How to Grow Food with Simple Hydroponics The Kratky Method From Start to Finish
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 มิ.ย. 2024
- If you've ever felt intimidated by the idea of hydroponics the Kratky Method will put your fears to bed. This system, sometimes referred to as Passive Hydroponics, uses no pumps, tubing, or expensive equipment. As a matter of fact, you can start growing veggies in everyday household items like a mason jar! This video goes into detail showing EXACTLY the items I use and shows you step-by-step how to plant your first seeds.
Here's a list of the things I use in my own grow room. Note: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. Other links may be affiliate links in which we receive a commission.
My favorite seed source (affiliate): bit.ly/3opMJD6
2" Net Pots (short): amzn.to/3gsA0uM
2" Net Pots (tall): amzn.to/32ZFwC2
Texas Tomato Food: amzn.to/34ENQYc
Rapid Rooter Plugs: amzn.to/3usqz6R
Root Riot Plugs: amzn.to/3LcKw7H
Expanded Clay Pebbles: amzn.to/3Hq1uNz
Barrina LED Bright Lights 3 foot: amzn.to/3GBZpgs
TDS Meter: amzn.to/3snjHF6
Timer: amzn.to/3ot7Zrj
Sterilite 6 qt shoe boxes: bit.ly/3s1AkY7 or bit.ly/34Tv0xd
5 Tier Shelving Unit: bit.ly/3I5yOto
0:00 Intro
1:30 Using Mason Jars to Save Money
1:55 Net Cups What are They?
2:22 Quart or Pint Jars Pros and Cons of Mason Jars
4:55 My Preferred Container
5:42 Net Cups Size Considerations
7:32 Grow Plugs
8:54 Making Holes in the Lid of Your Container
10:45 Harvesting Lettuce so it Grows Again
11:18 Kratky Root System and the Importance of the Air Gap
12:00 Using a Timer for Your Grow Lights
12:45 My Favorite Hydroponic Plant Nutrients
13:35 My Favorite Containers for Indoor Growing
14:33 The Timer I Recommend
14:51 The Best Affordable Grow Lights
15:28 Planting Demonstration Step-by-Step
16:48 TDS Total Dissolved Solids (how to measure out the nutrients)
17:59 Starting Seeds Directly in the Grow Plugs (no transplanting needed)
18:47 How I Use the Clay Pebbles
19:36 How to Grow in a Mason Jar
22:37 Watch the Different Stages of Plant and Root Growth in a Mason Jar
23:06 Closing Comments
Videos: Mason Jar Kratky Method: • Mason Jar Kratky Metho...
Music: Buckbreak by Ken Hamm
After This Life by Clarence Reed
Someone usually leaves out valuable info sometimes but you covered it all. This video goes hi on my shelf
Thank you! I really appreciate that!
@@TalesFromtheMutinySo what Nutrients do I need to add to my water for maximum growth of all my Herbs and Lettuce?? I am using 5 gallon food grade buckets
@@TalesFromtheMutinyAnd. All of my Herbs are small plants are in the small plastic containers with dirt that I bought at Lowe's. So do I use the dirt they came in?? Or do I have to remove all of the dirt from the roots and then just place them in water
Well done. Clear, calm, no theatrics nor "artistic" crap.
Thanks!! I like to keep things simple.
The continuous background music makes it hard for me to focus on what you’re saying but that’s just because I’m hearing impaired. Hard for me to sift through it. I just turn down the volume and turn on the captions. Problem solved!
Oh! I just saw where you commented about moving away from background music!! Subscribed!!
This is the first video I've watched that explained exactly how to start and non intimidating. Looking forward to starting my hydroponics journey. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much for watching and commenting! I'm so glad you found this useful. I like to try to keep things easy since that's how I learn best, too. Best of luck!!
I crocheted covers for my mason jars
😺
Great idea!
First time was you New subscriber I could listen to you all day 👏
Nicely done! Very clear and easy instructions for a beginner.
Loved your video.. I'm so excited and your an awesome teacher!! New subscriber here to support and learn. Thank you for keeping it less complicated 😊 blessings to you and your channel I'm looking forward to watching the rest of your videos 🙏💯
Aww, thank you so much!! That means a lot!
Just found your videos! They are brilliant! Thank you for your excellent instructions!
I'm so glad you found this helpful! Best of luck with your growing.
Thank you. You are wonderful at explaining things!!!
You're welcome!! And thanks for the feedback!!
