Roots Growing Into Pipes?

[Bwpz]

I have 4 plants in 4" rockwool cubes in a flood and drain system. It has an 18 gallon tote as the resevoir below the table. The roots from the 4 plants are starting to grow down the pipe that pumps the water into the tub. I have a screen over the pump and everything (the black plastic ones at the hydro store). Will this affect anything? I have my table covered so no light is hitting the roots.

The roots are also brown and stringy, should I use heisenbergs tea or h202?

Thanks

 

[superstoner1]

just trim them away from the drain.

 

[cannabineer]

My first impulse on seeing the thread title was to think "your weed's too fresh".
But I see you mean the other kind of pipe. cn

 

[potshop]

I agree with superstone1...just trim your roots, you'll be fine.

 

[cannabineer]

Once you've trimmed'em, you can move them away from the drain. This'll give you a longer interval between needed maintenance.

H-tea is specific for slime ... if you have that, then I'd choose that method. Peroxide is a good general-duty clean-up but incompatible with H-tea microbes. cn

 

[chrishydro]

I have experiance with this, cut them.

 

[Bwpz]

Thanks for the replies everyone

I trimmed the roots and they're doing fine. I guess I'm gonna have to invest in some of that tea, anyone know the best place to get the ingredients online?

 

[hellraizer30]

I have 4 plants in 4" rockwool cubes in a flood and drain system. It has an 18 gallon tote as the resevoir below the table. The roots from the 4 plants are starting to grow down the pipe that pumps the water into the tub. I have a screen over the pump and everything (the black plastic ones at the hydro store). Will this affect anything? I have my table covered so no light is hitting the roots.

The roots are also brown and stringy, should I use heisenbergs tea or h202?

Thanks

Trim up the roots and for the browning you could use hiesy tea or a more simple method of just adding aquashield

 

[Bwpz]

Trim up the roots and for the browning you could use hiesy tea or a more simple method of just adding aquashield

I'm going to be brewing a tea this weekend, the Heisenberg recipe one. Is there an alternative to Aquashield? I'm going to be using Aquashield, EWC, and FoxFarm Microbe Brew (instead of ZHO powder) and was wondering if the alternative to Aquashield (if there is any) is cheaper.

How long will my plants live without it?

 

[cannabineer]

So do you actually have the root slime problem? cn

 

[Bwpz]

My roots are brown and stringy instead of white

 

[superstoner1]

i started using pondzyme a while back and had similar results as greatwhite but at 1/4 the cost. here is a pic of roots 3 days in veg and 17 days in veg.

 

[cannabineer]

In that case I'm not sure H-tea will help.
I don't know what nutes you're using ... some do stain the roots brown. If your plants are healthy otherwise, I wouldn't worry a whole lot. But if you're not running organic hydro "tea" nutrition, a shot of peroxide will improve the roots' look. cn

<edit> ss1 seems to be onto something. Nice roots!

 

[Bwpz]

I'm running fox farm, so my water is brown, so that would make a lot of sense. They look kind of slimy though, is there any way for me to tell the difference? I don't have a camera.

A couple of my plants have roots sitting in water and are drooping horribly, so I need to fix that, but besides that the other plants look fine.

 

[Bwpz]

Is there any way to prevent the roots from bombarding my entire container? Would hydroton or grow slabs work, and which would be better if so?

 

[cannabineer]

Is there any way to prevent the roots from bombarding my entire container? Would hydroton or grow slabs work, and which would be better if so?

I would prefer Hydroton. It gives the roots a dark moist space that'll make'm curl. cn

<edit> Just saw your question. The slime was obvious to the touch for me ... ordinary roots feel carrot/grippy, not frog's ass/slippery.

If you do have the Slime, H-tea would be my call. Esp. with your organic nutes.

 

[Bwpz]

I would prefer Hydroton. It gives the roots a dark moist space that'll make'm curl. cn

You don't think the roots would still grow down the drains in hydroton? It'd make sense I guess.

 

[cannabineer]

You don't think the roots would still grow down the drains in hydroton? It'd make sense I guess.

They would, but the Hydroton will break up/turbulate the nute broth's return flow and slow the directional growth. One thing I'd suggest if you do this is to use a net pot or something to maintain a clear space around the drain, and trim the "nose hairs" that invade every so often. cn

 

[Bwpz]

I just tried to pick one of my plants up and it felt like the roots were about to rip out because my tub is just full of tangled roots, so I don't think I can do anything this go around but next time should I use hydroton with 4" rockwool cubes in net pots?

 

[cannabineer]

Personally I dislike rock wool. I used Hydroton in the net pots when i ran e&f. I kept the surround "naked" because they got transferred to NFT for late veg and flower.
Do you have some sort of light cover over your e&f table? Roots tend to like it dark. cn