Input on roots in DWC

Hi all,

Noob here asking for thoughts on root health.

I think I have a general sense of what to expect from healthy and unhealthy roots, but I'm not sure if the roots on my current plant in DWC is doing okay.



No slime on roots, and water smells like it usually does when i mix fresh nutes. Plant above is doing fine - green leaves, no drooping, no yellowing or burnt tips.

I'm concerned with the middle portion of the roots; they're browner than the roots above and below them and are clumping/twisting together.

Also, this brown portion isn't completely out of the water - it's right at the surface of the water and a little above.

Appreciate any and all thoughts. Since I'm not sure if there's even a problem, I don't know how to proceed.

Thanks!

looks fine. keep em like that until harvest and you'll do well. big roots=big fruits

Look fine to me. Roots get twisted with bubblers and water flow. Your water looks a little colored, so maybe its residual nutrients or something you added to the water?

Thanks guys, good to know I can just hang tight for now.

My water's prob a little lighter than ginger ale if that helps lol. It gets that way when I mix nutes, using General Hydroponics.

Is the twisting up of the roots something to worry about or keep an eye on?

chasingwaterfalls said:

Thanks guys, good to know I can just hang tight for now.

My water's prob a little lighter than ginger ale if that helps lol. It gets that way when I mix nutes, using General Hydroponics.

Is the twisting up of the roots something to worry about or keep an eye on?

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No worries on root tangles.

Search DWC Tea and it will change your life

Using nutes alone might get you some bad Bacteria in there

The Tea is a beneficial bacteria

Other than that your roots look good man

Or hydroguard .

I would say yes you have issues. I would say there is a lack of O2 in the middle of the root mass. I could be wrong as im a bit of a hydro newb.

I ordered another air pump a few days ago because i was thinking the same thing. It's a 15 lpm pump, should be good even for a larger 27 gal tote i have.

Also using hydroguard already, i figured i could use the help since i dont have a res chiller

I run flood and drain kinda lol and my DO is added by water fountain type of action where it hits the lid of my tray pretty hard and sprays all over. Sorry what's your res temp?

chasingwaterfalls said:

I ordered another air pump a few days ago because i was thinking the same thing. It's a 15 lpm pump, should be good even for a larger 27 gal tote i have.

Also using hydroguard already, i figured i could use the help since i dont have a res chiller

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Consider adding Great White to your hydrogaurd regiment. I was having very similar root issues and the hydrogaurd by itself was not getting the job done. I started running Great White along with the hydrogaurd and not only did it solve the root problems but my root development exploded.

Budley Doright said:

I run flood and drain kinda lol and my DO is added by water fountain type of action where it hits the lid of my tray pretty hard and sprays all over. Sorry what's your res temp?

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Not the best, been at 71-72f so far

chasingwaterfalls said:

Not the best, been at 71-72f so far

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If you want to continue with your setup I would suggest a chiller of sorts. I have an outbuilding I grow in and my chiller is an underground loop of glycol I circulate through heat exchanger to chill the water, it also adds DO through waterfall effect. Honestly I was just about to kill the flooded root setup before I put in the chiller and go to drain to waste buckets, getting away from the need to chill the res. If you can chill the water it's a great method IMO, if not your running up hill.

NanoGadget said:

Consider adding Great White to your hydrogaurd regiment. I was having very similar root issues and the hydrogaurd by itself was not getting the job done. I started running Great White along with the hydrogaurd and not only did it solve the root problems but my root development exploded.

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What is your res temp?

For hydros you want temps between 64-70 roots like rezs water cold, and blast roots zone with lots of oxygen..I always have white fibrous roots..your roots look good though, may want to try small buckets like 3 or 2 gallon, and work up to 5 gallon for large plants. Easier to get more oxygen to roots in small space buckets...5 gallon buckets hold some very large plants..

Budley Doright said:

What is your res temp?

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Gets as low as 66 but also gets as high as 72

are you using any brown nutrients? What brand do you use? I quit having temp related issues after adding myco grow soluble to my reservoirs, the mold problems id been having in late flower(my area is a paradise for mold ten months a year) I put an 1/8 tsp or less per res change and an equal amount of gnatrol and I've had zero gnats or temp/fungus related issues.

there's nothing especially special about myco grow brand that isn't available elsewhere its just the one i use, pretty much any soluble beneficial organism product will work

Budley Doright said:

What is your res temp?

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I have a cheap aquarium thermometer in my bucket, and it has been between 70-72f this entire grow.

Bought a larger air pump (about twice the output of my old one, which crapped out on me), and the plant seemed to have responded to the change overnight - leaves were perked and pointing upwards this morning

^^^^^ that would be a good sign.