Mold

• Mold can appear both on plants grown by hydroponics and within the hydroponics system itself. The standing water of a hydroponics system combined with plant matter falling into the system create a moist environment full of organic material on which mold can feed.
  
  

Issues

• Mold inside a hydroponics system can inhibit water flow. It can also be difficult to clean after the current crop of plants is finished, putting future plants at risk for infection. Hydroponic plants infested with mold can experience leaf drop, stunted growth, and diminished crop yields.
  
  

Solutions

• Using exhaust fans for good ventilation reduces moisture in the air. Keeping the temperature cool creates a less hospitable environment for mold growth. Preventative fungicides can be applied to plant leaves to prevent mold infection. Cleaning out and disinfecting the hydroponics system between crops is expensive, but it eliminates the risk of contaminating new plants with mold.