I will be doing this method soon thanks for sharing do much 😊
You are a amazing teacher! Thank you so very much!
Wow, thank you!
Very good explanation I needed your help I’m interested in Hydroponic farming it’s just confusing your a great teacher!!
Well done! Over this Thanksgiving holiday, I have watched 10 or more different Kratky and other Hydroponic videos and yours was the best. It is an Easy and straightforward instructional video.
Thank you sooooooooo much for such a great informative video. I’m a newbie to gardening.
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent video.
Thank you. Explained very well that I’m going to try this!
Have fun!
A really great video ! I like how you explained everything, and thanks for going over the air needed for the roots, and then at the end, you reminded us again, great stuff ! 🙂
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for sharing your experience, & for the clear explanation, and the valuable links for products. 😊
Glad it was helpful!
Great Instruction
Sounds much simpler! Thank you
Yes, super simple...just up my alley. =)
What an awesome video, you taught me more than all my research so far! Thank you!
Thanks so much for watching and leaving a comment. I'm glad you found it useful!
Glad it was helpful!
Great content! Thank you for sharing.
Thanks so much for watching!
Well explained. Simple and clear. One of the best yet. Oh ... and it works. I have been at it for a couple of years. It is just that simple
Namaste. Jay
Great to hear!
This is awesome thanks!
You bet!
Really good, thank you.
You're so welcome!
Very informative! Thank you for sharing this information. You gave me a great idea. I'm using large Mason jars (and a few glass jars I repurposed from spaghetti sauce are great too). I paint my jars to keep the light out but the next time I'll put a narrow strip of tape on the back of the jar so that I can see the water level 🤔. But I LOVE your shoebox idea too. Thanks again for the information.
Thanks so much for watching and commenting. I love using old jars and repurposing things. I've even made net cups out of old Kuerig pods (I saved from someone's office). The shoeboxes are great for the large amount we grow for the animals. Happy growing!
Very nice bideo. You covered all the bases andy questions well. Thank you.
Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment! Best of luck!
Thank you Very Much ! Best video I have seen !!! You may want to look into passive solar greenhouses.
That means so much to me! I'll look into those greenhouses...anything to increase productivity!
The best video explaining the Kratky method. Thank you.
I'm so glad you found it helpful.
I think you explained the system so well thank you.I hope to try out your system very soon but outside as my space indoors is limited.
Thanks for the comment and best of luck setting up your system! Let me know how it goes. =)
So nice of you, thanks!
Good video and also you look good!
Truly thank you!! We live in Scotland and can be too cold and the summer have burst of warm weather so all greens rapidly bolt
Im about to try this method indoors but using my window sill which is sunny and the space is very deep ( old cottage with stone walls ) so like a mini greenhouse
❤
You're so welcome!! I have similar issues here. Too cold in winter and too hot in summer. The weather can be so unpredictable too. Snow in early June and over 100°F by the end of June.
Thank you so much! Great ideas and I love the shoe box idea!n xo
Thanks so much!!
New subscriber ❤
Thanks so much. I have jars but think I will go to shoe box!
Thank you good work
Thanks for watching!
@TalesFromtheMutiny glad I stumbled across your channel as I have several Urban Farm Nutrient formulas on hand and was having hesitation trying them in Kratky do to the Bat Guano, worm casting, etc. Have you ever ran into any problems with bacterial problems or root rot using the Texas Tomato formula?
I am SO sorry it took me so long to see your question (note to self: must get better at checking). I am still using the Texas Tomato Food and getting great results. I can't say I've noticed any downside. The only time I remember having root issues is when I've let too much light in the reservoir (by not covering or blacking out the mason jars or shoe boxes).
This was really great explanation. The detail, the way you explained, examples, visuals! Loved it! I am just thinking about starting, thought mason jars was the way. I like your shoe box idea. Can I do it? From your video, i am thinking, yes! I can! Thank you!
Hi, thanks for watching and I hope you've been able to get things going. Let me know how it's going!
thanks for your video, instead of paint i use black adhesive kitchenfoil, it is less expensive than paint, alex
You're welcome! Thanks for another idea!
So good
Thanks!!
Have you grown spinach and if so what did you do?
Hi, thanks for the video. Do you have more info on that chart system you used to check levels? Also is there a significant increase in electric bill from using grow lights?
