Plant Doctor

Diagnose and fix common hydroponic plant problems. No guesswork.

How It Works

Answer a few questions about what you are seeing and we will help you identify the problem and fix it. Click an option to move forward, or click any step in the trail above to go back.

Step 1
Moderate

Iron Deficiency

Symptoms

New growth and upper leaves turn pale yellow or white while veins may stay slightly greener. Severely affected leaves can become almost completely white. Older leaves usually remain green. Note: manganese and zinc deficiencies can look similar. If correcting pH and adding iron does not help, test for or supplement these trace elements as well.

Cause

Most commonly caused by pH being too high (above 6.5), which locks out iron even if it is present in the solution. Can also occur if the nutrient solution is genuinely low in iron.

How to Fix
  1. Lower pH to the 5.5-6.0 range. This is the most common fix since high pH locks out iron
  2. Add a chelated iron supplement (Fe-EDTA or Fe-DTPA) following the label rate
  3. Replace the nutrient solution with a fresh batch at the correct concentration
  4. If using well water or hard water, the high calcium can interfere with iron uptake
Prevention

Keep pH consistently in the 5.5-6.0 range. Test pH daily if possible. Use chelated iron supplements in hard water areas.

Open the Nutrient Calculator to get the right mixing amounts for your crop
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Common Problems

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Prevention Tips

  • Check pH every 1-2 days. Keep it between 5.5 and 6.5.
  • Change nutrient solution completely every 1-2 weeks.
  • Keep nutrient solution temperature between 65-72F (18-22C).
  • Use adequate aeration. Size your air pump to at least 1 watt per gallon.
  • Maintain good airflow around plants with fans.
  • Clean and sanitize your system between crops.
  • Inspect plants daily for early signs of problems.
  • Top off with plain, pH-adjusted water between solution changes.

Nutrient Calculator

Get exact nutrient mixing amounts for your crop, growth stage, and brand.

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Planting Calendar

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