Growing Good Roots

I'll admit it. I am a total newb. RIU is a great resource and I attempt to research my questions/issues/concerns/ideas before bothering anybody on here. One of the most common pearls of wisdom from experienced growers to newbs is "grow healthy roots". Which is excellent advice..... but. That's tends to be where that bit of advice ends. Sounds simple enough right? But if growing healthy root structures were simply that easy then poor root growth wouldn't be such a common issue among new growers. I'd like to compile advice from experience growers on how they facilitate the growth of healthy roots in there plants. Soil, soil less, hydro..... you name it. Anything that has worked time and time again. From heat mats to hormones to soil amendments/hydro additives.... teas.... voodoo.... anything that has proven successful at growing the most important part of our favorite plants. I know.... bud is everyone's favorite part. But without roots you don't get any bud!!!!

Here is what I have gleaned from looking through thread after thread and articles all over the internet on what you need to do to grow good roots.

**Proper root zone pH for your given growing medium
**Beneficial microbes, bacteria & fungi
**Proper nutrient load early on to prevent burning and/or lockout
**proper watering to prevent water stress from over/under watering
**Use of root promoting hormones
**proper sprouting/cloning procedure

That list seems to be pretty standard and is a great start. But I'd like personal accounts/experience from growers that have had repeated success growing exceptional roots structures..... not just good enough to grow bud. But great enough to give the plant the best odds at producing to it's maximum potential.

Mycorrhizae fungi! Comes in dry granules/powder form, get in the soil as early as possible so the fungi/roots have time to play with other and get that symbiotic(ish) relationship going.

And air. Break up your soil with perlite or oyster shell etc. This is an advantage of most hydro methods; plenty of oxygen, especially DWC.

Keep on top of any fungus gnats, seen or not. Fly paper with my fan blowing across catches the adults quite well. And I put some "Gnat Off" in every time I water


Those little fungus gnat larvae sure can chomp their way through your roots, and you won't see a thing...

Once you have the soil in the correct pH range and your nutrients are at a healthy level (ie not burning anything) proper water management is most important. Cannabis cannot take wet conditions around the roots. Allow the entire pot to go almost completely dry (stick a finger or freshly sharpened pencil way down into the soil to check) before watering/feeding again.

I sprouted three seeds in a gallon pot. I transplanted two into smaller pots with the same soil mix and they took off while the third plant languished. When I removed the third plant from the gallon pot its root system was very small and soaked. I put the third plant into a smaller pot that could dry thoroughly and it has almost caught up to the rest of the plants. All due to proper moisture at the roots.

Good luck with your grow.

An added note to those fucking fungus gnats. I mix pro-mix and diatomaceous earth till the pro-mix almost looks white and place an inch of that on top of every pot. Keep watering jugs capped and dead leave material out of your pots. I also like to mid GH subculture m and b into my soil before I plant/transplant. Then every couple of weeks mix some more into pH water. Those really work well with organic nutes. And if that's the rout u take make sure to brew then for 24hrs and remember healthy soil makes healthy roots and healthy plants. Good luck bro and keep on growing

Another point to add to the list...

**soil pest control

Thank you