I want to trim back rootball/dwc...suggestions?

I was reading here the other day and Zandor mentioned cutting off the rootball (to stimulate new growth) above the water line and I may need to do it. Started grow with 4 plants in one res/tub...culled 2 after 12/12 produced males...I left the roots,
a mistake, I believe, and when I checked my water levels by lifting the netpots
I noticed the rootball rotting off. :( the plant I have flowering in that res is MY biggest plant MONGO and I hate to do something to hurt yield, but clean roots might be the way to go.
Any feedback will be appreciated. I don't believe Zandor would suggest the method if it would hurt your plants, but We didn't get to discuss the pros/cons...I think it was to re-juvenate the plant in some way...This is the beginning of week 6 12/12 and I have to do nute change tonight.; so I am in need of some good advice...QUICK :cool:

Hey latewood I want to trim them too but afraid to change anything yet since i havn't killed them yet...lol My roots look a little brown is this normal????

Brown is not normal, they should be snowy white or close to it. In my thread I was a week into flowering and Zandor said if I wanted to play with one to cut the roots back so they don't hang in the water. This was to make the stem stronger and fatter. I have a drip system, the first 4 or 5 leaves on top drooped and I have pretty much lost those leaves. They turned a little yellow with brown spots and real dry like paper. Pic's are in my thread ( how's my girls ). This however has not damaged the plant it's keeping up with the others I just trimmed must of those leaves off and the stem is getting thicker. It's should yeild a little more than normal. It seems some strains do better than others in this case. Being so late in the flower stage I can not say what effect this would have but I would think that you could trim a good bit off just leave as much in the water as possible. I would wait for Zandor or one of the other guru's to advise on this. I will update pic's tomarrow.

thanks guys..I believe their are 2 browns the bad one rootrot or burnt, but with some organic additives a browntint can be alright, I'm sure we will hear more later tonight...
OK Loc'' I'm glad you saw this...It was your thread then I remember that wording...if you want to try one...It's just that this one bigass plant and it has not budded to it,s
full potential...I would estimate 30%...oh and I didn't say it had root rot, I said the ball I left in there rotted apart, but I figured that couln't be great for the live roots in the res...anyway I will be doing changeout tonight and will take extra time to inspect the situation...maybe get some pix of what NOT to do :o

I did not say to cut the Root Ball that will shock the plant.

You can trim the roots the fall into your reservoir and clog things like sprinklers and pump motors. Just the hanging down parts of the roots.

Don't give me a heart attack like that latewood, please! lol

I also said to try it on one plant. Small steps my friend small steps.

LMAOhahahahahahah...Small steps...well actually i mis-spoke, I meant the roots that hang down in dwc that were tangled up with the dead roots of the other plants, I didn't actually mean the rootball at the bottom of the stock...anyway I didn't cut anything...(wasn't going to before I got a liitle confirmation) I looked at them when I changed out and they look as good as ever overall and this A.M. they looked great.
Thanks for replies guys.later

I dont think that cutting the roots is a good thing to do. My buckets are full of roots also, but i think that if you cut the roots, it's the same as if you cut one lung? I keep all the roots, they need them to feed themselves.
Fhydro

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Originally Posted by fhydro

I dont think that cutting the roots is a good thing to do. My buckets are full of roots also, but i think that if you cut the roots, it's the same as if you cut one lung? I keep all the roots, they need them to feed themselves.
Fhydro

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you can trim the feeder roots with out harming the plant or putting it into shock, as long as you dont harm the tap root(fat root of plant) i`m not suggesting to trim all feeder roots, just some to get it under control.
belive me, your plants will love you for it, just dont trim the feeders down to nothing, and your plants will grow quickly

Ok, i believe you but i'm surprised anyway! I won't do it i think.
Fhydro

fhydro, you do know if the roots are sitting in water/nutrients they can turn brown and die off and rot. They will give off an odor and affect the Ph and nutrient uptake of the plant. We give our roots H²O² to help them once they turn brown so they can fight off fungus and rot that is part of good Hydroponics management.

Proper root maintenance is also part of a good Hydroponic management technique.

Do what you are comfortable with dude. I just though you should know a little more.

Peace and happy growing

whats H2O2