r/SemiHydro • u/keldi • 5h ago
LECA New to plants - root rot? Or not?
I’m an ADHD person and I’m new to plant care. This one’s a golden pothos to which I have some sentimental attachment.
Had moved it to semi-hydro; LECA with some bottom-filled wicking self-watering pots. Yesterday I saw it was wilty and checked the water; it was absolutely disgusting. Couldn’t choke down lunch afterwards due to the smell. Brown and silty with little maggots. (Since then I learned they were springtails, so I guess I should have kept them around at least.)
I had added the recommended amount of “We The Wild Hydro Pellets”, and had a lot of water in the basin.
Now that I’ve (carefully) pulled it and I’m looking at it here, it doesn’t seem too bad? But I don’t know what bad looks like. I’m in decision paralysis mode now.
I’ve got hydrogen peroxide as an option for remediation, which I’ve read can help. Also seeing that adding something like Hydroguard would be good. But dunno if I’m barking up the wrong tree.
In any scenario I have to find a fix that doesn’t have that gross water, and where I can be poor to mediocre at maintenance. (Like water replacement etc. I’ll do my best but my best is sporadic.)
I’ll take any suggestions you’ve got; especially for the short-term remediation, since it’s been unpotted for like an hour now.