Problems with your plants

There are many things that can go wrong in your hydroponic garden. Though the reward far outweigh the risk, more potential problems exist within a hydroponic garden than in a soil garden. There is one main aspect of hydroponic gardening I have tried to stress throughout this entire guide, prevention! If you take preventive steps such as sanitation and cleanliness, proper aeration and adequate ventilation, many possible problems will be prevented. Keeping a healthy environment free of conditions in which harmful bacteria, fungi and disease and in turn possible insect infestations thrive is your best defense.

Cleanliness of your system, media and grow area are very important. Avoid using areas with carpeted floors if possible. Keep walls, ceilings and floors clean and any surface or tool used while physically working with the plant should be sanitized with a 10% bleach solution. Remove all debris such as fallen leaves and always remove dead and dying or sick plants immediately. Keeping the humidity at the appropriate level (between 60-80%) and keeping good air flow is vital. (see CO2 for more info) An enclosed grow room or green house should have all of the air replaced or “cycled” every hour with fresh air.

Bacteria and fungi spores are present in the air around us at all times, once they arrive at an area which meets their needs for growth and reproduction they go to work. By doing your part to eliminate or minimize these conditions you can prevent most from taking hold and spreading.

Algae in the reservoir and on roots is usually harmless unless excessive. Keeping the reservoir void of light, at low temperature and well oxygenated will keep algae at manageable levels. Flushing your system with a 10% bleach solution before adding plants will help prevent excessive algae as well. A method I have used is to keep a few live snails in the reservoir. Although, some snails are known for eating plant roots and some snails reproduce rapidly research the specie of snail before adding any. If you do choose to use this method it can add a significant amount of waste nutrient from the digestive process.

Seedlings and clones are most vulnerable to fungal and bacterial problems. They require higher temperature and moisture, these conditions are the perfect environment for fungus and bacteria as well. Sterilization of the media is necessary.  A pressure cooker is the safest chemical free method used to completely sterilize the media. Other methods such as boiling for 15 minutes, heating in a conventional oven or microwave oven may be used. A 30 minute soak in a 10% bleach solution followed by a through rinsing with hot water can be used in some cases but is not recommended. Try to keep the starting media from being over saturated as well as any other media.

Over watering can be a confusing term to new gardeners, in soil gardening the term is used to describe soil that is not draining and the roots become oxygen deprived. In hydroponic gardening over watering is applied to over saturation of the media, although not as detrimental as long as adequate oxygen levels are maintained, over saturated media can be problematic. As a general rule the media should never be sopping wet. If you were to pick up a hand full and squeeze it no more than a few drops of solution should come out.  

Chances are you are reading this section because you already have a fungal or bacterial infection. If this is the case first try to investigate and resolve the problem by fixing the environment in which you keep your plants. Visible fungus and bacteria can be wiped off with a soft cloth. A weak solution of vinegar and water can be directly applied to the area or a commercial fungicide may be used as directed if needed.