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Wilting Holy Basil

7 years ago

My holy basil plant--which I germinated in soil and then planted hydroponically--has leaves which just keep dying and wilting at the tips, like a brown/grey splotch. There is no sign of any insects. And the splotches appear regardless of nutrients added to the water.

However the water turned a bit weird after I fertilized it, with yellow gunk floating about in the water. And the roots went from a pearly white to a bit brown tinted--but overall still rather white. In the meantime the leaves are all dying at the edges, and I think both nutrient deficiency and leaf burn--from oversaturating with nutrients--can be excluded.

Is it root rot? Or a fungus of some sort? The roots don't look rotten and the smell is earthy but not terrible. Please someone look at the pictures and help me move forward--do I need to bin the plants, sterilize the set up? Will my other plants be infected? Can I still eat healthy leaves before I discard the plant?

Comments (15)

  • 7 years ago

    Pls post pix, almost impossible to help w/put them. Don't know this plant or growing indoor plants hydro, guessing most folks don't either.

    But I do grow some hydro, a large Sans & a Hoya kerrii. I'd suggest you change all your water & forget fertilizer 'til the plants get established.

    Where'd you get the original instructions & can you go back there for help?

  • 7 years ago

    Sounds like the nutrient was/is too strong. Check the EC and PH is the correct range.If the roots are submerged (dwc etc) ensure the roots have enough O2 and check the water temperature.isnt too high.

  • 7 years ago

    lol, this is the hydroponics forum. There`s no faff if you do it right ,its easier than growing in soil ;)

  • 7 years ago

    I was reading it in the houseplant forum. And I would stoutly maintain that growing in soil is far easier. Your basil keeps dying. QED. I secretly think that people who do hydroponics don't really like gardening.... they like chemistry, mechanics, diy, 'busyness' but not plants ;-)

  • 7 years ago

    Floral: what is FAFF?

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    its a term used in the uk by traditional soil gardeners ;)

    I dont faff around with all that soil malarky i grow stuff in thin air ;)



  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    It's used by everybody, not only gardeners. It means more fuss than Is necessary. Hex, you've obviously cracked the faff and enjoy it. But HU many numbers has a half dead plant which would be alive if it was in soil. Defeated by the faffing about.

  • 7 years ago

    Hu moved it from soil to hydro. The issue is not hydro its simply a case of providing the correct conditions. If you overwater or overfeed a plant in soil you`ll get the same result. Fixing these issues is a lot easier and quicker in hydro than in soil because things happen slowly in soil. Issues dont show up for days so you are playing catchup. After fixing the issue you have to wait for days to see whether it was successful. That kind of faff can easily cost you a week of the growing season with no growth ;)

  • 7 years ago

    Hi, for some reason the pictures I included did not make it, anyways here they are.





    I hope that makes troubleshooting a bit easier, anyone have an idea of what it could be? :)

  • 7 years ago

    It would help to know which nutrient you are using along with the EC or ppm and ph. Those are some strange looking cocktails ;) roots hate light, the glasses are not ideal. .

  • 7 years ago

    MaxiGrow :) I just use recommended dosage. The glasses are just for the transplant, when they grow roots out I put em in the big box!

  • 7 years ago

    I don't know much about hydroponics but I have grown holy basil. The leaf burn could be too much light.

  • 7 years ago

    Looking at the elemental makeup of that nutrient i`d sugeest 5g (dry powder weight) per gallon. Aim for a PH around 6.0. Light burn will usually affect the top of the plant first where the intensity is the greatest.

  • PRO
    7 years ago

    Can i grow anything to hydroponics system? can anyone say me please?

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