Root Rot, I think

[crisscross]

Hey now. I have been dealing with higher res temps for the last week because I flipped on my mH after running CFL only for 6 weeks. I wanted to use mH the last 2 weeks of veg. Anyways I began to notice the roots starting to change from a beautiful white color to a light grey/almost tan color. The res is beginning to smell slightly as well. I believe I am in the beginning stages of root rot. I have since controlled the water temp with frozen bottles.

I purchased 29% H2O2 over the weekend and added small amounts to my res but I don't know if it's working or not. I added 4 mL/gal to my bucket dwc with ph water with nutes. I have read a few forums here and on other sites and received conflicting information and I would like to hear the opinion of others on this problem.

Should I toss the plant out or what steps would you take to bring her back to thriving? Again, this isn't complete onset slimy roots-it's the beginning so I want to prevent any future nastyness.

Thanks

 

[SpoCannabis]

I would flush complete system with Clearex for 24 hours (10ml per gallon). Then refill with your nutes, and add 5ml-10ml per gallon of 3% h202. This will help kill any bad bacteria starting to develop, and also helps the roots increase the absorption of dissolved oxygen - specially important for you, having higher res temps. After 85 degrees F, dissolved oxygen is not longer stored in the nutrient solution -- just an FYI.

Are any of the tips of your plant leafs burnt? Any wilting on the plant at all? I wouldn't personally toss anything out until it starts to wilt, fall over, etc. You mentioned you don't yet see any black or slimy roots - I wouldn't be too concerned, rather the fact you're being proactive about it is the first step!

Also, what type of system are you using? Good luck

 

[crisscross]

Thanks for the quick response. Clearex? I will see if I can find some nearby.

Only 3% h2O2--not the 29% h2O2? I bought the good stuff I thought.

Dissolved oxygen is no longer stored in the nutrient solution when the res is 85+? Could you clarify that for me?

As for wilting etc the leafs are burnt a little bit but I believe that is due to the light being changed and lowered possibly a little too quickly. I hope that's not a bad sign.

I'm running dwc in buckets currently. I live in a very warm climate where temps are still in the 80's + so my ac is running constantly but the ambient temp of 76 is about as low as I can afford lol.

 

[Bueno Time]

I tried DWC twice and both time ended with some form of root slime not sure if it was pythium, brown algae, root rot, etc. I am pretty sure it was due to too high res temps.

Both runs my roots would develop a clear slime over time. It would progress to a yellowish then to brown. By this time the roots and res would smell a bit funky definitely not a healthy smell.

I gave up on hydro and DWC atleast for now since I obviously cant keep it under control.

 

[SpoCannabis]

@crisscross - Clearex is a salt leaching solution used for flushes, which you should be doing regularly anyways with most hydro systems. 29% is equally as good, but I don't know the proportions like I do the cheap, regular store bought 3%.

At water temperatures above 85+F the water can no longer retain the dissolved oxygen. Dissolved oxygen is the air that you are pumping into your DWC system... its what essentially keeps your plants alive and flourishing when the roots are submerged in water constantly. Its the "life blood" of the entire system. The lower the water/nute temperatures, the higher levels of dissolved oxygen.

In the many times I dealt with root rot, for a number of different reasons, I always saw minor burning on the leaf tips - looking similar to nute lockup/burn; as well as dark/black roots and slimy texture. This would eventually be followed by wilting leaves and the main root/stalk rotting, and collapsing over.

Root rot can happen for a number of reasons... most commonly res temps, and/or insufficient dissolved oxygen levels.

What are your current res temps?

 

[crisscross]

@spoCannabis: My res temps ran between 86 and 95 for 2 days until I started putting frozen bottles in the res to regulate the temp. Since then I have had 2 days of 76-83 but I think I have it figured out how to keep my temps at or around 75 degrees it was just trial and error for a while.

I wasn't able to get clonex today but I took straight 29% h2o2 and a oral syringe and applied h2o2 to all of the exposed roots. Then I took some water with h2o2 and sprayed the roots with a spray bottle. Then I flushed the roots 3 times with tap. Now I am running 4 mL/gal h2o2 in ph'd water. I plan on flushing again tomorrow as well as attacking the roots with h2o2 again. Is this a bad idea or a good idea?

 

[FreezerBoy]

You haven't reported any signs of stress to the plant itself. What nutes are you running? If you avoid organics, everything with "zyme" in the title and all types of rot preventative, I don't yet see a problem.

High temps and root rot are not synonymous. I ran a hot water DWC (80-90ºF) for months with no trouble other than a less than happy plant. That's NOT a recommendation for hot water, just that heat alone is not a death sentence.

I've never had white roots by the end of the grow. By that time they're usually flesh like in color.

 

[SpoCannabis]

@spoCannabis: My res temps ran between 86 and 95 for 2 days until I started putting frozen bottles in the res to regulate the temp. Since then I have had 2 days of 76-83 but I think I have it figured out how to keep my temps at or around 75 degrees it was just trial and error for a while.

I wasn't able to get clonex today but I took straight 29% h2o2 and a oral syringe and applied h2o2 to all of the exposed roots. Then I took some water with h2o2 and sprayed the roots with a spray bottle. Then I flushed the roots 3 times with tap. Now I am running 4 mL/gal h2o2 in ph'd water. I plan on flushing again tomorrow as well as attacking the roots with h2o2 again. Is this a bad idea or a good idea?

Just to clarify, it was Clearex I suggested. Wow, those rez temps are extremely high, even for a short amount of timel, in my opinion. Obviously plant can "survive" in higher temp water - its not optimal; its not always a guaranteed root rot situation, but it definitely increases the chances by providing this exact environment that it thrives in... Not to mention, I have no idea you air pump situation and often the high temps compounded with insufficient air delivery almost always results in root rot and/or plant death. Glad to hear you got things figured out tho.

I'd be real careful using the h202... I would probably dilute it quite a bit more. I use 5-10ml per gallon on 3% solution... a 4ml per gallon on 29% h202 is a pretty heavy dose. As far as the direct application to the roots, I would definitely dilute that way down as well if I even did it at all - which I probably wouldn't, but to each his own

Wish the best of luck to ya tho man!

 

[delic]

Try this link, i got it from another icmag thread a while back

http://www.using-hydrogen-peroxide.com/gardening-with-hydrogen-peroxide.html

-delic

 

[HempAlchemist]

be careful with H2O2. ive burned roots using just 3%. a lil goes a long way. i would really dilute yours down to 1-2ml per gal. also be careful, H2O2 that strong can really give you a nasty chemical burn. gloves are a must.

 

[SpoCannabis]

be careful with H2O2. ive burned roots using just 3%. a lil goes a long way. i would really dilute yours down to 1-2ml per gal. also be careful, H2O2 that strong can really give you a nasty chemical burn. gloves are a must.

+1! I have had good luck with 5-10ml per gallon of 3% in my controller/rez during all grow cycles. But still, be cautious with it, just as HempAlchemist mentioned - a lil goes a long way.

Try this link, i got it from another icmag thread a while back

http://www.using-hydrogen-peroxide.com/gardening-with-hydrogen-peroxide.html

-delic

Not sure I would follow these... proportions seem a little "hot" for our gardening. This tool is a general gardening index, not specifically cannabis. 1/2 cup of h202 to a gallon of water/nutes is almost 120ml!! That is crazy "hot" in my opinion!