There's definitely an increase in the power bill for us and that should be taken into consideration. Although many people grow their own food for convenience and health benefits some also hope to save money. There's a method to calculate how much your lights (and all your appliances) cost to run but this calculator in the link makes it super easy. In my case, the super bright lights I run are 16W. I run them on a timer for 14 hours a day using 224W. Our peak rate is about 15 cents per kWh which equals about 3 cents per day. (16w x 14= 224; 224 x 0.15= 0.33; 0.33/1000 = 0.03). 3 cents a day isn't a lot, but if you run 10 lights then it's 30 cents per day or $9 per month. Just something to keep in mind and one reason a timer really helps so you don't forget to turn the lights off.
Our electric company has off-peak rates which run from 10pm to noon the following day. The rate is 4 cents per kWh instead of 15 cents. I run my lights during that time because it's just under 1 cent per day (instead of 3 cents) or about 27 cents per month. So running 10 lights would only cost about $2.70 per month.
Here's the website if you'd rather have it do the math for you.
lamphq.com/power-consumption-calculator/
@@TalesFromtheMutiny thank you! As for the levels, I meant the nutrient levels. There was a chart you were looking at for different plants
So much great info. Truly appreciate your sharing what you know! One question about growing in the Sterlite Shoe Boxes....do you have any concerns about the plastics being taken up by the roots? The glass seems safest to me even if it is a little fussier...right?
I definitely go back and forth about using plastic. These plastic shoe boxes are food-grade and the growth cycle is pretty short so I consider that. I'd say they spend less time in these containers than most seedlings do in seed trays. But there is certainly nothing wrong with sticking with mason jars. I'm always hopeful more plastic free solutions will become available and affordable. 💕
Thanks so much for the reply! I agree that the plants are in there for a relatively short period of time. Had no idea those were food grade plastic either, I may try a shoebox or two and some mason jars both!
Loved your video. I’m a nee fan. I’m curious about using the grow light, I’ve heard that lettuce doesn’t like it too hot and I’m unsure of how to judge the light
Thanks so much for your comment. The lights I use are LED and have little heat output but if it seems to be getting warm in the room I use a small fan. I also run my lights from 10pm till noon the next day (instead of the heat of the day). This also reduces my electric bill as the rates in my area are less than half what they charge during the day.
@@TalesFromtheMutiny that’s terrific information, thank you so much, will keep watching!!
I just started doing this. It’s truly amazing. I’m using Master Blend Tomato Formula for nutrients. It’s working great and really cheap. A pound of it makes nearly two hundred gallons. The new l.e.d. lights are really good. Anyone with a roof over their head and electricity can have a garden, even if they only have two or three square feet. I’m turning my whole house into a garden. The l.e.d lights only use as much electricity an incandescent 100 watt light bulb. It’s amazing.
Hey there! Master Blend seems to be a very popular brand of nutrients, and I may try it eventually. The jug of Texas Tomato Food I originally purchased is still going strong. It makes 256 gallons so I still have quite a bit to go. I've turned an extra room in my house (kind of like an office/yoga workout space into a mainly growing space and have about 12 feet of shelving from floor to ceiling dedicated to Kratky and microgreens. I hope more people realize it doesn't have to take much to grow a little food at home.
@@TalesFromtheMutiny
Every “old folks home” in the country should be set up for this. It’s possible to garden effectively indoors even if you can’t dig or are in a wheelchair. Eating what you’ve grown is extremely satisfying.
I’m going to look into Texas Tomato Formula.
During the winter, I had a whole room dedicated to gardening using 400 watt high pressure sodium lights with a ballast. It gets cold here and I was using auxiliary electric heaters. The lights worked better than the heater and they grew food. The expense was the same. It was a jungle in there. Watching a raging snow storm through frosted windows ,while sitting in a jungle ,in shorts wearing sunglasses, is a glorious experience.
Unfortunately ,a large red oak decided to fall one night and it fell right through that room . It cut that addition to my house right off like a cheese slicer, destroying everything. I’m still working at getting the main trunk out without destroying the main part of the house.
This kratky and l.e.d technique has been a real blessing. I have tomatoes growing in my bedroom. One plant survived and I can keep it going another ten years by taking cuttings . I initially planted it in 2012 and have propagated it by taking cuttings ever since.
Which lights do you use? Got a link?
What’s the name of these new LED lights .. ? I didn’t even think about turning light on at night instead of the day to save light and then use the sun during the day ……..
SUGGESTION: lighting video showing type, how many, distance from plants at every stage. thanks for the video done here already (shoe box is a great idea)!
