stem rot

[_tessarecting]

Never seen this before. Probably the cheap shitty soil (cow shit perlite and bark), the cheap shitty bark mulch, and the over 105F temps here in sac valley.
This is what you get when you cut corners folks. Anyway...
What else do you need to know? I water daily and feed hydro.

Is there anything that can be done or should I just chop and walk? Thanks y'all!

http://imgur.com/i4tXV32

 

[Bud Green]

the cheap shitty soil (cow shit perlite and bark), and the cheap shitty bark mulch will probably grow you some decent plants...
But you have to remember, it will retain the moisture very well.

I suspect your entire problem is watering every day...

 

[_tessarecting]

When I go every other day they look worse... root zone temps must get way too high. I suspect the same thing and am trying to figure out a balance here. I think I may start upping the nutrients from half strength to full and seeing if every other day works. When its over 105 though it just can't be good to let it sit out there with nothing?

This soil dries up in a couple hours without mulch...its the worst water retaining medium I've ever used.
Nothing like coco or peat.

Lost cause? Tips? Solutions? Fungicide products that work? Thoughts? I'm open to whatever... its only a 150 sq ft box of shame and could do without the stress of being raided at any moment here in the post apocalyptic wasteland of butte county

If these girls are past the point of salvaging and are a lost cause I'll pack my suitcase and head for Alaska! In the mean time I've been keeping the stem area dry...noticing some slight red to some stems...

 

[DrGreenthumb333]

Just to get an idea of how it happened, do you have the mulch all the way up against the stem?? And do you water all the way too the stem?? Meaning when you water does the water touch the main stem where it meets the ground?? I actually make it a point to water around the stem and keep 3 inches around the stem dry the whole year just to try and prevent this. So it could be something to think about in future years and try to start doing for the remainder of the season.

The best thing to do I believe is spot Spray the infected area with a fungicide and do so once a week, also i think you can use h202 to help cure the problem but your gonna have to look up how its used because I'm not positive, but the good thing is I'm pretty sure its manageable

 

[BAKED_BEANZ]

if its stem rot i,m thinking there stuffed. if a branch has rot around it a wilts or the base of the stem has rot. if it starts to wilt theres no stopping it. theres a thread round here on it thats got heaps of info. its a disease in the soil. caused by watering normally. but if your soils drying out could be something else. its called fusaruim and its evil shit.

 

[iTarzan]

If the plant leafs look fine then leave it alone.

Stop watering it right around the trunk. Draw a one foot circle around the trunk and then make that circle a 6 inch wide and 3 inch deep trench. Pour the water in the circle and let it seep in.

Is the trunk base soft and mushy or just brown and still hard? If brown and hard nothing is wrong.

If soft and mushy then apply an anti-fungal and stake the plant so the trunk can not bend. Water in the trench and keep going as long as the plant is still healthy looking.

 

[Noonin NorCal]

I know its to late but more perlite and maybe some lava rock, you shouldn't have to water daily unless its coco

 

[mojave green]

meh, not too late. i saved some indoor drip feed hydro plants with small fans blowing on the infected area and less overspray. keep the stems dry.

 

[neongreen]

I agree with iTarzan about making a trench.

I sometimes plant higher than normal when I move up pot sizes or put a plant in the ground, so the soil immediately surrounding the stem makes a small mound, and the new soil that I have planted into is lower. That has the same effect as making a trench - the soil in contact with the stem is less likely to be saturated when watering, and if it does get a bit wet it will dry out quickly. The roots (in the mound) seem to appreciate the extra oxygen too