Droopy plants, poor growth, lack of vigor
If your seeds germinated but plant growth is stalled or the plants look pale and/or droopy, it's not because they are "defective;" either they are not getting something they need, or they are getting something they don't need. Here's what to do:
- First, consider your grow lights. We recommend changing them after six months of use, even though they still appear to be bright, because they have lost a significant amount of their "growing" power. A plant's growth depends on getting sufficient energy from two parts of the light spectrum - red and blue - parts we can't see. Without that energy, they can't flourish.
- Second, consider that healthy plants get the oxygen they need for growth through their roots. If the water is oxygen-poor, the roots can't send enough oxygen up to the plants, which will slowly suffocate until, finally, they collapse. AeroGardens have systems to aerate the water, and it's important to check them periodically to make sure they are working. In the Aerogarden 7s, the aeration is provided by a water pump inside the bowl that circulates water through the grow deck. In the AeroGarden 3s, 6s, and SpaceSaver 6, aeration is provided by an air pump inside the base that pushes a small volume of air through an airstone in the water bowl. Fortunately, the plants give weeks of warning before that final collapse, and, if you are following the AeroGarden maintenance schedule, you will discover problems and have plenty of time to correct them long before the damage to the plants is irreversible.
Sick, unhealthy looking plants
We say plants look "sick" if their growth is stunted, if their leaves are droopy, wilted, or yellow, or if the leaves or leaf margins show signs of burning. If you have affirmed that your grow lights are fresh and that the water is being aerated, then here are the next most common reasons for "sickly" plants:
1) If the nutrients that came in your seed kit are tablets, they are old and could be harming your plants. We have been using liquid nutrients exclusively since early 2010. Stop using the tablets, and call customer service at 800-476-9669 for assistance.
2) The source water you are using is "hard", or has a high mineral content. Plants grown in the AeroGarden do not like well water, spring water, softened water or very hard water. A water problem usually show up right away as stunted growth or browning/yellowing leaves. It may actually prevent germination entirely. For detailed information on water types that are good for AeroGardening, click here.
3) Your nutrient solution has become too strong. This can occur if there are lots of dissolved minerals in your source water, or if your Seed Kit has been growing a long time without a rinse-and-refill. It usually manifests as yellowing of the leaves or browning of leaf edges, and if not corrected, can lead to plant death. You can correct this imbalance by doing a Rinse-and-Refill.
4) Your plants have attracted an insect infestation. If you suspect that you may have insects on your plants, click here for more extensive troubleshooting information.
5) Your plants have a plant or root disease. Plants grown in the AeroGarden are not immune to the same air- and soil-borne plant diseases as afflict outdoor plants, but because they lead a sheltered life indoors, diseases are much less of a problem (we rarely hear cases of any of these) but they do sometimes occur. The field of plant pathology is extensive, and short of microscopic examination of plant tissue by an expert, it is impossible to diagnose exactly what plant disease may be affecting your plant. Having said that, however, here are some plant diseases that can affect indoor plants:
- Tobacco Mosaic Virus causes yellow/green mottling of leaves, particularly in tomatoes and peppers. It is found on virtually all tobacco products, including cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, and is carried on the hands and clothing of most smokers. There is no remedy once plants are affected.
- Powdery Mildew manifests as a gray or white powder on leaf surfaces, which causes leaves to shrink and eventually crumple and dry up. It can affect almost any plant, but particularly enjoys dill . It can be controlled with a sulfur-containing powdery mildew spray, available at most nurseries and garden centers. For more information about powdery mildew, click here.
- Pythium is a naturally-occuring soil microorganism that can cause root rot. In the soil it is normally kept in check by the other microorganisms, but if inadvertenty transferred to an AeroGarden it can overgrow and cause root rot and plant death. (If you are also a soil gardener and have recently been working in your garden, always remember to wash hands thoroughly to remove any soil residue before working with your AeroGarden.) If your plants suddenly begin to wilt from the bottom up, they may be affected by pythium. There is no control measure, and if your plants are wilting from the bottom up, we recommend disposing of all plant material in the trash, and doing a very, very thorough sanitizing of your AeroGarden. (For sanitizing instructions, click here for the AeroGarden 7s, and here for the AeroGarden 3s and 6s.)
