Roots & watering
Cocopeat stays too wet
Start below the surface. A damp top alone does not tell you how much air and water the roots have. Look at drainage and irrigation together before changing the medium.
Check with DigbyFind your next step →Roots & watering · WITH RHIZA
Brown roots in cocopeat: staining or damage?
Root colour is a clue, not a diagnosis. Compare texture and plant performance with a healthy plant before assuming every tan root is rotten.
Teral grower guidance · Updated 27 October 2026
RhizaYour roots & watering guideTHE COCOPEAT CONNECTION
Why the root zone matters
Coir can stain roots. Root damage can also occur alongside poor aeration, salt stress or disease, so the growing medium and the plant need to be assessed together.
01 / OBSERVE
Three checks before you change anything
- Gently inspect a representative root sample. Note whether roots are firm or soft and deteriorating.
- Look for loss of new root growth, wilting, unusual odour or rapid spread across plants.
- Check drainage, root-zone moisture and recent EC trends. Photograph affected and healthy roots side by side.
02 / NARROW IT DOWN
Which description fits best?
Choose the closest observation for a suggested next check.
Tan but firm; plant growing normally
Monitor and compare new roots. Colour alone is insufficient reason for treatment.
Soft or slimy; plant wilting
Arrange a prompt crop-adviser or diagnostic-lab assessment. Check drainage immediately and avoid spreading contaminated water or tools.
Unsure; symptoms are spreading
Record the spread pattern and send root and whole-plant photos to your adviser. Follow the lab’s sample instructions if disease testing is needed.
03 / TAKE THE NEXT STEP
Leave with something useful
Send root texture observations, photos and irrigation records for assessment if deterioration is present.
Keep in mind
A peroxide quick fix can distract from the cause. Confirm the problem before choosing a treatment.
Discuss this with Teral →Watch the related Growlab lessons
The written checks above stand on their own. These short lessons add context.
Lesson links selected from Growlab’s supplied transcript and description review.
CONNECTED QUESTIONS
