Algae Growth in Water Rooting

TorontoJoe said:
@betdempster

Let me see if I can address some of this from my own experience.

As for h2o2. It’s pretty benign stuff. All it really does is bring down the pH to a level where things like algae aren’t as likely to form. The regular 3% stuff added to water doesn’t really pose a risk to anything.

While I do support the idea of adding some nutrients to potting mix when rooting cuttings… I typically wouldn’t advise it when rooting in water. That will increase the likelihood of algae forming as you are feeding it.

The other thing about rooting in water is that I would tend to keep it in lower light… Especially earlier on when there’s no green grow since it’s not necessary then anyways. Increased light will promote the algae growth.

Changing the water very frequently will also assist with reducing any algae growth. I would consider changing it even daily. In the case of my hydroponic system where I can’t change the water frequently… I added a small aquarium style air pump with a stone aerator. This solved all of my algae problems and keeps the water from becoming stagnant… But frequent changing I think is your best bet.

If you do change the water daily… I think you probably could add a small amount of soluble nutrients without giving algae time to grow

One more consideration on rooting in water. What is your water source? Different people will have different opinions on this but…. My thoughts on using good, clean distilled, spring or even well water… While generally great stuff… Will also allow algae to grow. Something like your typical, treated municipal water will have chlorine or chloramine or something that inhibits algae growth. While in many parts of our lives, we don’t want this… In the case of rooting cuttings, it will actually be less prone to growing other stuff you don’t want. Like algae

If you think you can pot them up without damaging the roots… And I don’t think that’s a bad idea

If you’re getting algae in your fig pop bags… I think excessive light is probably the issue. I would keep the pop part of your cutting covered in foil or otherwise somehow in the dark.

I hope this helps
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Yes thank you I had the bright idea to add a little dilute kelp to my water root situation and that probably helped out the algae growth. I don't intend to regularly water root ... It's too much fuss for me. I had done it because I didn't have time to properly plant so I threw it in water for couple days that became couple weeks then there were roots that I thought were too fragile initially.... So it just dragged on....

But I learned so much and so cool to watch.

And the lights... The fig pops with some roots and leaves I moved to lights. But I had put a little kelp in that too... Think that's the big factor...This is how I learn.

Thanks for the info about Hydrogen peroxide. In wound care (I'm a nurse) we stopped using it because the free radical actually damage healthy surrounding skin so I was worried but I can see a little dilute stuff
I live where we have heavy minerals in the water and lots of chlorine but ours is tripled filtered - and softened so it does have some weak salts in it
As always thanks so much for the help. Going to pot that number 5 and be real careful with it😃
 
betdempster said:
Nope but good point. Going to buy a meter right now ... Never though about ph... Probably should have.
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You can probably find out your water pH from your local water quality report. The reports in Texas can be inconsistent in terms of the amount of info in it. Typically, it includes heavy metal and industrial chemicals percentage and pH. It is usually done on a county basis.

If you often see calcium deposit around your shower heads and the faucets, then your water is probably on the base side. I would probably try something near neutral or slightly acidic like rainwater.
 
bushdoctor82 said:
I’ve had this cutting rooting in water since Christmas and over the last week roots appear to be forming as well as a black algae looking slime. I’ve tried to wash it off in the sink, but the roots also get knocked off in the process. I’ve also sprayed the cutting with hydrogen peroxide to no avail. Is this algae detrimental, and if so what reasonable measures should be taken?

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Clean off the slimy stuff gently. Then mix 8 ounces of distilled water and 2 ounces of hydrogen peroxide. Let it soak in that for a few days. Water should be good if it starts to look like it’s changing just dump it out and refill with just distilled water and change it out as you need to. It’s the minerals and stuff in the water you are using that microbes feed on and make that water mucky. Distilled water has nothing in it so you are removing that stuffs food source.
 
betdempster said:
Yes thank you I had the bright idea to add a little dilute kelp to my water root situation and that probably helped out the algae growth. I don't intend to regularly water root ... It's too much fuss for me. I had done it because I didn't have time to properly plant so I threw it in water for couple days that became couple weeks then there were roots that I thought were too fragile initially.... So it just dragged on....

But I learned so much and so cool to watch.

And the lights... The fig pops with some roots and leaves I moved to lights. But I had put a little kelp in that too... Think that's the big factor...This is how I learn.

Thanks for the info about Hydrogen peroxide. In wound care (I'm a nurse) we stopped using it because the free radical actually damage healthy surrounding skin so I was worried but I can see a little dilute stuff
I live where we have heavy minerals in the water and lots of chlorine but ours is tripled filtered - and softened so it does have some weak salts in it
As always thanks so much for the help. Going to pot that number 5 and be real careful with it😃
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Believe it or not, you’re fine as long as a biofilm does not develop on the water surface, which blocks out oxygen. You don’t even have to change the water if you don’t wish to once they are rooted and growing. Just keep topping it off with fresh water to keep the level up.
 
RosyPosy said:
Believe it or not, you’re fine as long as a biofilm does not develop on the water surface, which blocks out oxygen. You don’t even have to change the water if you don’t wish to once they are rooted and growing. Just keep topping it off with fresh water to keep the level up.
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I actually did see a film on top of the water so I just keep changing it. I was out of soil and got it today I'll pot them up tomorrow - the ones that have feeder roots. Thank you!
 
I have been working so much I haven't been able to keep up lately... It's you!!! I kept wondering why someone was using your avatar and I thought they really should get a different picture 😂
 
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