Sudden collapse of a hydro or aero plant within hours
Hours. Every plant on the same system wilts together..
- Also called
- plant crashed overnight
- whole plant wilted in DWC
- aero plants collapsed
- pump failed plants wilted
Likely causes, most likely first
Ranked for this sign on its own. Your stage, medium and readings change the order, so run the checker for your plant.
PossiblePump, timer, air or emitter failure in a hydro, aero or drip system
Fix: Restore flow or air immediately: check power, timer, float switches, filters and nozzles. Mist exposed roots by hand or lower plants into solution while you fix it. In HPA and NFT, fit an alarm and a backup pump; roots die fast when misting or flow stops.
Recovery: Plants regain turgor within hours if roots were not dead; brown, collapsed roots mean rot risk next.
How to confirm it
- Check pumps, timers, nozzles and drippers. Watch one full cycle: the pump starts on time, every nozzle mists or every dripper delivers, NFT channels have flow end to end, air stones bubble. Clear clogged emitters and filters. In HPA, a failed pump or blocked nozzle can kill exposed roots fast, so check this first when plants on one system wilt together.
Look for
Several plants on one system flat-wilted at once; check pump, air stone, timer and reservoir level..
The full guide: Why is my cannabis drooping or wilting? The master decision tree
Guidance, not a guarantee. The checker weighs common causes against what you tell it; confirm with the tests before you treat, change one thing at a time and watch the new growth.
