem, these fungi continue to grow, release toxins, and clog the water channel, thereby hampering the flow of water and nutrients, causing the leaves to start wilting and turn yellow. As the plant dies, infected issues form more microsclerotia, which goes back to the soil to continue the cycle.

After the infected plant dies and decomposes, some new microsclerotia will be released back into the soil, which again remains viable until another suitable host is found.

As you can understand, once established in a growing area, verticillium wilt isn't eliminated easily due to the cycle of infection and dormancy, which underlines the importance of prevention. 

However, soil is one of many ways this fungus can spread; it has a laundry list of transport options. Spores can hitch a ride on garden organisms, thrive on weeds, live in contaminated water, and even cling to gardening tools or infected plant debris.

Verticillium spores are incredibly contagious, too. They can sneak in through contaminated water, soil, tools, clothing, air, and even pests, all of which make garden hygiene a top priority. From sanitizing tools to sterilizing the soil, keeping verticillium out requires a full-scale prevention plan — and some seriously good garden hygiene.

Symptoms of Verticillium Wilt in Cannabis

When it comes to diagnosing verticillium wilt, spotting a single symptom can feel a bit like playing a detective. A lot of diseases cause wilting, so it's easy to get things mixed up. However, verticillium wilt does have a few tell-tale signs to look out for, such as the following.

• Wilting Leaves

The most common symptom is wilting leaves. When verticillium fungi invade, they block the plant's water flow, causing drought-like conditions. This makes the leaves droop and, in severe cases, can even affect the branches. If you notice wilting along with other unusual changes, you might be looking at verticillium wilt.

• Yellowing or Browning of Leaves

Another symptom to check is chlorosis when the leaves turn yellow or brown. This happens because the plant can't produce chlorophyll without sufficient water. The discoloration usually starts between the veins and spreads toward the edges until the entire leaf has a grayish-brown cast.

• Withering and Dead Leaves

If verticillium isn't managed quickly, those wilted, discolored leaves won't just look bad — they'll die and fall off the plant. The infection has likely spread throughout the plant's vascular system by then.

• Darkened Vascular Tissues

Verticillium fungi target the xylem, causing necrosis right at the infection site. You may notice that the veins and internal structures of the plant look darker than usual, almost as if they're bruised. This is a strong indicator of verticillium taking hold.

• Stunted Growth

Finally, stunted growth is a common side effect as the fungus cuts off the plant's ability to transport water and nutrients. Without these essentials, the plant struggles to grow, leading to nutrient deficiencies and a smaller-than-expected plant.

How to Prevent Verticillium Wilt in Cannabis?

Since verticillium can't be cured, your best bet is to keep it at bay altogether. Prevention isn't just a good practice — it's the only way to fully safeguard your plants from this fungus. Here's how to make sure verticillium doesn't make a home in your garden.

• Solarize Your Soil

One of the easiest ways to keep harmful fungi at bay is by giving your soil a UV boost. Sunlight, loaded with UV rays, can kill many harmful spores. Solarize your soil by laying it out in the sun for a few days before planting to naturally sterilize it and create a healthy foundation for your plant roots.

If solarizing isn't an option, pasteurizing the soil works, too. Heat the soil in water at around 176°F (80°C) for at least 30 minutes to kill off unwanted spores. Keep in mind that solarization can also kill some beneficial microorganisms, so you may need to reintroduce these after treatment.

• Switch to Living Soil

Living soil is like having a natural immune system for your plants. It's packed with beneficial organisms, fungi, and bacteria that work together to support your plant's growth and fend off harmful pathogens. 

By creating a thriving soil ecosystem with compost and mycorrhizal fungi, you provide a natural line of defense against verticillium. Plus, it's budget-friendly — just enrich the soil with organic matter to invite these beneficial organisms.

• Keep It Clean

Keeping your garden clean is key to preventing verticillium wilt. Start by removing any dead plant matter, as decaying debris can harbor fungal spores. You should also regularly disinfect tools to prevent the spreading of infection between plants.

