RW Overwatering?

My seedlings sprouted almost exactly three weeks ago. Had an incident where my cool air got cut off, temps were above 80, and I lost half my seedlings. Now I only have 4 left but two seem to be over watered. First time starting seeds in RW so I'm thinking I've kept them too wet? I transplanted them into hydroton 9 days ago. Two are looking decent and the other two looks terrible. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
 

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Also they're under 500w of Timber COB LEDs at about 30% power and about two feet from light. Using GH trio line at about 200 ppm per feeding.
 

Wastei

Well-Known Member
Don't use RW cubes in DWC. While many people do successfully it's a recipe for disaster in my book. I've always used regular peat for seedlings and then transplanted.

Another thing you can do is to start the seeds outside the system in the netpots and treat them like soil plants before they're developed roots through the bottom.
 
Don't use RW cubes in DWC. While many people do successfully it's a recipe for disaster in my book. I've always used regular peat for seedlings and then transplanted.

Another thing you can do is to start the seeds outside the system in the netpots and treat them like soil plants before they're developed roots through the bottom.
I'm using Ebb&Flow, not DWC. Just haven't set up my table yet. Been watering by hand until roots develop.
 

Wastei

Well-Known Member
I'm using Ebb&Flow, not DWC. Just haven't set up my table yet. Been watering by hand until roots develop.
Same thing really. Seeds is very easy to overwater. Do you feed by hand in the top of the netpots? I would carefully water around the RW cubes daily. Good luck!
 
Do you have any suggestions for correcting this issue? Is it actually over watering? What should I do? I've grown ebb&flow for years with no issues. This is frustrating me and keeping me awake at night lol.
 
Same thing really. Seeds is very easy to overwater. Do you feed by hand in the top of the netpots? I would carefully water around the RW cubes daily. Good luck!
They aren't in net pots... I put the RW cubes directly into the hydroton just like I usually do with the peat starter pods. I'm thinking the heat caused a ton of stress and then I accidentally over watered? Am I correct?
 

Wastei

Well-Known Member
Do you have any suggestions for correcting this issue? Is it actually over watering? What should I do? I've grown ebb&flow for years with no issues. This is frustrating me and keeping me awake at night lol.
Could be a root rot issue. What do you feed them?
 

Wastei

Well-Known Member
GH trio line. Been giving them grow and micro at about 200 ppm.
And that's it? No additives? That is good if that's the case. If you only feed them the plant food you could try use some preventative measures like chlorine to keep pathogens and bacteria growth to a minimum. Silicate also helps to keep fungal growth at bay in hydroponics, it's a pretty effective surfactant. Also great for overall plant health and resilience.

I've used regular bleach for years succesfully. I run 3 ppm residual chlorine in DWC and 0.5-1 ppm in Aeroponics.
Here's a dilution calculator:
Chlorine dilution calculator
 
And that's it? No additives? That is good if that's the case. If you only feed them the plant food you could try use some preventative measures like chlorine to keep pathogens and bacteria growth to a minimum. Silicate also helps to keep fungal growth at bay in hydroponics, it's a pretty effective surfactant. Also great for overall plant health and resilience.

I've used regular bleach for years succesfully. I run 3 ppm residual chlorine in DWC and 0.5-1 ppm in Aeroponics.
Here's a dilution calculator:
Chlorine dilution calculator
That all sounds good but doesn't really apply to me at the moment. I'm still watering by hand. Pure bottled water with 200 ppm of food. Can I add bleach to my hand watering schedule? Should I purchase something for root rot or just let them dry out more before feedings?
 

Mak'er Grow

Well-Known Member
I peel the rockwool off and then plant in to the hydrotron...if I don't the rockwool will start to grow algae.
I use tweezers to remove small pieces until its just roots.
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Forgot to add...hand water from the top for a day or 3 and roots should be growing out the bottom in no time.
 

Renfro

Well-Known Member
First time starting seeds in RW so I'm thinking I've kept them too wet?
Agreed. Rockwool has always given me fits as it holds a lot of water and therefore is prone to root rot. I tried cloning with RW and had little luck. Rapid Rooter plugs FTW.
 
Agreed. Rockwool has always given me fits as it holds a lot of water and therefore is prone to root rot. I tried cloning with RW and had little luck. Rapid Rooter plugs FTW.
I'll definitely try those next time. First time using RW and I have to say I don't particularly like it.
 

Renfro

Well-Known Member
First time using RW and I have to say I don't particularly like it.
Well it does work for some folks so it's worth a try because of it's cost, disposability and whatnot. Back when I did flood and drain SoG I used LECA in 6" square pots and I really wanted to be able to switch to rockwool slabs so I didn't have to wash rocks all the time. I just couldn't get the results with the RW so I stuck with the LECA and cloning with rapid rooter plugs became my go to method back around 2003 because I could cut 4 trays of 50 clones and if 1 didn't root that was a surprise. I rarely have a cutting fail to root in one. I used to have a dude that would buy a tray of 50 rooted cuts every 2 weeks for his perpetual, at $20 bucks a cut that was a nice side pay for a few years. Love rapid rooters. lol
 
Well it does work for some folks so it's worth a try because of it's cost, disposability and whatnot. Back when I did flood and drain SoG I used LECA in 6" square pots and I really wanted to be able to switch to rockwool slabs so I didn't have to wash rocks all the time. I just couldn't get the results with the RW so I stuck with the LECA and cloning with rapid rooter plugs became my go to method back around 2003 because I could cut 4 trays of 50 clones and if 1 didn't root that was a surprise. I rarely have a cutting fail to root in one. I used to have a dude that would buy a tray of 50 rooted cuts every 2 weeks for his perpetual, at $20 bucks a cut that was a nice side pay for a few years. Love rapid rooters. lol
So do they appear to have root rot? If so what would be my best option to try to save them?
 

Renfro

Well-Known Member
So do they appear to have root rot? If so what would be my best option to try to save them?
I wouldn't be able to tell on the root rot without seeing the root. If it's brown then it's rot. Is it coming out the bottom of the RW?

Is this one damping off?

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If that grey area at the base of the stem is smaller in diameter, as it appears to be, pinched looking, then it's a condition thats called "damping off" and it's generally fatal. Caused by the base of the still soft stem being wet all the time and this condition is very common with RW.
 
I wouldn't be able to tell on the root rot without seeing the root. If it's brown then it's rot. Is it coming out the bottom of the RW?

Is this one damping off?

View attachment 4830570

If that grey area at the base of the stem is smaller in diameter, as it appears to be, pinched looking, then it's a condition thats called "damping off" and it's generally fatal. Caused by the base of the still soft stem being wet all the time and this condition is very common with RW.
Ugh okay... Man this RW shit is irritating. Guess I should have researched more before jumping in. This whole run has been a nightmare. Started with 12 seeds and my gfs dad came to town two different weekends and cut off the cold air to them so I'm down to only 4 now... Well more like 3 I guess.
 
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