Root cutting in hydroponics.

Anyone have advice on trimming roots in a DWC/ aeroponics?
Is 6-8 inches of roots enough? will I stress the plant? Ifeel like the tubes are getting plugged.

You are better off finding a way to make a drain guard. Depending on your setup and drain position.

Get some wire mesh and build a balloon around the drain to help hold the roots out pour the drain.

Like Voidling said. What happens above the lid and what happens below reflect each other. If you cut off a portion of your roots, you're cutting off a portion of your above-lid growth. Now why would you want to do that?

Find a way to screen the tubes.

Agreed. I do bonsai as a hobby and the general rule is, if you cut 50% off the roots, you need to cut 50% off the foilage.

If root pruning is a must then it will only retard your plants slightly, if you can get a screen that is probably the preferred solution. I have pruned my DWC roots and have kept some mothers in a small 24L reservoir, pruning her every 4 or 5 weeks (top and bottom).

Be carefull excessive pruning will lead to an interest in bonsais'

regards,

kryptoniteglo said:

Like Voidling said. What happens above the lid and what happens below reflect each other. If you cut off a portion of your roots, you're cutting off a portion of your above-lid growth. Now why would you want to do that?

Find a way to screen the tubes.

Click to expand...

I Hhave lo legitimate reason, I felt like they were going to stop the flow of water, or there was such an abundance of nutrient at the roots, that there was no real need for the outreaching roots. In soil the plant has to reach near and far for water and nutrient rich soil, but in hydro its all right there. I guess I don't know enough about the ATP cycle to know how much nutrition is brought through each root.
Its a aeroflow2 30 site.

Right after I wrote this I cut the roots on the last 3 plants next to the drains in the system. So at the end I can look to see if there are any differences with similar sized plants.
Thanks for the feedback. I see what you guys are saying.

Voidling said:

You are better off finding a way to make a drain guard. Depending on your setup and drain position.

Get some wire mesh and build a balloon around the drain to help hold the roots out pour the drain.

Click to expand...

If the experimental ones don't work out, this is what I will do, Thanks for the tip.