Root rot is a condition that a plant can be subject to when its soil or surrounding growing media become anoxic. As a result, the roots begin to rot and spread up through the plant.
It’s important to learn how to fix root rot In hydroponics, because it’s a pretty common thing. But before that you must understand the reasons behind it.
There are 2 main causes of this condition. It either comes from a fungal infection or a lack of oxygen.
Excess moisture is generally a breeding ground for fungal infections. It’s usually initiated by overwatering, poorly draining soil/medium or soil/medium that is much too compact.
The same conditions cause lack of oxygen. They simply don’t allow the plant to breathe under the soil/medium and essentially drown.
The drowning roots will rot as a result.
Thankfully, there are a couple of ways to help correct this issue in a hydroponic system if spotted early enough. In this article, we’ll look at the causes, solutions and everything in much more detail.
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Can root rot be reversed in hydroponics?
Root rot can be corrected if the damage hasn’t come too far. Some early signs to look out for include slower growth, plump or mushy stems, and distorted leaves that can begin to wilt and turn yellow.
The system’s reservoir may also give off a foul smell, and the roots can start to produce a reddish-brown color.
If you notice that the roots have become brown and mushy, then, unfortunately, the plant will have already fallen victim to its damage.
So as long as you spot the early warning signs, there is still hope. In the next section, we will go into the process required to know how to fix root rot in hydroponics.
How to fix root rot in hydroponics?
Root rot is one of the worst of all the problems that a plant can succumb to. Mostly because it can catch you unaware. You must watch your plants and check for the slightest discomfort.
If your plant is beginning to show signs of root rot, then the following steps should be taken to help correct the issue and ensure your plant thrives again.
Step 1: Shut Off The System
Firstly, you want to turn the whole system off. This will prevent the spread of the fungal infection to any other plants which may be growing within the same system.
Depending on the system type, most recycle the same water via a pump and distribute it repeatedly.
Step 2: Remove Plants
Remove all net pots or growing containers from the system and put them somewhere where you can work on them. It’s best to remove them all to ensure any others don’t become affected by the possible spreading of rot.
You will need to rinse them out and create a bit of a mess, so keep that in mind regarding location.
Step 3: Pruning
The next thing that should be done is to remove brown or decaying leaves with their stems. Make sure to use a fully sterilized pair of pruning shears or gardening scissors. Try to cut them down as low as possible to the main stem without damaging it.
Completely separate them from the plant and dispose of them properly. Adding them to a compost mix can allow it to spread, so it’s better to send any affected plant matter to a tip or, better still, burn it!
Step 4: Properly Clean The Healthy Roots
Remove the plants from their containers and remove any soil or growing media from the root system. Next, gently rinse the root system with running water and try to massage out any dead roots or decayed remains.
Furthermore, using a well-sterilized pair of scissors or shears, continue cutting away the remaining dead or decaying roots that couldn’t be massaged. Try to remove them as close to the growth area as possible.
Step 5: Drain The Solution
Considering the nutrient solution will likely be contaminated, it’s a good idea to drain the entire reservoir. This will ensure that the newly potted plants are safe from any contaminated solution. Completely flush the system with water or a hydrogen peroxide solution.
Hydrogen peroxide can also help purify water and destroy mold, bacteria, fungi, and algae. It can also assist in raising the oxygen levels of the water, which encourages root growth.
Simply mix it into a 3% solution (every gallon of water needs 3ml hydrogen peroxide) and add it straight into your reservoir.
Step 6: Repot
Once the whole system is clean, it’s time to repot the plants. Ensure that the roots are gently dealt with, as they could be sensitive during this time.
Step 7: Restart System And Add Some Nutrients
Turn your hydroponic system back on and fill it with water and the correct amount of nutrients.
Step 8: Handle the Temperature
Once all is set back up properly, all left to do is maintain the temperature at around 70°F (21°C). Additionally, make sure that the system is properly oxygenated, as well as providing adequate air circulation.
This can be achieved by keeping any air pumps on at all times.
