Problems with indoor growing? Our solutions!

Indoor growing offers the opportunity to cultivate plants under controlled conditions and achieve abundant harvests. But even experienced growers sometimes face challenges. Pests, deficiency symptoms, environmental stress… many factors can affect plant growth. In this article, we take a closer look at the most common problems in indoor growing and provide you with practical solutions and prevention tips to keep your plants healthy and productive.

1. pests: uninvited guests in the grow room

Pests are one of the biggest threats to indoor gardeners. They can weaken plant growth, transmit diseases and, in the worst case, destroy the entire harvest.

Common pests:

• Spider mites: Tiny arachnids that suck on the leaves and form fine webs.
• Fungus gnats: Small, black gnats whose larvae damage the roots of the plants.
• Aphids: Sucking insects that feed on plant sap and can transmit diseases.
• Thrips: Small, slender insects with fringed wings that suck on leaves and flowers.
• Whiteflies: Small, white flies that suck on the leaves and secrete sticky honeydew.

Solutions:

• Biological control: Use beneficial insects such as predatory mites, ladybugs or parasitic wasps.
• Plant strengthening agents: apply neem oil, soft soap solution or garlic decoction.
• Mechanical control: Collect pests, rinse or set up sticky traps.
• Chemical control: Use insecticides in an emergency (only use approved products!).

Prevention:

• Hygiene: Keep the grow room clean, remove dead plant parts.
• Quarantine: Isolate new plants to prevent pest infestation.
• Healthy plants: Create optimal growing conditions to make the plants more resistant.
• Regular inspection: Check plants regularly for pests.

2. nutrient deficiencies: when plants are starving

Plants need a balanced supply of nutrients in order to grow healthily and produce abundant harvests. A lack of certain nutrients can lead to growth disorders and deficiency symptoms.

Frequent deficiency symptoms:

• Nitrogen deficiency: yellow leaves, reduced growth.
• Phosphorus deficiency: Dark green or purple leaves, delayed growth.
• Potassium deficiency: burnt leaf edges, weak stems.
• Magnesium deficiency: Yellow spots between the leaf veins.
• Iron deficiency: Yellow leaves with green veins.

Solutions:

• Nutrient analysis: Analyze the nutrient content of the substrate or nutrient solution.
• Adjust fertilization: Correct the deficiency with a suitable fertilizer.
• Correct the pH value: Keep the pH value of the substrate or nutrient solution in the optimum range (between 5.5 and 6.5).

Prevention:

• High-quality substrate: Use a substrate with sufficient nutrients.
• Balanced fertilization: Use a fertilizer that contains all the important nutrients.
• Regular checks: Check the plants for signs of deficiency.

3. environmental stress: when the conditions are not right

Plants react sensitively to changes in their environment. Environmental stress can impair growth and make plants more susceptible to diseases and pests.

Common stress factors:

• Temperature fluctuations: Temperatures that are too high or too low.
• Light stress: Too much or too little light.
• Water stress: overwatering or drought.
• Humidity: Humidity too high or too low.
• Root problems: Root rot, lack of oxygen.

Solutions:

• Create optimal conditions: Regulate temperature, light, water and humidity.
• Improve ventilation: Ensure a sufficient supply of fresh air.
• Protect the roots: Avoid waterlogging, ensure oxygen supply.

Prevention:

• Stable climate: keep temperature and humidity constant.
• Sufficient light: Choose the right lighting for the plant species.
• Correct watering: Water the plants as required.
• Healthy root growth: Use a suitable substrate, avoid waterlogging.

4. diseases: When the plants fall ill

Plants can also fall ill with various diseases in indoor growing. Fungi, bacteria and viruses can impair plant growth and, in the worst case, lead to the death of the plants.

Common diseases:

• Powdery mildew: White coating on the leaves.
• Gray mold: Gray mold coating on leaves and flowers.
• Root rot: rotting roots, wilting plants.
• Leaf spot disease: Brown or black spots on the leaves.

Solutions:

• Remove affected parts of the plant: Cut off diseased leaves or shoots.
• Use fungicides or bactericides: In case of heavy infestation, use chemical agents (only approved preparations!).
• Biological control: Use beneficial insects or microorganisms.

Prevention:

• Hygiene: Keep the grow room clean, remove dead plant parts.
• Optimal growing conditions: Strengthen the plants to make them more resistant to diseases.
• Regulate humidity: Avoid excessive humidity.
• Choose resistant varieties: Grow plants that are less susceptible to diseases.

5. other problems

In addition to the problems mentioned above, other challenges can also arise in indoor growing:

• Yellowed leaves: May indicate a lack of nutrients, overwatering or pest infestation.
• Wilted leaves: Can be caused by underwatering, root rot or excessively high temperatures.
• Burnt leaf tips: May indicate excess nutrients, too intense lighting or too low humidity.
• Slow growth: Can be caused by a lack of light, too low temperatures or a lack of nutrients.
• Malformations: Can be caused by genetic defects, environmental stress or pest infestation.

Solutions:

• Root cause analysis: Analyze the symptoms in detail and determine the cause of the problem.
• Targeted measures: Apply the appropriate solutions and prevention tips from this article.
• Gain experience: Learning to recognize and rectify problems at an early stage through observation and documentation.

Conclusion

Indoor growing is an exciting challenge that requires a lot of knowledge and experience. But even with the best preparation, problems can occur. It is important to recognize the symptoms early on and take the right measures. With the solutions and prevention tips in this article, you will be well equipped to overcome the most common problems in indoor growing and keep your plants healthy and productive.