More root rot?

[spinwise]

Hi GWE. Thanks for this site and for taking the time to help with my grow issue!

I am a new grower and am having issues with my 2nd grow. I am growing in DWC and have spots, drying, and dropping of the lower fan leaves; this is spreading upwards. I had this issue with my first grow as well but thought it was due to the chronic root rot that I was fighting. I do not have rot (yet!) for this grow, so now I do not know what is going on. But it seems to be spreading fast so any help would be much appreciated. Details about my setup and pics are included. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

--- waited 24 hrs for GWE account to be approved to post this; took pics of the root ---

The roots look good when I see them with my eyes, but the one pic looks like rot. What do you think?


Setup:
- strain: AK-48 from Nirvana seeds (https://www.nirvanashop.com/marijuan...feminized.html)
- grow type: DWC in 4' x 4' grow tent - 3 buckets, 2 plants
- lights: 1000W LED (currently at 24"), T5
- water: charcoal filtered through Berky filters (https://www.berkeyfilters.com/berkey...ck-berkey.html)
- nutrients: General Hydroponics Flora line, CaliMagic
- extras: Hydroguard, Great White
- rez change weekly according to GWE Recirculating Nutrient Schedule (http://www.growweedeasy.com/sites/gr...t-schedule.pdf)
- plants are currently vegging at 31 days old, topped twice, 12" inches tall
- today's measurements: air temp 73F, RH 42%, rez temp 68F, pH 6.2 (stable), ppm 1070

[Campesino]

I am not a Hydro grower, but that pic does look like root rot. I would trust your eyes more than a pic though. Leaf symptoms seem to confirm root rot. I don't see anything that you are doing wrong, but again I am not a hydro grower.
My comment will bump this back to the top though. It is a good post and deserves attention - well put together and thorough.

[spinwise]

Thanks Campesino. I will wait for a second opinion before acting, but suspect you are correct. It is very weird (to this inexperienced grower) becasue the leaf symptoms started almost immediately (only 2 weeks in), but the rez has been clear, good smelling, with white happy roots.

[farmerjim]

I'm running DWC but have about 10 more days experience than you do, but it does look like something is starting from posts I've seen and articles I've read. Have any pics of the setup itself? Do you have light leaks anywhere throughout the system? Roots getting enough air? I'm using the bubbleponics setup so am not familiar with buckets but do bucket growers need to be concerned with giving the roots enough space like the soil folks? More questions than answers unfortunately but maybe some things to look into. Run a search on root rot, I think MajorTom had an issue not too long ago... not sure how that turned out on his end... probably wouldn't hurt to change out the res and sanitize. welcome to the party

[gbauto]

I would be VERY surprised if you are developing root rot under your conditions-especially using Hydroguard. The Flora series of nutes always makes the root turn brown so don't be alarmed. Make sure that you allow your pH to drift from 5.5-6.5 to allow all of the micro-nutrients availability to the plant. Looks like you have a standard Ca def-hydro/coco growers always get this.

[spinwise]

Thanks for the advice! It makes perfect sense to let the pH fluctuate a bit. Can you recommend how to do this? And over what timeframe?

[MajorTom]

farmerjim I had an algae problem due to light leaks which evidently HydroGuard and keeping low water temps doesn’t prevent; switched to Flora Shield. It’s an either / or thing I understand. I also burned the $&@! out of them by over calculating my nutes. Hopefully they’re doing better but I won’t know for a couple of days yet.

[farmerjim]

Bummer dude. Are you thinking of switching up and trying florashield on your next run? You should join us for the Dark Harvest challenge!

[MajorTom]

Thanks for the invite farmerjim but my plants are really struggling; big problem is me having to be away so much on work w/o any backup help. If theyre still making it after this current time away ill post an update.

[Chefbjy]

Are you sure your res gets completely empty before you change it?

[spinwise]

I am able to empty about 13 of the 14 gallons of the res. Do you see this as a potential issue?

[Chefbjy]

If it's not getting completely emptied you could develop a sludge on the bottom from nutes. It's not good for your plants. I'd make sure that's not happening.