Provided all of these steps are taken correctly, the plants should begin to show signs of improving health within the first 5-7 days. They should then continue to grow as normal after that.
That’s it, now you have managed to master the art of how to fix root rot in hydroponics.
What causes root rot in hydroponics?
Root rot in hydroponics is caused by either poor water circulation or lack of air exposure to the root system. It can also, of course, be a combination of both conditions at the same time.
The DWC (Deep water culture) hydroponic system is at the greatest risk of root rot. As the plants grow in these setups, the roots are exposed to water for long periods.
They sit in the water the whole time they grow, so they must be closely monitored to ensure they don’t begin to form root rot.
When the roots sit stagnant in the water, this is an optimal breeding ground for pathogenic bacteria, organisms and fungi. They spawn and eat away at the roots, which essentially causes their rotting off them.
The greatest issue is not just the infection of a singular plant but the ability of the infection to spread throughout the system and to other plants.
If discovered early enough, the issue isn’t too hard to resolve, and almost all plants will be savable.
How To Prevent Root Rot In Hydroponics?
Thankfully, several preventative measures can be taken to help minimize and/or stop the risk of root rot forming. The key to stopping this condition is knowing and understanding the causes. These measures include:
- Always keep the condition of your hydroponic system both clean and sterile. Complete regular checks and decontaminate if necessary. Furthermore, it’s recommended to sterilize all parts between cleanouts. You want to make sure that the environment cannot produce and nurture any type of pathogenic bacteria.
- Always think about quality and effectiveness regarding additional parts, such as pumps and air stones. Adequate air circulation is extremely important to the overall growth of your plants.
- Regular root maintenance is another practice that should be completed regularly. Trimming them consistently helps to encourage the circulation of both nutrients and oxygen. If the roots get too long and become overgrown, their ability to search for life-producing nutrients and oxygen is hindered.
One of the biggest takeaways from this thought process is making sure you create an environment for your plants that only they can thrive in.
Nothing more, nothing less. You will be rewarded with healthy, fresh plants if you are vigilant in keeping the balance.
Frequently Asked Questions (fAQs)
Does high pH cause root rot?
If the pH of the soil or medium that a plant grows in is too high, it restricts the plant’s ability to absorb nutrients. This can cause a domino effect which begins with the mentioned deficiencies. The repercussions of these deficiencies start with wilting and drooping leaves and end up as root rot. Root rot is the worst-case scenario of this deficiency.
Does peroxide stop root rot?
Hydrogen peroxide can be used as a treatment method once root rot is discovered on a plant. Root rot is usually caused by overwatering and/or poor soil aeration. This process is essentially the drowning of a plant’s roots due to a lack of air and too much water. Using hydrogen peroxide as a measure to revive a plant helps reoxidize the roots and kill any form of bacteria.
Does vinegar help root rot?
Apple cider can be beneficial to certain plants due to its antifungal properties. Plain vinegar, on the other hand, needs to be used with care, especially with common plants. It can actually be fatal to certain species if the research into their growing conditions isn’t completed. Plants that require more acidic soil can benefit from multiple forms of vinegar.
Does Cinnamon help root rot?
Cinnamon is a surprisingly handy spice in combating root rot on plants. It’s possible to dampen the ends of any items you wish to plant, as well as sprinkle some cinnamon on them. Then go ahead and plan the stems as you normally would. This process helps to encourage and stimulate root growth as well as ward off fungal disease.
Will baking soda help root rot?
Baking soda is effective against root rot due to its alkalizing characteristics. It has a pH of 9, so the potency of its alkalinity works as a poison against this specific fungal disease. It basically alkalizes the soil and pulverizes any sign of root rot as it begins to work its magic.
Conclusion
Fixing root rot on plants that are grown hydroponically isn’t as daunting as it may seem. The best way to avoid this nasty condition is to prevent it before it can be conceived.
Practicing cleanliness and encouraging adequate air circulation is key to ensuring no problems can begin.
If you do find that you are struggling with root rot in your hydroponics system, make sure you check out this guide. We hope that it was helpful, and we look forward to producing content just like this one.
