Have I got root rot?

Dodgey99

Well-Known Member
Been growing NFT for many years. 1st time I've experienced this. Was doing housekeeping and noticed lots of dry deal leaves at the bottom of the canopy - not that unusual, then started noticing leaves that are wilted and black tipped and soft, all lower in the canopy.

Then noticed a couple of branches that the small buds have shrivelled up. ALL the big buds a the top are all OK.

Roots looo fairly normal with the exception a fair few of the bases look like their roots have torn off.

I've chucked in 5litres of water with 1 cup of 5% Hydrogen peroxide in case I have root root. Pics below.

I would add - the NFT water flow was backing up and the top half of the tank was a couple of cm deep and the roots were totally submerged. The top two plants are the ones with dead buds/branches and VERY under developed roots compared to the bottom four plants- though the leaf problem is throughout. I've cleared a blockage of roots at the bottom and reduced the pump flow. I wonder if I've drowned the roots ? You can see the difference in roots on the 2nd pic - from flooded on the left, to less so on the right.

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Tracker

Well-Known Member
Been growing NFT for many years. 1st time I've experienced this. Was doing housekeeping and noticed lots of dry deal leaves at the bottom of the canopy - not that unusual, then started noticing leaves that are wilted and black tipped and soft, all lower in the canopy.

Then noticed a couple of branches that the small buds have shrivelled up. ALL the big buds a the top are all OK.

Roots looo fairly normal with the exception a fair few of the bases look like their roots have torn off.

I've chucked in 5litres of water with 1 cup of 5% Hydrogen peroxide in case I have root root. Pics below.

I would add - the NFT water flow was backing up and the top half of the tank was a couple of cm deep and the roots were totally submerged. The top two plants are the ones with dead buds/branches and VERY under developed roots compared to the bottom four plants- though the leaf problem is throughout. I've cleared a blockage of roots at the bottom and reduced the pump flow. I wonder if I've drowned the roots ? You can see the difference in roots on the 2nd pic - from flooded on the left, to less so on the right.

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Do you always do NFT with rock wool cubes on the starts? I used to do NFT based on builds from the following thread always started in aero cloner based on build in same thread and then in small net cups with hydroton or held in place with neoprene sleeve. I would think rock wool cubes hold too much moisture on the base of stem and top of roots, but i've never done it the same way as you.

https://www.rollitup.org/t/harvest-a-pound-every-three-weeks.116859/
 

Dodgey99

Well-Known Member
Always rockwool. Small cubes to big cubes.

The more I think about it the more it looks like a drowned the top plants. I've added a bubbler to the tank last night too.

I've ordered a 6 pot RDWC system . Last night. Be a fun change . I've always loved nft for it's simplicity but always had unequal root development in the tank.
 
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