Troubleshooting Guide

Symptoms

• White fuzz near the roots a few days after sowing. Root hairs are fine, even and cling to the root; mold looks like cobwebs spreading over seeds and soil.

Common Causes

• Root hairs are a healthy sign that roots are searching for moisture. Mold comes from too much water, poor airflow, or dense seeding.

Solutions

• Mist the fuzz lightly: root hairs collapse and disappear, mold stays. If it is mold, improve airflow and remove affected patches.

Prevention

• Check fuzz only on the roots, not on seeds or soil. Keep airflow steady and avoid overwatering after blackout.

Recipe adjustment

No change is needed for root hairs. For mold, reduce seed density and shorten blackout.

Symptoms

• Soft seeds, foul smell, poor sprouting, or slimy seed layer.

Common Causes

• Over-soaking, standing water, low airflow, or poor seed quality.

Solutions

• Discard badly affected trays, sanitize equipment, and restart with adjusted soak and watering.

Prevention

• Drain soaked seeds thoroughly and avoid waterlogged substrate.

Recipe adjustment

Reduce soak duration, reduce seed density, and change watering method.

Symptoms

• Sour, musty, or rotten odor from the tray, often with slimy seed or stagnant water.

Common Causes

• Seed rot, standing water, poor airflow, contaminated equipment, or excessive soaking.

Solutions

• Isolate the tray, remove standing water, improve airflow, and discard unsafe or heavily affected growth.

Prevention

• Drain soaked seed well, sanitize trays, bottom water carefully, and inspect dense crops every day.

Recipe adjustment

Shorten soak duration, reduce seed density, and add airflow and odor checks after blackout.

Symptoms

• Patchy tray height, bare areas, or one side developing faster than the other.

Common Causes

• Uneven seed distribution, inconsistent pressure, tilted trays, irregular moisture, or uneven light.

Solutions

• Level the tray, redistribute light and airflow, correct dry zones, and rotate trays when needed.

Prevention

• Spread seed uniformly, level substrate, apply even germination pressure, and rotate rack positions.

Recipe adjustment

Record tray position, refine seed spreading, and add moisture checks for edge and center zones.

Symptoms

• Seed hulls remain attached to cotyledons, limiting opening and lowering visual quality.

Common Causes

• Low humidity during germination, insufficient contact or pressure, or harvesting too early.

Solutions

• Mist lightly before hull removal, brush gently, and allow more growth time when food safety permits.

Prevention

• Maintain even germination moisture and use appropriate tray pressure for hull-heavy crops.

Recipe adjustment

Adjust germination pressure, moisture checks, and harvest timing for the affected crop.

Symptoms

• Waterlogged substrate, soft stems, algae, slow growth, odor, or increased mold risk.

Common Causes

• Watering too often, poor drainage, standing water, low evaporation, or excessive misting.

Solutions

• Drain excess water, pause watering until moisture normalizes, and improve airflow and drainage.

Prevention

• Check substrate before watering, measure routine volumes, and avoid leaving trays in water.

Recipe adjustment

Reduce watering frequency or volume and prefer bottom watering after germination.

Symptoms

• Dry substrate, wilting, uneven germination, or stunted growth.

Common Causes

• Missed watering, low humidity, hot grow area, or shallow substrate.

Solutions

• Rehydrate carefully, adjust schedule, and check moisture more often.

Prevention

• Use task reminders and location-specific watering notes.

Recipe adjustment

Add moisture-check tasks and increase watering frequency.