Is this the beginning of root rot?

Kontraband81

Well-Known Member
Hello,

I am on day 16 of my first grow, I am noticing something strange on the tip of one of my plants roots and am concerned that this could possibly be root rot or the beginnings of it.

Currently the tank water is at 68f, I changed the res about 3 days ago with 6 gallons of ph 5.8 water + 12mL of hydroguard.

Here are some pictures of what I am seeing:
DSC00177.JPG DSC00181.JPG DSC00182.JPG

You can see more information and pictures at my journal:
https://www.rollitup.org/t/300w-x2-led-dwc-pure-indica-first-grow.943010/


Would appreciate any advice/help on what I should do, I am still a newb grower. Thanks in advance!
 

completenoobie

Well-Known Member
what did you determine?

I was just told I have root rot, my res temps never get above 68 or so afaik. I wouldn't say my roots feel slimy, but they just come off in your hands in wads. It happened overnight LITERALLY, after pH'ing my grow for the first time in my life. I was convinced it was pH adjustment that did it. I have grown for years and absolutely never once ph'd anything and never had problems. I only noticed it because my pump (aero) quit less than 24 hours after a nute change using the pH'd nutes for the very first time. I changed the nutes again (I do bucket swaps) and noticed roots floating, kinda mushy and nasty, like a pot full of overcooked spaghetti. I still have that bucket and it has foamed up like an acid reaction. Like a bucket full of hydrochloric acid eating away at organic material.

what is the name of root rot?
 

Kontraband81

Well-Known Member
what did you determine?

I was just told I have root rot, my res temps never get above 68 or so afaik. I wouldn't say my roots feel slimy, but they just come off in your hands in wads. It happened overnight LITERALLY, after pH'ing my grow for the first time in my life. I was convinced it was pH adjustment that did it. I have grown for years and absolutely never once ph'd anything and never had problems. I only noticed it because my pump (aero) quit less than 24 hours after a nute change using the pH'd nutes for the very first time. I changed the nutes again (I do bucket swaps) and noticed roots floating, kinda mushy and nasty, like a pot full of overcooked spaghetti. I still have that bucket and it has foamed up like an acid reaction. Like a bucket full of hydrochloric acid eating away at organic material.

what is the name of root rot?
I didnt get root rot, but what I did get was an algae slime, which could lead to root rot. I followed this tutorial here:
https://www.rollitup.org/t/dwc-root-slime-cure-aka-how-to-breed-beneficial-microbes.361430/

This seemed to fix the issue.
 

completenoobie

Well-Known Member
thanks, I'll take a look. I try to stay away from organic, I do pure water aero and have a hard time with bad things outgrowing anything good. I am attempting the chemical solution right now, got some advice from a couple users and a grower support line.

I thought I did something wrong because I changed my normal routine for the first time in years and immediately experienced problems I thought were caused by the changes.

I don't know, guess I'll find out
 

JohnDoeTho

Well-Known Member
what did you determine?

I was just told I have root rot, my res temps never get above 68 or so afaik. I wouldn't say my roots feel slimy, but they just come off in your hands in wads. It happened overnight LITERALLY, after pH'ing my grow for the first time in my life. I was convinced it was pH adjustment that did it. I have grown for years and absolutely never once ph'd anything and never had problems. I only noticed it because my pump (aero) quit less than 24 hours after a nute change using the pH'd nutes for the very first time. I changed the nutes again (I do bucket swaps) and noticed roots floating, kinda mushy and nasty, like a pot full of overcooked spaghetti. I still have that bucket and it has foamed up like an acid reaction. Like a bucket full of hydrochloric acid eating away at organic material.

what is the name of root rot?
Please don't pair up ph balancing your water to your issue. If you start ph balancing your water you will significantly enhance everything about your end product. But it sounds like your issue was an extended time with no o2.

Edit: can always run some sort of hydro guard or orca. And peroxide always seems to bail
Me out fastest.
 

completenoobie

Well-Known Member
no oxygen? (or rather a lack thereof, ZERO O2 would manifest drastically and catastrophically). That would be impossible. I run aero. I have had electricity go out and pumps go down for far longer than this issue took to manifest.

I am leaning very far away from thinking that I caused this with a habit change, ph, ppm, additives, etc. I do not know for a fact that I have pythium, but that is the direction I am leaning (read treating for).

However, that being said, until this problem is resolved and completely behind me, I will return to old habits, tried and true for the last several years. I have to try and eliminate the cause and only by eliminating all things new and instituting new changes slower and more incrementally than this time will, I ever hope to defeat the enemy.

I have already added h2o2 and am also implementing a chlorine solution. I will look into HG and orca, but if they're organics, I will refrain for the time being. that being said, I have much reading from advisors and much research to accomplish and not enough time to get it done. The knee jerk will have to do for now and I will read as much as I can for the future. I have had more than a few problems, none unsolvable or more devastating and immediate than this, and have easily overcome them all with no reappearance.

THIS scares me. to my core.

like black mold in every room of your house scary.
 

FennarioMike

Well-Known Member
I had a pump tubing come partially undone for about 12 hours - combined with my lack of a disinfectant OR beneficials, root rot got a foothold in all 8 of my DWC buckets - that was expensive and time consuming to remedy. 2 of the plants were lost.

It doesn't take NO oxygen - low O2 can cause it too
 

JohnDoeTho

Well-Known Member
Yea I'm sorry, I didn't literally mean 0 o2. I was talking about low levels. I accidentally put my bucket on top of the airline pinching the hose and noticed problems after 12 hours. Some of it will depend on how big the plant is, the bigger the plant the faster it will go through what ever oxygen is left in the water. Orca is organic as it is a beneficial bacteria.
 
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