Where did I go wrong?

X

xesvuli420

Well-Known Member
So I’m trying to experiment with a simple compost tea and dwc... but even though my plants look great, the roots are rotting away. I’m doing something wrong, maybe someone can spot it.

I fill a 20 gallon tank with tap water, let it bubble for a day, then add worm castings in a sock, and a few tablespoons of unsulfered molasses. (I want to start with a simple recipe before I go crazy with kelp and all the other options.)

Two days later I flush my GH nutes, and switched over to the tea. As I was adding the tea, I checked the PPMs and I’m so confused.. barely a noticeable increase from the tap water Ppm. From about 45-65 I was expecting a few hundred increase at least. I also notice the panty hose didn’t keep all the worm castings in, I didn’t think it would hurt to still use the water.

6 days later my plants still look great, have grown plenty, I was quite happy with the results. Then I peeked at the roots. Anything at the water line was black and easy to pull off. Bits of the compost tea was in some of the roots. Totally looks like extreme root rot except the plant leaves are so far still vibrant.

I feel like in a day or so I’m gonna see some issues popping up.. I’m tempted to flush now, but I don’t want to give up on the method just yet and run back to bottled nutes.

Where did I go wrong fellas? I need some good tips and advice for sure!

thanks!
 
smokinrav

smokinrav

Well-Known Member
How frequently do you water? I've traced yellowish, dingy looking roots to overwatering in my room.
 
Richard Drysift

Richard Drysift

Well-Known Member
You have introduced a ton of bacteria into your res and now are surprised you got root rot? If you want to grow organically get rid of your hydro setup and put your plant in a pot full of decent soil. The ph of your res must be out; high levels of bacteria usually will drop ph. So yes just give up on this idea. Decide which way you want to grow and do that; you cannot combine these disciplines. DWC requires a sterile environment....
Empty the res....clean everything down with bleach and hot water, refill with clean tap water and add about 1/2 cup of h2o2 hydrogen peroxide. Stay with the bottles or grow in “mostly water only” soil. You can’t do both. I know because I used to grow hydro; the problems you are having are exactly why I switched to soil.
 
PadawanWarrior

PadawanWarrior

Well-Known Member
Richard Drysift said:
You have introduced a ton of bacteria into your res and now are surprised you got root rot? If you want to grow organically get rid of your hydro setup and put your plant in a pot full of decent soil. The ph of your res must be out; high levels of bacteria usually will drop ph. So yes just give up on this idea. Decide which way you want to grow and do that; you cannot combine these disciplines. DWC requires a sterile environment....
Empty the res....clean everything down with bleach and hot water, refill with clean tap water and add about 1/2 cup of h2o2 hydrogen peroxide. Stay with the bottles or grow in “mostly water only” soil. You can’t do both. I know because I used to grow hydro; the problems you are having are exactly why I switched to soil.
Click to expand...
This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^!
 
X

xesvuli420

Well-Known Member
I sure appreciate your kind words, unfortunately there are plenty of people that successfully DWC with compost tea. I’d rather find what is the problem then give up on it if possible. Thanks for your information!
 
Herb & Suds

Herb & Suds

Well-Known Member
xesvuli420 said:
I sure appreciate your kind words, unfortunately there are plenty of people that successfully DWC with compost tea. I’d rather find what is the problem then give up on it if possible. Thanks for your information!
Click to expand...
Another RIU looking for the answers I want to hear :hug:
 
X

xesvuli420

Well-Known Member
Yea we just have to wait for the ones that actually know to stop by.

as an update, the plants look amazing! It’s like the twilight zone, above res is picture perfect, below res looks like death. Brown and black roots, fuzzy white stuff on a few roots above the waterline..

One side my mind screams FLUSHHH
the other and it screams WAIIIIIIITTTT..

The last three days have been the hardest to wait by the looks of the res, but it’s paying off the plants look gorgeous, light green new growth everywhere. No signs of drooping at all. No discoloration, no curls up or down, just healthy LOOKING leaves. Now the roots on the other hand, I bet I’ve pulled out and tossed 2 or 3 large man sized handfuls of detachable brown slimy roots.

it’s so weird how something that looks like extreme ignored root rot is have such amazing effects. There’s not even a bad smell! Also it’s worth mentioning that new roots are starting to grow. Albeit brown, they look much thicker.. my hopes are these are roots the plant is making that are more suitable for the environment. Maybe the black detached roots were sick and the bacteria is doing it’s job... I know it sounds optimistic but I don’t want to flush if it’s working and my inexperience is scaring me off it.

I’m going to give it until one of them starts to look bad to stop, my 2nd batch is brewing
 
Richard Drysift

Richard Drysift

Well-Known Member
Don’t mean to come off like a dick; I have seen organic hydro done in buckets....think they use some kind of mesh around the roots I assume to filter out chunks of organic material. Maybe the roots are supposed to be hanging right at the waterline...like a half full res/bucket?
There is more to it than just dumping compost into the res. I probably would have given up by now; I admire your dedication to trying out new stuff. I don’t know how it’s possible to do it without a lot of effort but im sure we would like to see you pull this off....
How or what do you plan to feed them?
Compost has meager NPK...will that even sustain them in full bloom?
Oh and pics or it didn’t happen...
 
