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Hemp Wind Burn: How To Identify, Treat, and Prevent It
Hemp is a sturdy plant, but it is not immune to the damage caused by wind burn. Surprisingly, indoor plants are just as susceptible to this type of damage as outdoor plants. And when it happens, your crops can suffer. By taking the time to learn how to identify, treat, and prevent hemp wind burn, you can keep your plants healthy and happy. Let’s take a closer look at each of these topics.
What Causes Wind Burn?
Hemp wind burn is caused by excessive airflow. Indoors, it can be caused by placing a fan too close to your plants or by having a fan that is set too high. If you have ever put your hand in front of a fan, you know that the air can get quite dry. Now imagine what that same airflow would do to your plants.
Outdoors, it can be caused by windy conditions. When coupled with direct sunlight, wind can quickly dry out your plants. This is why it is so important to water your plants regularly and take preventative measures if you live in a windy area.
When the airflow around your plants is increased, it ramps up transpiration rates. This causes the plant to lose more water than it can take in and results in a loss of turgidity. As a result, the leaves will become wilted and may start to curl up.
Hemp wind burn can be devastating to your plants, but there are ways to prevent it.
How To Identify Hemp Wind Burn
The first step in preventing hemp wind burn is to learn how to identify it. Common symptoms of hemp wind burn include:
- Shriveled or curled leaves
- Stunted growth
- Brown spots on leaves
Hemp plants may attempt to rescue damaged leaves by diverting nutrients to them. This can result in reduced yields but doesn’t necessarily mean your plants are doomed. If you catch the symptoms early enough, you can make changes to rescue them.
How To Treat Wind Burn
As soon as you notice the symptoms of hemp wind burn, you need to take action. If the damage is severe, you may need to remove the affected leaves. This will help the plant to focus its energy on healthy growth. Pruning shears are usually the best tool for this job.
You also need to increase the moisture and humidity around your plants. This can be done by watering them, misting the leaves, or using a humidifier.
In addition, you need to protect your plants from excessive airflow. Indoors, you can move fans farther away from the plants or lower the fan speed. Outdoors, you can use windbreaks or grow hemp in covered containers.
Check your plants regularly for signs of hemp wind burn and take action immediately if you see any symptoms.
Preventing Wind Burn
The best way to deal with hemp wind burn is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Here are some tips for preventing hemp wind burn:
- Check your fans regularly and ensure they are not blowing directly on your plants.
- If you are growing hemp outdoors, choose a location that is sheltered from excessive winds. A hill, fence, or hedge can help to protect your plants.
- Monitor the humidity level and foliar spray the plants if necessary.
Furthermore, if you have plants that are seedlings or clones, they will be more vulnerable to wind burn. Keep an eye on them and take extra care to protect them from excessive airflow. We recommend keeping seedlings or clones indoors or in a greenhouse until they are mature enough to be planted outside.
The Bottom Line
By following these tips, you can protect your hemp plants from the damage caused by high winds. However, if you do experience wind burn, don’t despair. With proper treatment, your plants will recover in no time.
Please contact us to learn more about hemp cultivation. While you’re here, shop our collection of premium feminized hemp seeds.
What are your thoughts on wind burn? Have you dealt with it before? Please let us know in the comment section below.
