Bottoms of plants dying

greasemonkeymann

Well-Known Member
Like this? Withering bottom branches but healthy top? The was a white fuzzy mold looking patch on it but I hit it with diluted peroxide but that area is still dark and I'm still noticing atrophy. Been growing since 2012 and this is the first time I've run into itView attachment 3801556 View attachment 3801557 View attachment 3801558 View attachment 3801559
don't bury the stem man, that's why that happened.
leave it out.
moist conditions on stems cause rot more often than roots
 
don't bury the stem man, that's why that happened.
leave it out.
moist conditions on stems cause rot more often than roots
You could actually bury half the plant if you wanted. Obviously, there would be no benefit to that, but soil burying a portion of the stem isn't the cause of stem rot. Lack of oxygen and excessive moisture is. In fact there are a couple threads around here fully dedicated to burying stretchy seedlings as far up as you can to deal with too much stretch. @Uncle Ben advocates this himself.

My mistake was using the moisture control soil not realizing how much moisture that stuff really could retain. A foot tall established plant could still go a week and a half without the soil drying. It's nuts. I'm sure there are ways to amend it to make it work but straight out of the bag is asking for problems.
 
don't bury the stem man, that's why that happened.
leave it out.
moist conditions on stems cause rot more often than roots
Just to be clear, you're right that excess moisture on the stem is bad, but properly aerated soil won't cause those problems. In fact an easy way to take clones from hard to clone strains is air layering which is basically covering a portion of a stem or branch with soil until roots sprout
 

greasemonkeymann

Well-Known Member
Just to be clear, you're right that excess moisture on the stem is bad, but properly aerated soil won't cause those problems. In fact an easy way to take clones from hard to clone strains is air layering which is basically covering a portion of a stem or branch with soil until roots sprout
that's air-layering, that's different. That's not burying them, that's leaving them in the air, hence the name
bury the stems that deeply and you'll run into ROT more than ROOT
 
I can see that. I'm a fem. seed maker myself. Only cloned a few times.
I do it for stability. The deeper I bury the stem better the soil holds it in place IMO.
I've made a few fem crosses too but so far I haven't been as happy with the offspring as with the moms. Definitely want to do more seed runs too though.

Btw is it just me or does it seem like less places are selling silver nitrate these days?
 
that's air-layering, that's different. That's not burying them, that's leaving them in the air, hence the name
bury the stems that deeply and you'll run into ROT more than ROOT
Again, I have to politely disagree. As long as your soil has adequate drainage and oxygen levels, you will not run into root rot. the soil I used obviously did not.
 

A.K.A. Overgrowem

Well-Known Member
I do it for stability. The deeper I bury the stem better the soil holds it in place IMO.
I've made a few fem crosses too but so far I haven't been as happy with the offspring as with the moms. Definitely want to do more seed runs too though.

Btw is it just me or does it seem like less places are selling silver nitrate these days?
I don't do my own cross'. Save pollen from a good male, run 3 plants same strain, make seeds from best of the bunch. I make my own Silver Nitrate. once you have your rig you can make it forever. Pint + jar with wooden lid, thrift store. Aquarium pump, hose, air stone, yard sale, alligator clips, silver from a place called Nevada sky or something or other' 12 gage wire, transformer laying around house, use lowest amp you can find. Get the stuff, read up on technique it's easy
 
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HydoDan

Well-Known Member
Again, I have to politely disagree. As long as your soil has adequate drainage and oxygen levels, you will not run into root rot. the soil I used obviously did not.
I have to disagree with you..any soil too far up the stem will hold moisture and cause rot ..
Soil should be even with first node... burying the stem of a seedling goes to the first node.. all Veggy plants get transplanted to the first node.. it's the way it's done..
 

Custom420

Well-Known Member
These are two pics, the tops are okay but from the bottom the leaves and buds are dying .
Stem root is a bitch when I got it
@KingMufasa87

That's a fungus problem in the stem! Called Stem Rot....100% positive!
You could try an anti fungal.....If it was me, I would at least try - drench the soil.
Also can be connected to overwatering...Be sure to let pots properly "dry" out to needing water.
If it fails, ditch plant and put all that soil in the trash!
The soil is most likely the vector...
At any rate, all that soil must be trashed at the end of the run - to the dump! NOT outside! REALLY sanitize those POTS, or simply pitch them with the dirt and get new ones !


Good luck.....
stem root is a bitch when I got mine anti fungus stuff didn't do shit she died from them it moves up word rather quickly
 

Dr. Who

Well-Known Member
You're absolutely right... I have a habit of using what my wife has laying around. I usually use fox farm or roots organic but I've had decent results in a pinch with MG and Osmocote. This specific time though I used MGs moisture control and it holds on to water waaaay longer than expected. Definitely does as advertised though hehe...
Did you know that MG is owned by Scotts?
Did you know that Scotts - admitted that MG products and especially the soils are made to be troublesome for MM cultivation!
This was reported in a national magazine interview with a Scotts board member after they bought out G&H!
 

Roger A. Shrubber

Well-Known Member
they can do whatever they want, i can fix it so it works. i wouldn't bother, but all the big businesses have deals with each other, so all you can get in the local big boxes is their shit. i order stuff to be delivered when i can, but when i have to have something now, i don't have a choice.
although i am planning to stock up on stuff over the winter so i don't have to buy their bullshit next summer
 
Did you know that MG is owned by Scotts?
Did you know that Scotts - admitted that MG products and especially the soils are made to be troublesome for MM cultivation!
This was reported in a national magazine interview with a Scotts board member after they bought out G&H!
I actually didn't know that. Cool bit of info. my results have never been as good as premium soil brands unless I fix it up a bit, but the "Moisture Control" is the only one that I have had trouble with as is.

Guys please understand that my intention isn't to argue. I hate dick measuring contests that often happen in threads.... but I'm more geared toward the why/how over standard techniques. Yes, the standard is bury up to the first node. Yes, wet soil too far up will stay wet and eventually cause problems. My point is though, that excess moisture, high temps, and anaerobic conditions lead to problems. However, the right moisture levels plus oxygen, and darkness, on any part of the main stem and even branches will eventually trigger root growth in that area.

I think it's important for new growers that may read this thread or any thread to know that techniques are not as important as the science, the why and how behind them.

I was lazy with this last run, but Most times when i pot a plant, I've made my own mix and aim for very high drainage. I like being able to water daily. With my mix I haven't run into rot once.

I would bet that even with the soil I recently used that DID cause rot, if I watered with a H202 solution every time I would not have problems with that soil.
 

HydoDan

Well-Known Member
H2o2 is water with an extra oxygen molecule... It actually promotes the growth of fungi and rot..
Just trying to help.. not fight..
 

Roger A. Shrubber

Well-Known Member
i like hydrogen peroxide better than chlorine, and the only time i tried to run a culture it was a bad idea, not sayin its a bad idea for everyone, but it didn't work for me. i like my hydro sterile, and i like to keep it that way with h2o2
 

HydoDan

Well-Known Member
i like hydrogen peroxide better than chlorine, and the only time i tried to run a culture it was a bad idea, not sayin its a bad idea for everyone, but it didn't work for me. i like my hydro sterile, and i like to keep it that way with h2o2
The only problems I had with h2o2 is when I was experimenting with aero cloning.. my water comes from a spring so there are no additives.. when it reaches the proper temp for rooting the bacteria would rot the clones.. the more h2o2 I added the faster they rotted.. so after talking with my physics major neighbor he told me the problem...Don't get me wrong I've run gallons of the suff.. I guess I should have said at higher temps!
 
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