Should I use H2o2 to prevent stem rot in aeroponics?

[neville hz]

Hi Everyone

Could anyone with knowledge of H2o2 and or pathogens/stem rot help me decide whether to use H2o2 or not?

I am starting a new grow after the last two failed due to stem rot and I cant face going through it again! grrrr how depressing is it to see large super healthy plants being eaten through at their base???

First of all I should say that I don't have dirty kit or a dirty tent. Far from it, I thoroughly clean all my kit with bleach before its used.

I start off in an aeroponic propagator and then move on to an Amazon 8 site aeroponics system. Where I believe the problem came about was the warmth of the water in the reservoir. I didnt measure the temperature but it would definately exceeded 24 degrees c. I am aware of the optimum temperature a tank should be BUT loving the hobby so much I couldnt help myself but try and grow through our summer months.

We are now out of the summer, into Autumn and soon to be in winter....therefore the temps outside, in the room and in the tank will be significantly lower.

However, I still have the scars of stem rot in my mind and I'm considered adding H2o2 to my tank to make sure I don't get pathogens and stem rot again....EVER!! haha

Can anyone say if it will help or harm?

Thanks

 

[Hydrolized]

H2O2 is effective but it breaks down quickly. Same goes for pool shock (chlorine/hypochlorous acid) but you can measure free chlorine easier than H2O2 IMO. I had the same issue in DWC due to the 4" air gap above my water line up to the tote lid being hot air, so the stem above the water line was a breeding ground for cyanobacteria and other hydro herpies I'm sure. I was using Dutchmaster Zone and was perplexed as to why it wasn't working, till I though about how the portion of stem above the water line wasn't getting any of the solution, therefore none of the Zone, on it to keep it sterile. I have a few posts around here asking for help about it. What I ended up doing was retrofitting my systems with a hybrid LPA/DWC system, adding LPA misters to spray the stems at all times, keeping them wetted with the solution containing the sterilizing agent. I also upgraded my chillers to keep my water at 20C all the time.

If you love the hobby, get a chiller!! AquaEuroUSA makes the most affordable ones I've seen, I use their 1/10hp (300USD) and 1/4HP (400USD) on my systems and have no troubles. The temps are really key IMO as you will never be 100% sterile so it's best to keep the root zone temperature at a temp bad things won't like. I use Zone over Chlorine because it's ingredients rely on Chloramines which stay around awhile longer than hypochlorous acid or H2O2. There are tons of people using H2O2 and pool shock with great results, so you can try those too. Your probably going to get some "BENEFICIAL BACTERIA EWC TEA IS THE ONLY WAY" posts up here....that works too, I just never use bennies in Aero because there is always a slime-like coating left on everything from the bennies doing their thing and that's never good with lots of hoses, pipes, and sprayers involved in a Aero setup....to each their own though.

 

[neville hz]

Thanks a lot Hyrdrolized.

I shouldnt have a problem now we are heading into winter...I may even need a tank heater however Im going to get a thermometer and monitor my tanks and act appropriately - with either a water heater or a chiller. Would be best to have both on hand for when the seasons change.

When you say H2o2 breaks down quickly, do you know how quick and when would I need to retreat my tank again to keep the nasties at bay?

 

[guambomb813]

h202 does not stay active long enough so in no time at all it will be counter-productive.

trust me, years of dealing with bacteria in my aero-cloner. 1st i used h202 and it worked for a day but bacteria came back shortly after. Then I tried DM zone and this worked better but still had longer then usual rooting times.

Well the trick ended up being EWC tea and washed lava rocks in the rez + air stone(s).
This eliminated all of my slime issues and I've had bright white roots ever since.

 

[neville hz]

Thanks guambomb813

Can you tell me how h2o2 becomes counter productive?

Do I get the tea and rocks from hydro shops?

How long do both of those last for?

 

[tree farmer]

to help with stem rot in aero keep the spray from hitting the base of the root zone where it meets the stalk. cover the top part of the netpot after the roots are out the bottom. cyle the timer so the rootzone doesnt stay as wet. this will help alot to prevent stem rot.

 

[solofoe]

What is ewc tea??

 

[Warrioreuel]

I had same problem

I had same problem

I had some clones that were doing wonderful. They had grown and bushed out like a basket ball in no time. Suddenly without warning one of them just fell over. I examined it closely and was horrified to see the dreaded stem rot. Long story short here is what i did to fix my problem.
First, keep all the lower leaves trimmed several inches up the base of the plant. My plants looked so bushy i did not want to trim them but underneath all that lush growth was stagnant humid air.
Second I installed a small fan that blows air across the dead zone between the top of the net pots and the first lower branches.
Third, i used 3% hydrogen peroxide right on the wound itself.
Then, for fun I dabbed the wounded stem with rooting powder from Home Depot and wrapped it in tin foil like a band aid. I forgot about it and came back two weeks later and the base of the stem that previously was too thin to even support the plant was now the thickest part of the stem to where it looked deformed it was so thick.
For me prevention is key. I spray the surface of the grow media (for me a rockwool cube and hydroton) and stem base with 3% peroxide once a week(taking care to protect the leaves), keep the lower parts well trimmed and keep the air moving. No problems since.
I will add that several of the plants were too far gone so i simply clipped them down and turned them into clones again. But, the one I experimented on with the rooting powder recovered like a champ. I would have tried it on the other plants as well but it did not occur to me until I was down to the last plant and I wanted to try and save it instead of turn it into more clones.

 

[Mad Lab]

For those seeking the answer to this problem, as stated above, the answer is in EWC Microbial Tea. If you need help finding a recipe, Heizenberg EWC Tea thread at rollitup.com is one of the pioneer's of using microbes to fix cyanobacteria issues in DWC and other NFT systems where anarobic conditions are more prevalent. Reading the thread is suggested for it involves much trail and error that one may learn from while brewing and implementing the Tea.