When weighing out the pros and cons of growing vegetables in a hydroponic system, you may be concerned about waterborne diseases. Admittedly, growing plants in water reduces the risk of many weeds and soil-borne pests and diseases. But hydroponics aren’t foolproof, and, if you’re not careful, you may find yourself dealing with similar or worse problems than you would in a traditional garden.
Knowing which diseases to keep an eye out for and how to identify the symptoms will allow you to take early action, before your entire system is compromised. Also, prevention goes a long way, and is the first step in minimizing and even eliminating risks of waterborne diseases in hydroponic systems altogether.
Most hydroponic issues are easy to address with a bit of due diligence. Let’s start by taking a look at the most common waterborne diseases you’ll come across. Then we’ll walk you through steps you can take to treat and prevent these diseases so you can keep your greenhouse plants healthy.
4 hydroponic waterborne diseases you should be aware of
One of the most important elements of proper greenhouse management is knowing how to identify potential issues. In order to successfully protect your plants in a hydroponic system, you have to be able to watch out for symptoms that point to a waterborne disease.
If allowed to spread, waterborne diseases can wreak havoc on your plants. Although there are many potential diseases, we’ve included the four most common waterborne diseases that you should keep an eye out for.
1. Pythium
Pythium is the most severe waterborne disease in hydroponic systems. It’s caused by several species of microscopic fungus-like organisms, also known as oomycetes or water molds. These organisms thrive in wet environments and they’re often found in the water supply, especially surface water. The disease caused by this pathogen is called Pythium root rot.
Pythium is a cause for concern because it’s a fast-spreading disease that’s difficult to control. It produces zoospores (microscopic spores that use hair-like appendages to move), which means that it spreads rapidly even in stagnant water.
And unlike other fungal diseases, such as Phytophthora, it’s not species-specific. This means that it can affect all your hydroponic plants indiscriminately!