My seeds sprout nicely and in about a week get leggy. I tired several times placing them closer, sometime farther from the lights with no luck. I see some peoples have a root coming out of the bottom of rock wool by the time there is a second set of leaves (sometimes at the first set). Mine are 2 weeks growing with second set of leaves and still no root coming out yet. Can anyone help with suggestions? Thanks
I can do a video. What are you growing? I can definitely say that most of the greens I grow start off looking leggy even with the lights just an inch above the container. But they fill in by about the third week and look like the lettuce growing outside. Let me know what you're growing.
Hi, thank you for sharing! Is it for any plants? No need to sow seeds and transplant it? Will there be a pest issues with this method?
Hi! Thanks for the questions. I have started most of my seedlings for my outdoor garden using this method. Those were transplanted outside with fantastic results. I also grew a cherry tomato plant, which produced tomatoes, indoors using this method. And, I know several people who have successfully grown pepper year-round this way. Herbs also do well.
The thing to remember about growing full-size plants indoors using the Kratky Method is that they will still require the same amount of space that they would if grown outside. They will also have increased needs for nutrients and water. My one cherry tomato plant was grown in a gallon-sized jar which needed water and nutrients added almost weekly.
You will also likely need full-spectrum lights to help with blooming. I hand-pollinated my tomato plant because there aren't any bees or pollinators in my house. =) So, it can be done but it will require extra work.
I had very few pest issues. The only pest I have had to deal with were thrips which were accidentally brought into my house after bringing in some contaminated soil on accident.
@@TalesFromtheMutiny Thank you so much for this detailed response! Does pepper need hand-pollination? What other fruit bearing plants need less work? Do you have suggestion for full-spectrum lights?
@@livingoverseas5122 I believe most peppers are self-fertile and don't require any assistance. I would definitely check the varieties you are interested in growing and see if they are self-fertilizing. That's the key term to look for. Tomatoes are notoriously hungry and thirsty plants but peppers are easier to be sure.
I use these lights and have zero complaints. They come in different lengths to fit your area or shelves.
amzn.to/3twrL7L
@@TalesFromtheMutiny Great! I learned that tomato needs more work too, so I’ll look into pepper. Thank you for your help and grow light link.
Hi, do you have a grow light on each shelf on the side meaning you have 2 lights on each shelf? Can you please show that set up and explain more about the placement of the lights, the size of the metal rack, height and space in between the lettuce and light? Your videos are excellent !! Thank you very much...Do you have a website?
Hi! Thanks so much for asking about my setup! I'll try to get a video up within the week showing these details and answering your questions. I do have 2 lights per shelf. I do have a website called MutinyRanch.com. I'm in the process of adding posts related to each video so I can include more specific details.
@@TalesFromtheMutiny Thank you.
For basil n mint, can i keep adding water to keep them longer? How close to the plant so i don't kill the plant?
Yes, you can keep adding water and maybe a touch of nutrients too. You should be able to identify the air roots as they are generally whiter in color and appear fuzzy. Error on the side of caution and fill no more than half way.
Question: How long would it take to get a full length head of romaine like the one pictured at 22m50s? Thanks.
About 7 weeks.
Thanks for the good video. I plan to use black IKEA EKLATERA jars with rapid rooter plugs and hydroton and prefer not to start them in covered seeding trays. From what I understand from your video you don’t cover them for germination. Is that correct?
Hi, thanks for question. Aside from the clay pebbles I don't cover them at all.
@@TalesFromtheMutiny Thanks -- that's good to hear. I don't have any room by my grow lights for seeding trays and that means I can do all the preparation work at one time and put them under the lights. I've read through a lot and watched a lot of videos and your video is the only that I could find that shows doing Kratky like this. The simpler the better!
3 “ net baskets work fine in wide mouth mason jars
Yes, they sure do. I prefer to save my wide mouth jars for canning but they are totally acceptable for the kratky method.
Hi Lynn, could you tell me how many shoeboxes can be painted with one 12 oz can of krylon? Thank you..
I wish I could remember but it was so long ago. My guess is 10 (since that's what I started with) but it will depend on how good you are at applying it as well as wind and weather. I do know I was able to get the best coverage with a quality spray paint (like Krylon, as you mentioned) versus a discount brand.
Have you tried fruiting vegetables like tomatoes and aquash?
I did grow a cherry tomato inside but it required a lot of extra care. Those veggies get rather large and it's hard to find a container large enough to hold all the water it needs. I used a gallon and a half container for the tomato plant and still ended up having to add water almost daily once it was full size.