X

xesvuli420

Well-Known Member
No worries at all. 7 out of 10 people who reply on forums don’t even know what they’re talking about. Some really want to help, some just want to blurt out what they’ve heard as fact, and some just have no clue. However once in a while, a pro will grace us with some great first hand experience. Until he gets here it’s just us to discuss what we are trying to do, and hear others opinions.

Actually I don’t think there is anything more to it than that.. i mean the “recipes” can get tedious, but those are designed to be super foods. I see some people mix with water, and than some swear by not diluting at all. This is my first time so I just picked a way and here we are.

I appreciate your admiration, sometimes you learn something going against the grain that pays off, shit I would still be hang drying if I hadn’t went against all the mold people and locked my wet ass weed in a mini fridge right after it was cut. Now, it’s the only way I dry and cure. From res to cut table to Tupperware to fridge... all in the same day. Unbelievable results if you’re brave enough to try it! (Make sure it’s a frost free fridge tho). Also Ive wanted to turn back since last week, but the plants look so good.. I’m honestly blown away, and that’s keeping me from hitting eject button.

As far as feeding, once I figure out what I’m doing I will wonder around trying other people’s recipe.. probably starting with heisenberg tea, but to start off with just a simple worm tea.

Also I just did this switch end bloom. I only have 6 days left on my flowers, then I rotate all my tanks and I get to flip the switch on some new girls. I figured if it went bad and all the roots died, at least my flowers are pulling mainly from the leaves.. I figure by next harvest the jury will be out for good.

As far as pics, if this thread gets some steam I’ll sure post a few, but for now I would love for some organic pro who has successfully done this, to miraculously drop on by.

Thanks again for the conversation!
 
Bpeace

Bpeace

Well-Known Member
Richard Drysift said:
You have introduced a ton of bacteria into your res and now are surprised you got root rot? If you want to grow organically get rid of your hydro setup and put your plant in a pot full of decent soil. The ph of your res must be out; high levels of bacteria usually will drop ph. So yes just give up on this idea. Decide which way you want to grow and do that; you cannot combine these disciplines. DWC requires a sterile environment....
Empty the res....clean everything down with bleach and hot water, refill with clean tap water and add about 1/2 cup of h2o2 hydrogen peroxide. Stay with the bottles or grow in “mostly water only” soil. You can’t do both. I know because I used to grow hydro; the problems you are having are exactly why I switched to soil.
Click to expand...
I would have to agree combining the 2 methods is a no go. I would recommend going to soil if you want to use teas. I switched to no till last year and its basically growing on autopilot. I use Coot's mix(I made myself and tried bagged mix from buildasoil, making it yourself is always better). Check out the no till revisited thread here on rollitup it will tell you everything you need to know or at least put you on the right path. Build great soil in big enough pots (20 gal is great 45 gallon is better and big beds are spectacular)and you will not have any problems or sick plants. I am shocked actually, its do simple natural and enjoyable, and that is before the dank ass bud is done. Here is a pic of one of my setups, 2 45g , 3 20 gal in a 4.5 ft x 4.5 ft, got 1.8 g/W last run and it only gets better. Green the Earth!
HTH
Peace
 

Attachments

Bpeace

Bpeace

Well-Known Member
xesvuli420 said:
No worries at all. 7 out of 10 people who reply on forums don’t even know what they’re talking about. Some really want to help, some just want to blurt out what they’ve heard as fact, and some just have no clue. However once in a while, a pro will grace us with some great first hand experience. Until he gets here it’s just us to discuss what we are trying to do, and hear others opinions.

Actually I don’t think there is anything more to it than that.. i mean the “recipes” can get tedious, but those are designed to be super foods. I see some people mix with water, and than some swear by not diluting at all. This is my first time so I just picked a way and here we are.

I appreciate your admiration, sometimes you learn something going against the grain that pays off, shit I would still be hang drying if I hadn’t went against all the mold people and locked my wet ass weed in a mini fridge right after it was cut. Now, it’s the only way I dry and cure. From res to cut table to Tupperware to fridge... all in the same day. Unbelievable results if you’re brave enough to try it! (Make sure it’s a frost free fridge tho). Also Ive wanted to turn back since last week, but the plants look so good.. I’m honestly blown away, and that’s keeping me from hitting eject button.

As far as feeding, once I figure out what I’m doing I will wonder around trying other people’s recipe.. probably starting with heisenberg tea, but to start off with just a simple worm tea.

Also I just did this switch end bloom. I only have 6 days left on my flowers, then I rotate all my tanks and I get to flip the switch on some new girls. I figured if it went bad and all the roots died, at least my flowers are pulling mainly from the leaves.. I figure by next harvest the jury will be out for good.

As far as pics, if this thread gets some steam I’ll sure post a few, but for now I would love for some organic pro who has successfully done this, to miraculously drop on by.

