How To Save Your Hydroponic Garden From Root Rot

How To Save Your Hydroponic Garden From Root Rot

You may find it difficult to detect problems with your plants’ roots in hydroponics; the issue might go completely undetectable until it’s too late to save plants from root rot damage. Many root rot symptoms align with the symptoms of nutrient deficiencies, meaning that you could try many different solutions before uncovering the underlying issue. Though root rot may have many causes, how to save your hydroponic garden from root rot remains the same for each. The earlier you notice rotting roots, the more likely the plant is to survive.

The Signs of Rotting Roots

Unless you’re checking up on your plants’ roots regularly, you may not notice the more obvious visual indicators of root rot immediately. However, if you notice that one or more of your plants exhibits general signs of sickness, like curling or yellowing leaves and stunted growth, root rot could be to blame.

Before you look for signs of nutrient deficiency and make corrections to the nutrient solution, look inside your hydroponic pots for the following symptoms of root rot:

  • A foul odor.
  • Yellow or brown root tips.
  • A slimy coating on roots.
  • Brown mold-like growth.
  • Debris of dead roots in the pot or nutrient basin.

The further up the roots the affected area of root rot is, the lower the likelihood of the plant’s survival.

Curing Root Rot

Once you’ve identified root rot devastating the underside of your hydroponic plants, take action immediately. The following steps will give you the greatest chance of saving your plant or your entire garden from the creeping destruction of rotting roots:

  1. Stop your hydroponic system immediately.
  2. Remove any afflicted plants from the garden.
  3. Remove the plant from its container and gently rinse slime and plant matter off the roots in clean water.
  4. Trim dead or dying root tips.
  5. Soak the roots in a plant-safe sterilizing solution.
  6. Drain and sterilize your hydroponic system. Look for and correct any problems with the system that could have caused the root rot, such as poor air pumps or pests.
  7. Replace the now-sterilized plants in the garden. Trim back some leaves to allow the plant to direct its energy to its roots.
  8. Consider adding good bacteria to your nutrient solution if you couldn’t determine the direct cause of the outbreak.

After you’ve completed these steps for how to save your hydroponic garden from root rot, all you can do is wait and see if the plant will recover.

Preventing Root Rot

As mentioned earlier, root rot has many causes—from outside fungi to low oxygen levels, the reason behind your mushy roots could vary. Finding and correcting the reason your plant developed root rot is the best way to prevent it in your current garden and with your future crops.

Your equipment may be the cause of root rot. Light on the roots from transparent grow pots can cause them to rot, and so can a faulty or weak air pump. If you need to protect your roots from terminal root rot, equip yourself with high-quality hydroponic growing supplies from FloraFlex to help your system stay aerated and your roots dark.