Roots & watering
Roots look brown
Root colour is a clue, not a diagnosis. Compare texture and plant performance with a healthy plant before assuming every tan root is rotten.
Check with RhizaFind your next step →Roots & watering · WITH DIGBY
Why does my cocopeat stay 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.
Teral grower guidance · Updated 27 October 2026
DigbyYour roots & watering guideTHE COCOPEAT CONNECTION
Why the root zone matters
Cocopeat holds water within its pore spaces. Particle grade, container height, root development and irrigation all influence how quickly those spaces regain air.
01 / OBSERVE
Three checks before you change anything
- Check several bags or pots, including a healthy plant, at the same time relative to irrigation. Compare moisture at root depth and container weight.
- Look for blocked drainage openings, low spots, pooled drainage or bags sitting in water.
- Compare irrigation timing with weather and crop size. A schedule suited to a mature crop may keep young plants too wet.
02 / NARROW IT DOWN
What do you find at root depth?
Choose the closest observation for a suggested next check.
Wet, with standing drainage
Restore a clear drainage route first. Check the outlet and supporting surface, then observe drainage during the next irrigation.
Wet, but outlets are clear
Review irrigation frequency and duration against crop demand with your grower adviser. Avoid letting the whole root ball dry out as a quick fix.
Moist, with healthy roots
Record moisture and plant response before changing anything. A moist medium alone is not evidence of root disease.
03 / TAKE THE NEXT STEP
Leave with something useful
Record irrigation times, drainage behaviour and a root photo from an affected and a healthy plant.
Keep in mind
Adding a gravel layer or pouring peroxide into the bag does not correct the underlying irrigation problem.
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.
Further technical reading
CONNECTED QUESTIONS