Thanks again for the conversation!
Click to expand...
I would love to know more about the fridge method, it would give me another grow space instead of a drying tent! Thanks

Peace
 
Rurumo

Rurumo

Well-Known Member
People are pretty passionate for and against sterile DWC. Look at all the threads about hydroguard/Southern Ag either miraculously curing root rot or miraculously causing it. Also, you're not going to get any kind of helpful ppm measurement from an organic tea. My single experience with DWC was with semi-organic nutes and it worked, but I went straight back to coco and never looked back-managing the ph was too frustrating for me. Organics are much easier in soil or coco. BUT, I wish you the best and I'm sure someone will step in here with the info you need. Good luck!! I love the idea of growing a plant in a murky bat and worm toilet.
 
X

xesvuli420

Well-Known Member
@Bpeace man, you won’t find better looking buds. I started to do it because I heard that the temps to prevent any terpenes loss due to evaporation was in the low 50s. I had a fridge so I tried it. Been 2 years now. Takes an ass load longer (up to 30 days to get in the low 60s rh), but in my experience you end up with the sexiest looking, smoothest tasting, bud. It doesn’t shrink in the fridge, gets somewhat spongy instead, but looks as sexy as the day you picked it. Green, orange, red...
the best smoke I’ve ever seen. Somebody before me patented it lol, it’s known as the low and slow method, but my way differs a bit. Either way I fully recommend the end result, and hope this post encourages somebody to have the male sex organs big enough to try it.
 
X

xesvuli420

Well-Known Member
Thank you rurumo, I hope this thread grows into something worth reading… And I definitely appreciate the kind words. I hope you’ll be there to the end
 
kovidkough

kovidkough

Well-Known Member
xesvuli420 said:
@Bpeace man, you won’t find better looking buds. I started to do it because I heard that the temps to prevent any terpenes loss due to evaporation was in the low 50s. I had a fridge so I tried it. Been 2 years now. Takes an ass load longer (up to 30 days to get in the low 60s rh), but in my experience you end up with the sexiest looking, smoothest tasting, bud. It doesn’t shrink in the fridge, gets somewhat spongy instead, but looks as sexy as the day you picked it. Green, orange, red...
the best smoke I’ve ever seen. Somebody before me patented it lol, it’s known as the low and slow method, but my way differs a bit. Either way I fully recommend the end result, and hope this post encourages somebody to have the male sex organs big enough to try it.
Click to expand...
eh fk it ill toss a nug in the fridge in the name of bro science , whats the next step?
 
X

xesvuli420

Well-Known Member
That’s it.. A possible Hitch could be if you use the same fridge that foods and stored in they might leech into each other, other wise nothing, if they are fresh off the stem, rotate daily. Once humidity is down, you can kinda ease up and every few days.. then when it’s a week past smokeable, put the lid on. Seriously, it’s easy as it sounds. The fridge has a cold plate, that will pull the moisture from the flowers even when 100% for a few days. and evaporate it into a drain. Seriously, shut the door and forget it. However please understand this will take so much longer you’re going to think it ain’t working. Like I said this last batch here in fall took a solid month before I could burn it in a paper, but once it did oh my God.
 
kovidkough

kovidkough

Well-Known Member
xesvuli420 said:
That’s it.. A possible Hitch could be if you use the same fridge that foods and stored in they might leech into each other, other wise nothing, if they are fresh off the stem, rotate daily. Once humidity is down, you can kinda ease up and every few days.. then when it’s a week past smokeable, put the lid on. Seriously, it’s easy as it sounds. The fridge has a cold plate, that will pull the moisture from the flowers even when 100% for a few days. and evaporate it into a drain. Seriously, shut the door and forget it. However please understand this will take so much longer you’re going to think it ain’t working. Like I said this last batch here in fall took a solid month before I could burn it in a paper, but once it did oh my God.
Click to expand...
ok I like KISS methods. thanks
 
Bpeace

Bpeace

Well-Known Member
xesvuli420 said:
@Bpeace man, you won’t find better looking buds. I started to do it because I heard that the temps to prevent any terpenes loss due to evaporation was in the low 50s. I had a fridge so I tried it. Been 2 years now. Takes an ass load longer (up to 30 days to get in the low 60s rh), but in my experience you end up with the sexiest looking, smoothest tasting, bud. It doesn’t shrink in the fridge, gets somewhat spongy instead, but looks as sexy as the day you picked it. Green, orange, red...
the best smoke I’ve ever seen. Somebody before me patented it lol, it’s known as the low and slow method, but my way differs a bit. Either way I fully recommend the end result, and hope this post encourages somebody to have the male sex organs big enough to try it.
Click to expand...
Well hell I am going to have to try it now, that sounds amazing. Even though a nicely dried and cured bud is great smoke, I was always disappointed I couldn't share the exact bright colors and freshly pungent smells the growers get to experience. I have some Putang from Mass Medical finishing soon that would be great, funky grapes and orange

Peace
 
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