How to keep my roots healthy

NCSmallTime

NCSmallTime

Member
Hello all this is my second hydroponic rdwc grow. Last grow I had slight trouble with my roodlts turning light brown . Plants didnt seem to suffer but i see pictures of peoples rootballs that are bright white . I have 2 17 gal resivours each with 2 plants. Each have 5 air stone's. With top feed drip stakes. My babies are still seedlings with roots just now reaching the water level.

Is there any tricks or tips to help keep my roots healthy ?
Any additives I can add ?
How often shold I drain and fill or flush my resivour ?
 

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BuddyColas

BuddyColas

Well-Known Member
NCSmallTime said:
Hello all this is my second hydroponic rdwc grow. Last grow I had slight trouble with my roodlts turning light brown . Plants didnt seem to suffer but i see pictures of peoples rootballs that are bright white . I have 2 17 gal resivours each with 2 plants. Each have 5 air stone's. With top feed drip stakes. My babies are still seedlings with roots just now reaching the water level.

Is there any tricks or tips to help keep my roots healthy ?
Any additives I can add ?
How often shold I drain and fill or flush my resivour ?
Click to expand...
Hydroguard is your friend. Never had a root issue in dwc since I starting using it 5 years ago.
 
NCSmallTime

NCSmallTime

Member
BuddyColas said:
Hydroguard is your friend. Never had a root issue in dwc since I starting using it 5 years ago.
Click to expand...
That's what I used on my last grow but I also was lazy and never drained my res I just let it get low and refill it ... how many mg do you use per gallon
 
rkymtnman

rkymtnman

Well-Known Member
BuddyColas said:
Ive heard nothing but good about that product. How much do use per gallon?
Click to expand...
it's fantastic and cheap. i use 1mL once a week in a waterfarm (2 gals) which is way more than i need. if you look at some of the reviews on amazon for it, you'll find some where it breaks down how much people use in bigger systems. you really can't have too much of it and its' only $15 a bottle.
 
Logan Burke

Logan Burke

Well-Known Member
I've switched from Hydroguard to Great White simply for a more diverse range of beneficials, like your mychro's and such. I've never heard of the stuff that RkyMtnMan recommended, but I'm definitely interested! Whether you go with Hydroguard, Great White, or the stuff Rky mentioned, it is sure to help you out with bad microbes tremendously! And the added benefit of not having to be AS anal about keeping res temps at 68...simply gives you a little room for error or screw ups. :) I actually don't even change my res water except for once-twice in veggy, once at preflower, then leave it be the rest of the grow in standalone dwc buckets until I flush or 'leech' nutes out with plain water. Many would say that's bad, but I never had the slightest of root rot or even PH issues! :)
 
NCSmallTime

NCSmallTime

Member
Logan Burke said:
I've switched from Hydroguard to Great White simply for a more diverse range of beneficials, like your mychro's and such. I've never heard of the stuff that RkyMtnMan recommended, but I'm definitely interested! Whether you go with Hydroguard, Great White, or the stuff Rky mentioned, it is sure to help you out with bad microbes tremendously! And the added benefit of not having to be AS anal about keeping res temps at 68...simply gives you a little room for error or screw ups. :) I actually don't even change my res water except for once-twice in veggy, once at preflower, then leave it be the rest of the grow in standalone dwc buckets until I flush or 'leech' nutes out with plain water. Many would say that's bad, but I never had the slightest of root rot or even PH issues! :)
Click to expand...
Yeah I used hydrogaurd on my last grow never changed the res throughout the 6 week veg and 8 week flower. Didnt have any root issues that showed in the plant. I was just wanting to know how to get pretty white roots like some other grow pics I see. But I'm definitely interested in the product rkymntman mentioned... will do some research on it thanks for all the replies
 
Logan Burke

Logan Burke

Well-Known Member
I think that sometimes it can be related to the nutrients that you use...like, with Floranova base nutes, a lot of people report darker brown like stains on their roots when they start getting into higher strength doses. I know that mine definitely aren't shiny white when using it, but still perfectly healthy. Anyhow, no problem, hope you can figure it out! :)
 
BuddyColas

BuddyColas

Well-Known Member
rkymtnman said:
it's fantastic and cheap. i use 1mL once a week in a waterfarm (2 gals) which is way more than i need. if you look at some of the reviews on amazon for it, you'll find some where it breaks down how much people use in bigger systems. you really can't have too much of it and its' only $15 a bottle.
Click to expand...
Half a ML a gallon per week is waaaaaaaay cheaper than hydroguard:mrgreen:.
 
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rkymtnman

rkymtnman

Well-Known Member
NCSmallTime said:
Yeah I used hydrogaurd on my last grow never changed the res throughout the 6 week veg and 8 week flower. Didnt have any root issues that showed in the plant. I was just wanting to know how to get pretty white roots like some other grow pics I see. But I'm definitely interested in the product rkymntman mentioned... will do some research on it thanks for all the replies
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if you aren't aware there are 2 ways to run hydro: sterile or with beneficial bacteria.

i used HTH pool shock for years with great success too. and it's probably the cheapest way to prevent root rot of any method.
 
NCSmallTime

NCSmallTime

Member
I went to the local hydroponic store to but some more hydrogaurd. They didnt have any but they did have a few used water chillers . I picked up a 1/10hp active aqua chiller by hydro farm for $75 i I was very surprised at there used chiller selection had 1/10 hp 1/4hp and 1/2 hp all for under $120
 
shawnery

shawnery

Well-Known Member
If you make a solution of ag at 20:1 and then 1ml per gal should be the same dose as hydroguard.
 
Major Blazer

Major Blazer

Well-Known Member
I'm on the side of the fence and think bennies are unnecessary - I go for sterile. Regarding rooting, CX Hydroponics Rege-a-Root is fantastic. Regarding how to handle potential root issues, CX Hydroponics Wilt Guard is a miracle. CX hasn't taken off in the states which is a shame bc they have some amazing stuff. Either way, best of luck
 
shawnery

shawnery

Well-Known Member
I read a couple posts where it went bad most likely because of using to much. You're using a lot of the stuff that's for sure. If you've been getting away with it no worries I guess?

I was using ag and then one of my stunted clones went bad and I switched to sterile. I'll use it again next time and hopefully it works out. I've had the same issues using hydroguard as well so it wasn't the ag specifically.
 
projectinfo

projectinfo

Well-Known Member
shawnery said:
I read a couple posts where it went bad most likely because of using to much. You're using a lot of the stuff that's for sure. If you've been getting away with it no worries I guess?

I was using ag and then one of my stunted clones went bad and I switched to sterile. I'll use it again next time and hopefully it works out. I've had the same issues using hydroguard as well so it wasn't the ag specifically.
Click to expand...
@Jypsy Dog uses it 1-4mls depending on what you need it for... Clones to fixing root rot.
 
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