If you're growing indoors, use an air filter to block spores from entering through air currents. These simple steps minimize contamination risks and create a healthier environment for your cannabis plants, reducing the chances of verticillium taking hold. 

• Ensure Proper Drainage

Verticillium loves dense, nutrient-packed soil with poor drainage. To avoid this, make sure your pots drain well — ideally, about 25% of the water should flow right out when you water. If drainage is poor, add more holes to your container, or mix in some perlite and compost to improve aeration.

• Consider Hydroponic Growing

Since verticillium thrives in soil, hydroponics could be the ideal solution. Growing cannabis hydroponically means you're not using soil at all, which gives you full control over the growing environment and keeps soil-borne pathogens out of the equation entirely.

By following these tips, you'll create an environment that's as inhospitable to verticillium as possible, helping your cannabis plants stay healthy and fungus-free.

Effects of Verticillium Wilt On Plant Health and Yield

Verticillium wilt can severely affect cannabis plants because it attacks, disrupts, or damages the plant's internal systems that help it grow and produce healthy plants. Once a plant gets infected, the challenges keep compounding. This slowly decreases the strength and yield of the affected plant. Let's take a closer look at the effects of verticillium wilt on cannabis: 

• Disruption of Water and Nutrient Transport

The xylem tissues, which aid in water and nutrients transfer from roots to the rest of the plant, are invaded by verticillium fungi. As these fungi grow, they block the xylem's water conduits and release poisonous substances which makes it hard to get water. Even if the soil is in perfect condition, the plant will not be able to utilize or redistribute the right resources. Thus, the plant wilts and begins to worsen gradually. 

• Reduced Photosynthesis

Plants primarily produce energy through photosynthesis. However, leaf loss and yellowing from verticillium wilt reduce the plant's ability to produce energy. The plant does not have optimal photosynthesis as it cannot get enough light with fewer leaves. The power shortage deprives the plant of the resources necessary to grow, defend itself, and perform functions that produce quality flowers containing cannabinoids and terpenes in abundance. When photosynthesis goes down, the health of the plant goes down too, so it struggles to resist disease and environmentally stressful situations.

• Significantly Lower Yields

The cannabis plant will use its energy to survive rather than develop buds as verticillium wilt progresses. As you can understand, its resources are used for basic survival so the yields will be low.

Needless to say, the plants, if they survive, produce low-quality buds that aren't as dense as regular healthy buds. If the disease is severe, the plant may not survive at all. 

• More Prone To Other Diseases And Pests

A cannabis plant infected with verticillium wilt has a weakened immune system, leaving it more prone to other diseases, pests, and environmental stresses. Increased uncontrolled growth of powdery mildew, root rot, insect, or fungal problems occur because the plant is already vulnerable. As the infection affects the entire crop, it results in several diseases that need complex and expensive management, meaning you'll face some tough choices. 

• Soil contamination

One of the most difficult issues to deal with is soil contamination which lasts for a very long time. verticillium fungi form tiny, resilient structures called microsclerotia that survive in soil in the absence of their host plant for years.  These structures are ready to sprout when they touch another susceptible crop. This indicates that once a system in the soil is infected, it becomes a breeding ground for subsequent contamination, putting all your future plants in danger. Naturally, it becomes almost impossible to get rid of the disease at this rate. 

Favorable Conditions for Verticillium Wilt

Verticillium wilt is influenced by specific environmental conditions, soil characteristics, and water management practices. By understanding these conditions, you can effectively prevent the fungus from establishing or spreading in a cannabis crop. Here are some of the conditions that can favor verticillium wilt. 

1. Environmental Factors

Temperature Range

Verticillium wilt will spread very fast in moderate temperatures ranging between 70 to 85°F (21–29°C). They can withstand a wide range of conditions, but they love moderate climates the most. Thus, you can expect an outbreak during late spring or early fall in many areas. The fungi will be less active at higher or lower temperatures, but they may still spread.

