How to avoid root rot...

Root rot be a serious problem in hydroponics -- all of a sudden, your plants to developing a slimy brown substance on roots, and plants start to wither and die. It's important to keep plants from experiencing these sorts of problems -- and some pro grow tips can really help beginners and others to keep this from happening in a grow area.

Use sterile plant media

One of the problems with root rot is when a larger amount of potentially harmful bacteria invades the grow space. When the area around roots is contaminated, whether it's soil or hydroponic media, that's a danger to plants. Retailers sell all sorts of sterile media including rockwool, coco coir, perlite, etc. to provide better environments for plants.

Irrigate as necessary

When we think of hydroponics, we tend to think of a deep water culture system where plant roots are in the water all of the time -- but according to experts, this is not the ideal way to it. Roots should be able to dry out between feedings. This will prevent the constant exposure to waterborne bacteria that can cause root rot.

Keep plants dark

Exposing root systems to the light can lead to problems with mold or mildew, or other sorts of bacterial problems. That's why expert growers recommend sealing out light to the roots to keep plants healthy across plant cycles.

Keep water colder

Another key part of preventing root rot is keeping the oxygen content of water higher. So why is colder better? The colder the water is, the more oxygen it can hold. In order to properly oxygenate water, you might a specific kind of setup involving water chillers or other tools that will keep water highly oxygenated. Plants love oxygen but harmful bacteria can't stand it – that’s why it's important to have a high oxygen content in a reservoir water.

For more on doing hydroponics the right way, check out the Dealzer website. We offer a range of insightful tips for good growing, along with other resources including over 5000 pieces of useful hydroponic gear. Check out our forums, blogs and social spaces to learn more about what other growers are doing in this exciting industry.