Why are my stems turning black and snapping?

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threeandahook

Well-Known Member
I lost two and I have two more on life support. My plant, at the base of the stem, coming out of the AG grow material. After 3-4 weeks they get black and start to get brittle. My fan blows and it snapped.

I took a small piece of toilet paper wrapped with scotch tape around the stem and the leaves appear to show signs of death. They are drooping.

I think it could be a Boron deficency.

I'm ready to re-germinate and start over. What should I do next time to prevent this from happeneing?

Here is what I have
1 AG Pro VEggie Deluxe 6-pod (used hood only week 1-2, added 6 100 Watt CFL week 3+)
Top of AG covered with foil
inside a mylar lined tent
using fox farm nutes
PH between 5-6, adjusted daily
Started 24hour light
week 2+ 18 light
Fan blowing on 5-6 hours per day
Temp between 75-85, although with the new light it got to 85-90, until I opened the door during the light on cycle

I have the AG grow material in the holder with the paper cover. I have a space between the top of the grow material and the bottom of the paper label. Should this be there?

Any help is appreciated.
 
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threeandahook

Well-Known Member
Wow. I never thought about that. But I lost two plants before and did not have the foil on the top of the AG. Only on this one with two plant.

Initially I thought that it was light getting into the water. That is why I asked the question about the AG grow material being up to the label.

COuld it be from the mylar grow tent? What is a way to prevent this from happening?
 
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threeandahook

Well-Known Member
I got my hands on a camera, its not the best sorry.

I have 2 plants. The first shot is of the two. The first closeups are of the left plant. That one looks the worst. The fifth pic shows the probelm. Right above the AG grow material it "decayed".

In the 15th shot I took a remedy I saw on here and wrapped it with toilet paper and scotch tape. I also took a skwer and created a stake to support it.

In the first shotthe bulge in the foil is the air splitter for the 2 small airstoens I have.

PH was 5.5 this morning, 6.5 now (lights were off for 6 hours during the day, I keep them on at night to make sure the temp doesnt drop below 75)
 
assasinofyouth420

assasinofyouth420

Well-Known Member
It looks like stem rot to me. I don't know what the remedy its for that. Also, it seems like you are handling that plant alot, which would only serve to stress the plant more
 
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threeandahook

Well-Known Member
assasinofyouth420 said:
It looks like stem rot to me. I don't know what the remedy its for that. Also, it seems like you are handling that plant alot, which would only serve to stress the plant more
Click to expand...
I had to handle it to try and fix the weak stem. I generally dont handle it too much. I do change the rez each week and add my water and fox farm nutes. SO I handle it then.

What do you think of the foil cover on the top of the AG? good idea? Im not sure. I had this same stem rot on my last (and first) attempt. It was frustrating. What do you think it could be? Could the mylar be making it too bright?
 
RavenMochi

RavenMochi

Well-Known Member
I use foil all the time, and while its not the best reflective material by any stretch of the imagination, has anyone actually ever SEEN these mystical burn spots created by foil? I'm really starting to think thats an urban legend, like when everyone was saying if you drank coke and pop rocks your stomach could explode...
. Honestly, not an aerogarden person either, but since no one else has really been able to come up with a suggestion, let me just suggest hydrogen peroxide. It will help sanitize it. Not that thats te problem, but its a possibility, and an easy remedy t0 try, look up hydrogen peroxide on here to get recommendations for how much to use though...Best of luck...
 
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threeandahook

Well-Known Member
gom said:
Taproot damage from handling, and this should help with ph
Click to expand...
When would the handling damage occur? Im trying to figure out what I'm going to do next time. You mentioned taproot. Would this have occured when I'm putting it into the material.

Do you think I can fix it? How do I fix it?

Do you think the stick, toilet paper and tape is a good idea?
 
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threeandahook

Well-Known Member
RavenMochi said:
I use foil all the time, and while its not the best reflective material by any stretch of the imagination, has anyone actually ever SEEN these mystical burn spots created by foil? I'm really starting to think thats an urban legend, like when everyone was saying if you drank coke and pop rocks your stomach could explode...
. Honestly, not an aerogarden person either, but since no one else has really been able to come up with a suggestion, let me just suggest hydrogen peroxide. It will help sanitize it. Not that thats te problem, but its a possibility, and an easy remedy t0 try, look up hydrogen peroxide on here to get recommendations for how much to use though...Best of luck...
Click to expand...
I searched the term. Im going to try.

Do you think adding to the affected area is a good idea?
 
RavenMochi

RavenMochi

Well-Known Member
At this point, it couldn't hurt. I wouldn't try to soak it, but rinsing it off wouldn't do any harm...I was thinking about it, and a couple of months back I put some overflow plants in a spare room that got alot of sunlight thinking they would do okay there...I would later call this room "The Room of Death" because they all started dying off like mad, and I don't remember wether or not the stems went black, but I do remember the leaves were turning black from the tips. I don't have anything to measure humidity, but I did notice that my pots weren't drying out in there like they should, despite the fact that there was a fan. and that room got hotter than the grow room, so I still think it was either both or one or the other that did it, keeping in mind yours is a aero system, I started wondering if maybe its not getting the waterflow it needs, ie maybe stagnant water is killing them off.
 
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threeandahook

Well-Known Member
RavenMochi said:
At this point, it couldn't hurt. I wouldn't try to soak it, but rinsing it off wouldn't do any harm...I was thinking about it, and a couple of months back I put some overflow plants in a spare room that got alot of sunlight thinking they would do okay there...I would later call this room "The Room of Death" because they all started dying off like mad, and I don't remember wether or not the stems went black, but I do remember the leaves were turning black from the tips. I don't have anything to measure humidity, but I did notice that my pots weren't drying out in there like they should, despite the fact that there was a fan. and that room got hotter than the grow room, so I still think it was either both or one or the other that did it, keeping in mind yours is a aero system, I started wondering if maybe its not getting the waterflow it needs, ie maybe stagnant water is killing them off.
Click to expand...

Unfortunelty I checked today and my two girls are DEAD. It is a sad sad day.

Based on what you said I dont think it is the water, I have the AG pump plus 2 air stones with a 30 gallon aquarium tank. Water should be OK. I change the REZ each week.

Maybe is is the heat. I am going to have to install an inline exhaust fan. I hope I can figure this out...
 
gom

gom

Active Member
You can't fix a taproot from what I know. If you snap it your done. Once you get that seed in that sponge you never move it. Or you plane 1X transplant and factor in recovery time. This should be done with great care. any damage to a root can spread. It can be like a infection. What you can do is get yourself a $6.00 mossi fan and blow it lightly on the seedlings to help grow a stronger stem for your little sprouts.
 
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threeandahook

Well-Known Member
gom said:
You can't fix a taproot from what I know. If you snap it your done. Once you get that seed in that sponge you never move it. Or you plane 1X transplant and factor in recovery time. This should be done with great care. any damage to a root can spread. It can be like a infection. What you can do is get yourself a $6.00 mossi fan and blow it lightly on the seedlings to help grow a stronger stem for your little sprouts.
Click to expand...
DO you think the damage occured when it was a seedling? I kept it between 2 plates after 3 days I iinserted into the AG grow material. I have to touch it then. If it is curved should I not straighten it out to fit into the AG grow material?

Should my AG grow material touch the bottom of the label?

COuld this be casued by not having proper exhaust? I have a mylar lined tent and I dont close the door often. But there were a couple of days that I had to close it for several hours.

I also noticed my humidity is under 50% is that bad? how do I increase it if it is not good?
 
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