Episode 162: Dips, Sprays, & Phytotoxicity: Mastering Oils in Cannabis Cultivation with Julie Graesch
About this episode
Tad Hussey and Julie Graesch discuss the complexities of using horticultural and essential oils in cannabis cultivation, focusing on their efficacy and risks of phytotoxicity.
In this episode, Tad Hussey welcomes back Julie Graesch, Technical Services Manager at BioWorks, to demystify one of the most common yet misunderstood tools in a grower’s IPM toolkit: Horticultural and Essential Oils. While many growers reach for oils to "suffocate" pests, the science behind their efficacy—and the risks of phytotoxicity—is far more complex. Julie breaks down the critical differences between EPA-registered mineral oils and 25B essential oil products, explaining how different modes of action like desiccation, paralysis, and behavioral repellency work together to bypass pest resistance. They also dive into the "why" behind professional formulations, discussing how emulsifiers and surfactants make the difference between a clean kill and a scorched crop.
People in this episode
Host: Tad Hussey
Guest: Julie Graesch
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: BioWorks
More episodes of Cannabis Cultivation and Science Podcast
- Episode 163: Concrete Botany: Reconnecting with the Living World in the Age of Disturbance with Joey Santore
- Episode 161: The Secret Lives of Pathogens with Dr. Zamir Punja
- Foundations Series #5: Reading the Soil: Agronomy, Soil Testing & Crop Health with Lee Briese
- Foundations Series #4: What's Your Garden Missing? Cracking the Code of Applied Horticulture with Don Marshall
- Foundations Series #3: The Soil Food Web: Science, Dogma, and Controlled Ecosystems with Tad Hussey
- Foundations Series #2: Lean Farming & Efficient Cultivation Systems with Ben Hartman (Originally Episode 20)
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