What to Do About Root Rot in Hydroponic Peace Lilies? Causes and Solutions

Hydroponic peace lilies are known as "lazy person's flowers" for being low-effort and convenient, and their daily care is very easy, but root rot caused by too little management happens often. In fact, root rot in hydroponic peace lilies is due to bacteria and the like. Usually, when they have just been put in water and have not yet grown water roots, the water should be changed once a day; after the roots have grown, change it once every 7 days to half a month. Now let's take a look together at what to do about root rot in hydroponic peace lilies!

Why do hydroponic peace lilies get root rot?

1. Water quality reasons: Hydroponic peace lilies need water that has been left to sit for a few days. When roots are just starting to form, be sure not to add nutrient solution, to prevent the water from going bad. After the roots have grown, be careful to promptly remove green algae, bacteria, etc. from the water roots (rinse or disinfect).

2. Water level problem: When hydroponic peace lilies have formed roots, the roots cannot be completely submerged underwater; a portion must be exposed above the water to breathe, about 1/3 above the water surface. If they are completely submerged underwater, the roots will very likely "suffocate" from lack of oxygen.

3. Container contamination: If the container itself is not clean when growing hydroponic peace lilies, harmful bacteria will breed and also cause root rot. In this case, thoroughly wash the container and soak it in potassium permanganate solution to disinfect.

What to do about root rot in hydroponic peace lilies?

1. First wash the rotten roots and old roots, cut them off with a sharp knife, leaving only the white roots, disinfect with potassium permanganate solution, then let them dry in a ventilated place for one to two days.

2. Remove yellow leaves, old leaves and rotten leaves, fix the base of the peace lily with clay pebbles, and keep the water level just at the bottom of the roots. Right after changing the water, do not add nutrient solution at first; let it recover a bit.

3. Once the peace lily no longer has root rot, drip 2 drops of hydroponic nutrient solution, place it in a shaded spot and wait for new water roots to grow. Tap water is best left to sit for several days; change the water about every 3 to 4 days. If green moss appears around the glass container, clean it off.

Is there still hope if a peace lily has root rot?

1. Mild root rot: When a peace lily has mild root rot, wash the roots clean; only a tiny bit of rot has appeared at the bottom, and most of the root hairs are white. This situation is absolutely no problem, there is hope.

2. Moderate root rot: The peace lily has fewer roots and the rot is fairly serious, but there are still a small number of roots that have grown and are growing (hard). In this case, cut off all the rotten parts, disinfect, and replant; more than 80% can be saved.

3. Severe rot: The entire root system of the peace lily has turned black and soft, and the part where the roots connect to the stem is also quite badly rotted. In this case you can only treat a dead horse as a live one to save it, but you must be mentally prepared, because more than 80% cannot be saved!