Root rot in Aerogarden hydro system... help!

[rugby]

Or so I think. HELP PLEASE

I have an Aerogarden hydroponic system. This is just a few days after my last post.. gosh these hydro ladies can be difficult!!!

What's changed since last week?
Well, outside the temperatures have fallen fast. It's 60F/16C during the day and 50F/10C at night. Perhaps there was some light leak? Or a lack of oxygen...

On Friday, two plants decided to wilt, super fast.

So...might be overkill but this is what I did.

1) Suspecting root rot I emptied the tank and cleaned the entire thing, every crevice, with bleach and
2) I also discovered was that the pump was clogged. I had a spare and replaced it.
3) I stuck the living plant roots in hydrogen peroxide and water for 15 minutes
4) I cut off all old roots on the small plants that are drooping. No new roots on those yet... but there are new roots (yes!) on the big plants (as you can see in the pics). So apparently they too were affected...
5) I added new, Brita filtered water plus nutrients and Hydroguard, Cannazym and TNC Mycorr... as well as their food-- Advanced Nutriends pH Perfect Bloom..

So here is my question:

1) Was that appropriate and/or sufficient? What else do you suggest doing?
2) Should I trim some of the big roots as well?

Thanks immensely!

 

[Obi-Wan]

I’d say that you’ve done everything you could to halt the rot. Given it’s an aero garden I’m fairly confident that your blocked pump was the primary cause of the rot. Your plants are dependent on the pump to keep up the high oxygen environment, without the pump running they were starving for oxygen. If you have 2 pumps it may make sense to make pump changes part of your routine, the extra 5 minutes every week or 2 will be rewarded with a a huge piece of mind knowing the pumps are always working.

 

[rugby]

I’d say that you’ve done everything you could to halt the rot. Given it’s an aero garden I’m fairly confident that your blocked pump was the primary cause of the rot. Your plants are dependent on the pump to keep up the high oxygen environment, without the pump running they were starving for oxygen. If you have 2 pumps it may make sense to make pump changes part of your routine, the extra 5 minutes every week or 2 will be rewarded with a a huge piece of mind knowing the pumps are always working.

Excellent idea. And I think you are 100% correct. When I took one of the pumps out it was completely clogged.
Would you cut some of the roots off from the big plants since most likely they are dead and have residual baddies on them?

 

[Obi-Wan]

I’d give it a week before determining to take any roots off the larger plants since they are already sprouting new roots.

 

[thegeezist]

Sorry to say, but the Aerogarden cannot support a mature plants root ball. Try adding a small aquarium pump to add extra air int the reservoir. But, it’s great for sprouting and cloning. The two drawbacks are lack of room for roots and light intensity. I suggest a DWC set-up.