DWC with brown roots.

I found these photos of horrible brown roots in a DWC system. I believe the person was using a air-cooled 400w HPS inside a tent. The cause of this seems to be the semi-transparent lid exposing the water to light. From the research I've done on Rosemans Bubbleponics thread I assume this person should remove all the dead/brown roots but this just seems like it would shock the plants. What would you guys do? Also, would it be normal for the plants to look droopy and unhealthy with these roots? Thanks!


400w HPS air-cooled with 4" inline
Temp light on - 74
Temp light off - 70 with heater running
Res temp 60-68
Ionic nutrients 400ppm
PH 5.9 -6.2
3 weeks old


(warning LARGE photos. netbook killers.)

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/6029/img6870o.jpg

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/4141/img6871b.jpg

Hello i am new to this site and new to growing. I have been reading a lot about the lights you need. Most if not all say to use a HPS for flowering. Does anyone know if I use a T5 with 4 warm 4ft bulbs and 13 4ft warm foulrescent stips along the sides and fronts of the plants if my results should be good?? I am only growing 2 plants at a time (Hindu Kush) in a 6ft high 5 1/2 ft long closet. thank you

Why would you post that question in my thread? It's not even close or related to my question.

Also, I have read that some nutrients can stain your roots. The nutrients I use are a yellowish color and the stuff on my roots is brownish. The thing is my res has always smelled fresh like a head of lettuce. I just don't want to chop the roots if I don't have to. Anybody?

lol yea man not cool jackin his thread.

hey dude,

I'm on my first DWC experiments right now, and have seen brown roots on one of the plants. funny things is.. its in a black container, no light whatsoever. I use an airstone so i know its gettin oxygen, so im wonderin if maybe nutrient toxicity was causin it, but the top of the plant was thriving. I think it was just some nutrient residue or somethin cuz my nutes do leave the water pretty brown...

I guess if the plant is growin well, looks healthy and everything probably dont cut any roots off. Sorry i cant be more helpful, pretty new myself.

hmm just looked at the pics, they definitely look brown in a different way than mine do..mine seems to be like..algea stuff on them, not so much the color of the roots brown.. will look around a little bit more..

nah not my netbook

Thanks for the input man. The plants do look droopy. There is plenty of new growth but like I said they are droopy and kind of sad looking.

sorry, where should i post that kind of question??

Run your finger over the infected roots and check if it is slimy. Be easy on them though. They should feel slimy if it is rootrot, otherwise it feels moist when they are healthy.

BudsBelize said:

Hello i am new to this site and new to growing. I have been reading a lot about the lights you need. Most if not all say to use a HPS for flowering. Does anyone know if I use a T5 with 4 warm 4ft bulbs and 13 4ft warm foulrescent stips along the sides and fronts of the plants if my results should be good?? I am only growing 2 plants at a time (Hindu Kush) in a 6ft high 5 1/2 ft long closet. thank you

Click to expand...

You can flower with a 30 watt CFL if you really wanted to, the quality of the smoke is just going to be pretty lame. I've smoked CFL flowered buds before and it just seemed not as potent. You can get a 150w HPS on ebay for around 100 bucks.