I have webbing all over the tops of my plants and what looks like tiny insects crawling on it. What is it?
This is a serious pest know as Spider Mite or Two Spotted Mite.
Lots of webbing indicates an advanced stage of infestation. Other earlier symptoms of this pest are speckled or scorched leaves. They are small mobile mites like grains of sand that vary in colour from red to brown or may be light brown with two dark spots. Mites tend to congregate under the leaves and round the tops of the stems. They are more commonly a problem in the warmer months but may pose a threat at any time.
If left untreated, Spider Mites will destroy your plants.
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What if i get Aphids in my grow room or tent?
Aphids are small soft bodied green or black insects usually found clustered along the upper part of the stems and on the leaves.
Although not quite as serious as Spider Mites, Aphids can still destroy your crop if left untreated.
They are slow moving and are usually found in colonies on plants.
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What are small black flies crawling around the top of the pots. Are they harmful?
Yes. They are known as Sciarid Fly or Fungaus Gnats.
The young insects in their larval stage attack the roots of your plants. The larvae are approximately half a millimetre long maggots with clear white or yellowish bodies and black heads. Sciarid Fly will not usually kill your plant but heavy infestations will severely stunt them, reducing yield and quality.
They can also carry and spread the root disease Pythium which is a far more serious problem.
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What are the white powdery spots on the leaves?
This is probably a disease called Powdery Mildew is fungus that spreads by airborne spores that can enter your grow room or tent through the ventilation or when you open the door. To prevent it, keep your humidity at an acceptable level and remove dead leaves. If left untreated, powdery Mildew will consume your crop.
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There seems to be grey on my plants. What should I do?
This is a fungal disease called Botrytis or Grey Mould. It grows under conditions of very high humidity. To prevent further attacks increase ventilation and/ or have a fan blowing over the flowers. Unfortunately mould grows easily in crops with heavy flowers and if left untreated, mould can virtually consume your crop.
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The roots of my plants have gone brown. Is this normal?
No. You probably have a serious root disease called Pyhtium.
Symptoms of this are browning and softening of the roots, dead feeder roots and lesions on larger roots. Advanced infections cause the plant to wilt and eventually die. Pythium is known as a water mould and as you might guess, it thrives in wet situations. Hydroponic systems suit Pythium well and if your plant's roots are stressed through poor oxygenation or attack by sciarid fly, then you can expect Pythium to be a problem.
The source of infection from Pythium can be your water, extraneous dirt in the system, infected planting material, dust etc. In fact, it can be found almost everywhere. Poorly aerated water with poor drainage is why Pythium is a common and widespread problem in hydroponics. If left untreated you will lose your entire crop.
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What could be causing plants to wilt in my grow room or tent?
This could be due to high temperature, lack of nutrient solution, E.C too high a conductivity or Pythium to name a few.
Start by checking the roots for abnormalities; check the ventilation; check the temperatures of your grow room aor tent nd the nutrient solution. Try making sure you have adequate ventilation and nutrient solution supply. Excessive heat will also encourage wilting.
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My plants leaves are turning yellow from the bottom of the plant. What should I do?
This is often normal near the end of a plant's life.
It is usually caused by the lower leaves being shaded. The plant removes the nutrients from the leaves for use elsewhere causing them to turn yellow. As a precaution, however, check the root system for the disease and the solution temperature is correct and remove the yellow leaves.
If it is a young plant it could be a nutrient deficiency - change your nutrient solution.
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My plants leaves are going brown throughout the plant. What can I do?
There is nothing you can do for the leaves already turned brown.
Brown leaves are dead leaves. If the brown leaves seem scattered throughout the plant then it could be an insect or mite infestation.
If the whole plants or whole sides of plants are dying then it will most likely be a problem within the roots.
If the leaves are going brown in the upper canopy it could be that the lights are too close. Also check for mites. Next crop, ensure you have the basics right and keep an eye open for pests and diseases.
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I have noticed that the leaves are suddenly all going curly. What does this mean?
Check the undersides of the leaves for aphids. Also check for thrips which are tiny (1mm) elongated, black or brown rapidly moving insects.
It could also be a problem knows as Broad Mite. These mites are invisible to the naked eye. If the problem gets bad enough to cause your plants to stop growing then Broad Mite is probably the cause. You will have to discard your plants. Check the origin of your clones. The infestation probably (but not necessarily) started there.
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The tips of my leaves are going brown. What can I do?
This is a stress condition usually caused by the conductivity being too high, the humidity being too low, conditions being too hot or lights too close. In some circumstances it can also be a potassium deficiency or boron toxicity. Change your solution as a precaution.
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My plant is going yellow all over. What should I do?
First check that the roots are healthy. If they are then it could be a trace element deficiency or even a total deficiency in the amount of nutrient being given.
Check the pH also. Too high a pH will often cause trace element deficiency and consequent leaf yellowing.
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I have floaters or scum in the reservoir. What should I do?
The floaters are often fungal or bacterial colonies and don't usually pose a problem unless they start to block hoses and nozzles.
If it becomes a problem then flush your system with a heavy dose of chlorine AFTER THE CROP IS FINISHED. Be sure to flush the chlorine out properly before using the system again. NOTE: Chlorine is poisonous to plants.
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What is Pythium?
Pythium is a waterborne fungus and re-circulating Hydroponic systems provide it with an ideal environment in which to live and breed. Plants can survive and grow with high levels of inoculum in the nutrient solution. The fungus however will restrict the root system. A sudden rise in temperature will find the plants unable to increase their uptake of water and they will wilt. For many growers this is the first sign that Pythium is active in their system.
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