Humidity Levels

Although verticillium fungi don't need high humidity to survive, it can still encourage the disease. Also, moisture stress — a condition where the plant cannot balance water absorption and transpiration — makes the plant more susceptible to infection. When the environment becomes wet, the fungi can spread easily. 

Light Conditions

Shaded areas or partially shaded areas suffer more from verticillium wilt than those grown in the sun. Low light can impede the growth of plants and lessen their natural resistance to diseases. This is why you'll notice shared areas in fields or grow rooms suffer from a higher infection rate as the plants may be weak. 

2. Soil and water conditions

Type and Texture

Soils that are rich in clay or poor-draining ones are particularly favored by verticillium fungi although they can persist in many types of soils. Heavy clay soils are wet — more than enough to keep the fungus alive and infect roots. However, soils that drain well will protect the plants as their ability to drain quickly will decrease the chances of the fungus spreading. 

pH

Soils with a pH greater than 7.5 may inhibit fungal infection and growth, despite overall fungal activity being unaffected or reduced. The fungus may be less active in acidic soils although it can survive there and infect plants should conditions change. Sometimes, changing soil pH will reduce verticillium activity, but it won't eliminate them as the fungus can adapt to pH change quite easily.

Watering Practices

If the soil in your plant is too wet, the fungi can spread easily without a hitch. Plus, it loves wet environments to grow, as mentioned earlier. Moreover, wet roots are more vulnerable to the disease. Watering soil too much reduces the availability of oxygen to the roots of the plant, weakening its defense mechanisms, and creating susceptibility for a fungicidal attack. Therefore, you should not overwater your plants. Water only when the soil is moderately dry. In addition, improve the drainage of the soil to prevent the fungi from spreading too much. 

Nutrient Imbalances

While this fungi does not require nutrients found in the soil, its symptoms may still be aggravated due to nutritional imbalance. For example, excess levels of nitrogen can encourage more foliage that's susceptible to infection. On the other hand, a lack of potassium and calcium can weaken cell walls and make the plant more vulnerable to the disease. Therefore, make sure you feed your plant at regular intervals to ensure the nutrients are balanced. 

Can You Treat Verticillium Wilt?

When it comes to fungal infections like verticillium wilt, true cures are rare — verticillium, unfortunately, is no exception. While you can't entirely eliminate this fungus, there are a few tactics to lower its impact and potentially save future plants.

• Add Compost to the Soil

Compost is your best friend, especially when trying to slow down early-stage fungal infections. While it may not rescue heavily infected soil, compost can reduce verticillium's spread if caught early. Just mix it in at the start of your growth for a bit of protection.

• Use Mycorrhizal Fungi

Mycorrhizal fungi form a symbiotic relationship with plant roots. This relationship boosts your plant's nutrient absorption and can also help ward off verticillium. Think of it as a natural bodyguard for your cannabis plants—helping with growth, nutrient uptake, and resistance against fungal pathogens.

• Use Trichoderma

Trichoderma fungi can be a good option for defending soil from verticillium. While experts are still figuring out how exactly it works, preliminary studies show it can inhibit the growth of verticillium dahliae, one of the main verticillium pathogens. 

• Cut Your Losses

Sometimes, the best approach is to know when to cut your losses. If a plant is heavily infected with verticillium, the most you can do is salvage what's left, harvest if possible, and focus on treating the soil for your next round. 

No amount of compost or amendments will revive a severely affected plant, but prepping and treating the soil can give you a better shot next time. While these methods won't eliminate verticillium, they'll help you reduce its impact and give you the best chance of saving future cannabis crops.

Summary: What is Verticillium Wilt in Cannabis?

While verticillium wilt might seem like an unstoppable adversary, you're not entirely without options. Prevention through clean gardening methods, soil management, and adding beneficial fungi can go a long way in protecting your cannabis plants from this tenacious fungus. 

And while it may not be possible to fully cure infected plants, these techniques can help keep your garden healthier and more resilient in future harvests. Ultimately, growing cannabis means working alongside nature, even when it throws a fungal curveball, and these preventive strategies can help you cultivate strong cannabis plants.