3

I have set up a hydroponic system indoors and planted 6 chilli plants in one bucket. It's a DWC system where I fill the bucket with water and mix the nutrient solution and submerge the plant roots in it. I have also set up an air pump with dual outlets to aerate the solution. On top, I have grow light strips.

The problem is, out of the 6 plants, one started to wilt. I planted them two days ago. Here are some photos of the setup:

enter image description here

enter image description here]

enter image description here

enter image description here

enter image description here

enter image description here

enter image description here

Any idea why this is happening?

M Watt
  • 95
  • 1
  • 8
  • show us the root systems of the healthy plants, and then check carefully for damage to the stem of the sick plant. – Graham Chiu Jan 23 '18 at 08:26
  • @GrahamChiu Thanks. I just posted a photo showing the root system of the wilted plant with a healthy one. – M Watt Jan 23 '18 at 08:36
  • You're using stones? I only use hydroton which is a light weight expanded clay product. Suggest you remove that plant from the pot and you'll see stem damage most likely. – Graham Chiu Jan 23 '18 at 09:38
  • @GrahamChiu Yes I agree. The problem is I could not found hydroton in my country. – M Watt Jan 23 '18 at 09:52
  • @GrahamChiu Just took the plant out. There seems to be some issue at the base of the plant. Is it a disease or cause by the stones? – M Watt Jan 23 '18 at 10:49
  • That is root rot M. Watt. One plant in each 'pot'? Were these plants grown in soil originally? Have you ever grown plants in good old regular soil? I am a dang expert but just do not see the benefits to grow hydroponically. Plants were meant to be grown in soil. Just to be able to grow plants in soil successfully is necessary before considering growing hydroponically. If SHTF, hydroponic culture will be worthless...unless you've got solar powered hydroponics. These plants are totally stressed. If you have one that survives, you will be lucky. Did you start your plants in soil? – stormy Jan 24 '18 at 03:37
  • @stormy Yes I did grow the plants in soil originally. – M Watt Jan 24 '18 at 04:17

1 Answers1

2

The differences in plant sizes shown for only 2 days in your hydroponics setup suggests that the plants were different at the time they were transplanted into the pots. The sudden tapering of the stem to the roots suggests that there has been damage to the stem of the affected plant. It doesn't look rotten so it may just be trauma but the roots you show are brown rather than white so I would worry that you've got a pythium infection in your setup. It could be the lighting you use so I'd check them outside in daylight.

Graham Chiu
  • 23,044
  • 5
  • 36
  • 92
  • Is it because I originally planted them in soil? Just washed the roots and planted them in this system two days ago. – M Watt Jan 24 '18 at 07:10
  • A lot of people who have small hydroponic setups will do that but often the plants are bigger with larger root structures. Transplanting at such a small size risks root damage from the heavy rocks you're using. But the other plants look okay. – Graham Chiu Jan 24 '18 at 07:13
  • Great thanks! I will keep an eye on the roots. – M Watt Jan 29 '18 at 01:16