NFT Hydro: Roots growing into reservoir

[Symphonix]

Hi all. We're using an NFT Hyrdoponic setup for a cupboard grow, based around a 35 litre Turbo Tank (www.turbotank.com.au). The plants are a couple of weeks away from flowering, and the root mat is looking thick with healthy roots, however a few roots are growing down through the drainage slot and into the reservoir.

 

Will this pose a problem? It doesn't seem to be threatening to block the drain and they aren't threatening the pump of heater either. But should I trim these back anyway? If I do, is it likely to harm the plants?

 

Thanks in advance.

[Mushaman]

Hi Symphonix

 

I've recently had a few root probs .. one of them was roots growing down into my rez and blocking drain holes ... I'm sure its not a good idea to trim the roots .. looks from the turbotank you got that its about quick/immediate flowering? trimming roots during flowering is not good I was told -

 

to fix the drain problem I have just tucked the roots that were trying to grow down, back in and under the main root mat ... so far no more root growth into the drain holes ... maybe is a good option for you to try also - I can tell you fer sure, the longer they're in there, the bigger the root problem will be ... so good to get it fixed asap - the root growth I got actually stopped me from even raising the netpot or lifting the lid on the tub that holds the nets ... insane expolsive root growth ... be ooo tiful :thumbsup - I've attached a picture from a few eeks ago - not long after this, the roots took over the top tub completely .... I can only get in there by using one of the spare netpot holes...

 

couldn't really get an idea of what it looks like inside a Turbotank from the website .. you got any pix of your setup or of the problem?

[ffc99]

Hi! I trim the roots occassionally with no (apparent) adverse effects! Plants are pretty robust so I would trim, which is better then the works becoming gummed!

[Symphonix]

Thank You for the advice. I think I'll try Mushaman's idea and tuck the roots back into the NFT tray. Any that are still stubborn I will trim. This is our very first grow so the plants have already survived a lot of mistreatment. The drainage slot is about 2cm wide by 30cm long, so it doesn't block easily.

 

Not much in the way of pictures of our setup yet ... my new digital camera should be arriving in a week from now, and almost every other attempt to get a snapshot has failed miserably. Camera phones and low-end digitals have no idea what to do with the agricultural lighting, and end up looking like pictures of the moon.

 

Thanks for the advice guys.

[fsagertyaef]

roots are supposed to hang down into the water/nuits right trying a hydro setup for the first time and i have a couple of stupid questions silly how i dont know that but i i have the whole system setup already minus plants that is still to small to go into the net pots

[Gazza2001au]

im with Mushaman, dont cut the roots unless they pose a big danger in blocking the return channel other wise let them go the roots will follow the nutrient in any system where theres a steady streem of nutrient flowing in one direction this is a very common problem in flood and drain trays converted into recirculating tables i know the turbo tank system its ment for clones with a very little veg time as most NFT systems are unless u get the channels with large pots to accommodate the large root system

[mj addict]

Trimming the roots that are growing down the drain pipe won't have any real effect on your plant. You might want to put some wire mesh over the drain hole to prevent roots growing into it. Root growth will explode as your plant goes into flower.