Root problems with newly rooted clones in rockwool?

[MrHerbie]

Help!!! New clones, roots start turning brown within a day or two after they emerge out of the rockwool. The roots of the clone on the left looked very similar to the roots on the clone on the right only yesterday. But after only one extra day the roots start going brown. Any suggestions on how to stop this or what could be causing it?

Thanks.

 

[ozziebud]

Dont let roots sit in water blocks might be to wet

 

[lusidghost]

Yeah elevate them on a screen of some kind. Also gently flick out the excess water until the root system is full established. I do an "elevator slowly moving down and then suddenly and quickly moving to the top floor" action to get it out.

 

[MrHerbie]

Yeah elevate them on a screen of some kind. Also gently flick out the excess water until the root system is full established. I do an "elevator slowly moving down and then suddenly and quickly moving to the top floor" action to get it out.

Thanks, I will put them on a screen as well to get more airflow below. I have flicked the water out, they were almost dry.

 

[ozziebud]

Blocks are upside down to is there a groove on top of blocks they have roots now id plant them in a little coco

 

[MrHerbie]

Blocks are upside down to is there a groove on top of blocks they have roots now id plant them in a little coco

I don't think the blocks are upside down, there is a hole in the top for the new cutting to go into, but no hole on the bottom. I'm using expanded clay so will try transplanting them into that straight away.

 

[Jjgrow420]

Blocks are upside down to is there a groove on top of blocks they have roots now id plant them in a little coco

Lol I don't think there's a this side up sticker on rockwool it works both ways.

 

[Jjgrow420]

I don't think the blocks are upside down, there is a hole in the top for the new cutting to go into, but no hole on the bottom. I'm using expanded clay so will try transplanting them into that straight away.

Are you using nutrients ? What ph is the rockwool/solution in the rockwool. Should be 5.5
Also. Do you have a heatmat on them? Are they directly on contact with the mat? (even through tray)

 

[ozziebud]

Lol I don't think there's a this side up sticker on rockwool it works both ways.

What im getting at is flat blocks mean roots are squished between block and floor which means no air flow and is prob why he got brown roots blocks i get have a groove in bottom allows air in better rockwool does work both ways but some are made for one way up

 

[lusidghost]

Lol I don't think there's a this side up sticker on rockwool it works both ways.

Some have no grooves and some have no holes. I think it lacks grooves because they are so small. Can you use Root Riot plugs in DWC setups?

With rockwool cubes, I usually slide the wrapper up about half an inch to give a little wall around the top. That makes it easier to water and gives more air to the bottom of the cube.

 

[Gregshed]

Those cubes look squashed and bashed in a little. They loose their structure if you don't handle carefully and that can cause pockets of rot.

 

[waterproof808]

Roots outside rockwool cubes die off when they dont have access to water.

 

[calvin.m16]

The brownish/dark tips of roots is a sign of roots pruning themselves. This isn't good, you want to transplant them into a larger container.

 

[MrHerbie]

Are you using nutrients ? What ph is the rockwool/solution in the rockwool. Should be 5.5
Also. Do you have a heatmat on them? Are they directly on contact with the mat? (even through tray)

I soaked the rockwool in solution was about 6PH and EC of 5 before I took the cuttings, then I shook most of the water out of the rockwool (with a few wrist flick) before I inserted the cuttings. After that didn't water at all until they felt a bit dry at day 7 and no roots showing yet. Then resoaked in PH6 and flicked most water out again. Roots started showing on first cutting at day 10, day 12 is the photo.
I did not use heat mat because it's summer here in Oz and temps are around 25degC most days/nights.

 

[MrHerbie]

The brownish/dark tips of roots is a sign of roots pruning themselves. This isn't good, you want to transplant them into a larger container.

Ok, I have transplanted into final recirculating system with expanded clay already. But was worried this was first sign of some root rot before even begun because I've been struggling with root problems in early clones for about the last year. Prior to that I never had any root problems. Last few grows the clones very slow to take off but after some weeks seem to recover and take off (last grow they were very sick until I started using some great white).