poindexterous
Active Member
With most of the challenges of hydroponic gardening over the years I have been able to find solutions that have proved consistent and lasting, yet root rot has been more elusive. It will go away for long enough periods of time that I assume I've solved it, only to show up again, and with methods and in systems that did just fine the previous round. It will randomly strike some plants but not others even in the same system, despite taking the normal measures of prevention: nutrient aeration and temp, system hygiene, etc. H2O2 never seemed to help either. So I'm looking for a final solu...bad choice of words...a permanent fix.
I'm just focusing on hydroponic methods using refined nutrients and inert media, not organic methods as the treatment methods I'm mentioning would not apply to organics.
Having read through tons of posts here and elsewhere I noticed that the most consistent positive results were from products containing chlorine. At least three different hydroponic "root health" supplements list chlorine in various forms as the active ingredient, although dilute doses of pool or laundry hypochlorite are said to be just as effective and much cheaper.
I'm just beginning to experiment with chlorine so I can't yet speak of results but I tried an experiment with one plant where I brought the nutrient solution to 3ppm free chlorine using a pool test kit, and it seems to have no adverse effect on the plant after several days of recirculating. 3ppm is a typical level for a swimming pool.
I'll keep updating as I see if this method works in the long run, but for now I have a few questions: My test kit shows both "free chlorine" and "total chlorine", the free chlorine gets used up pretty fast, but the total chlorine stays, so in order to keep some free chlorine more must be added, but then the total rises even though the free does not. So I'm wondering what ppm of total chlorine is ok? Anybody have any experience with chlorine??
I'm just focusing on hydroponic methods using refined nutrients and inert media, not organic methods as the treatment methods I'm mentioning would not apply to organics.
Having read through tons of posts here and elsewhere I noticed that the most consistent positive results were from products containing chlorine. At least three different hydroponic "root health" supplements list chlorine in various forms as the active ingredient, although dilute doses of pool or laundry hypochlorite are said to be just as effective and much cheaper.
I'm just beginning to experiment with chlorine so I can't yet speak of results but I tried an experiment with one plant where I brought the nutrient solution to 3ppm free chlorine using a pool test kit, and it seems to have no adverse effect on the plant after several days of recirculating. 3ppm is a typical level for a swimming pool.
I'll keep updating as I see if this method works in the long run, but for now I have a few questions: My test kit shows both "free chlorine" and "total chlorine", the free chlorine gets used up pretty fast, but the total chlorine stays, so in order to keep some free chlorine more must be added, but then the total rises even though the free does not. So I'm wondering what ppm of total chlorine is ok? Anybody have any experience with chlorine??