Hydrolife Magazine June/July 2017 (USA Edition)

grow
STRENGTHENING YOUR PLANT’S
R O
O
T S
BY LEE G. LYZIT
The root system of a plant is where essential
nutrients are absorbed and distributed to
the rest of the plant. As a plant grows and
develops, so does the root mass. Indoor
horticulturists who focus their energy on
promoting and maintaining a healthy root
system are more likely to have less problems
and larger yields each garden cycle.
Indoor growers constantly strive to find techniques and
products that will help increase their garden’s yields.
Common sense will tell you that a plant with a strong and
healthy root structure is more likely to have strong and
healthy stems, leaves, and flowers. Simply put, healthy roots
will equate to more bountiful harvests. Unfortunately, indoor
growers do not always give a plant’s root system the attention
it deserves. It is like the old saying, “out of sight, out of mind.”
Because the roots are generally hidden from a horticulturist’s
view, they can often be forgotten. Growers who focus some
of their energy on making the plant’s root system thrive will
usually have better yields and less problems overall. There are
a few different ways for an indoor grower to help stimulate root
growth and maintain a healthy root mass.
OXYGEN
Many growers don’t think about the important fact that
plants need oxygen to thrive and survive. Most of us think
of plants as living organisms that produce oxygen during
photosynthesis (a process that requires CO 2) and not
as organisms that also need oxygen to grow. Like other
organisms, plants need oxygen to perform cellular respiration.
Roots grow like other parts of the plant, but since they are
under soil or contained in a hydroponic system, they are not
exposed to light and cannot photosynthesize. Instead, they
gain energy for growth by cellular respiration, which requires
oxygen and releases CO 2. This is why a plant’s root mass
must be exposed to some form of oxygen. For soil growers, the
soil’s texture will determine the amount of open spaces for air
(oxygen). In hydroponic systems, such as deep water culture
where the plant’s roots are submersed in water, the roots will
rely on dissolved oxygen found in the nutrient solution. This
dissolved oxygen will need to be replenished as the plant
uses it. In both soil and hydroponic systems, if there is not
a sufficient supply of oxygen, the roots will not be able to
survive and will die off, eventually killing the entire plant.
26 grow. heal. learn. enjoy.
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