They also need space to spread, and extra nutrients, and some need to be pollinated by hand (if growing indoors without pollinators).
There are several people who have videos of outdoor Kratky systems growing tomatoes and squash. I don't have enough room indoors.
Hi miss kratky I think what you are doing is GREAT 👍 I GROW FOOD TOO AND I KEEP FISH I HAVE BEEN TRYING SOME NEW THINGS LIKE GROWING UNDER WATER IN MY FISH TANK AND I STARTED WITH BAMBOO AND IT GROWS UNDER WATER 👍 SO NOW I KNOW THAT BAMBOO CAN GROW UNDER WATER I WILL TRY OTHER FOODS 👍 PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK 🤔
I think that's fantastic! I would love to add fish outside but we have long cold winters. I'm afraid if I have small fish indoors it will create more work for me. But I really love the idea!
@@TalesFromtheMutiny 👍
Where can I get the chart that you show at 17:45?
You can find one here along with some great information...
ponicslife.com/hydroponic-charts-for-fruits-and-vegetables-ph-tds-ec-cf-ppm/
Are you changing the whole water and fertilizer every time or just keep addlng water ?
Kratky is meant to be a (mostly) hands-off approach. Potentially, if you use a decent size reservoir to start with you will never need to add water or nutrients. That said, I have used small, pint-sized mason jars to grow lettuce; they can't hold enough water for the plant's entire life cycle. I will add a bit of water, but you CANNOT fill them all the way up or you will drown the plant. Those air roots cannot go underwater. So, if your plants are still going strong but need water just add an inch or two. Once the lettuce seems "done" or bolts I removed the entire plant and start over with fresh water and nutrients and new seeds
💜💜💜
does this work for tomatoes? I want to grow those little Cherubs that are so expensive at the store
It is possible to grow tomatoes this way but know that they take much longer to reach maturity...like several months. Tomatoes are water and nutrient hungry so it would be nearly impossible to fill a reservoir once and not have to fill it again. I've grown one tomato plant to maturity (I got tomatoes) but was having to fill up the reservoir about every other day. I grew mine with a one-gallon reservoir.
The plant will also get just as large indoors as it would outdoors. So it needs a lot of space.
So yes, it's possible but it's a bit trickier.
Did you paint those shoes boxes? I could not find any solid color shoe boxes
Ok yes you did !
Yes, I haven't been able to find solid containers at an affordable price. I believe rubber maid makes some but they will cost quite a bit more
It would be easier to understand without the background music. Excellent information.
Thank you for the feedback. I'm definitely moving away from background music. Thanks for taking the time to let me know. ❤️
It looks like good greens. But does it look's like it doesn't have the girthy stocks that romaine hearts have for the crunch. How many generations can you do this ?
I start to harvest outer leaves at about 4-6 weeks so they are more like baby greens. You won't typically get a full, compact head like Romaine hearts. However, if you add a fan to help strengthen the plants (since growing indoors doesn't generally stress the plant like outside) you can encourage the lettuce the get thicker. If just harvesting the outer leaves I can gather them for several weeks before the plant bolts. Obviously, if I harvest the entire head the plant is done.
@@TalesFromtheMutiny ok.. I think I'll do it for seed's. Ty for reply and shearing :)
Where did you get the shoeboxes that are not transparent? Your two links only show transparent boxes.
Hi, I painted them with matte black spray paint. Sorry if I didn't explain that well in the video.
Great idea to use net cups that fit the mason jars. I was wondering if a quart mason jar holds enough nutrient solution to take a head of lettuce to harvest? I have some of those brown glass mason jars, do you think they would prevent algae? Shoe box is great but maybe take too much space when lettuce is small. Unless you need the big reservoir.
Question: shouldn’t the container be food grade ?
These are food grade. 😊
Do you need grow lights if you put strawberry plants in front of big window
As long as they get plenty of sunlight it's worth a try.
Strawberry plants, as with fruits, with hydroponics is more complicated; they need an air pumping system to really work;
can u put it outside in the heat
I don't use these outside but lots of people have built suitable areas to grow outside. Generally, they use shade cover so the hydroponic containers don't get too hot. There's very little water in this size container so, depending on your climate you might have a lot of evaporation (from heat, wind, and dry air). If it rains a lot then any extra water that enters the containers would dilute the nutrients. There's a lot more hands on management trying to grow hydroponically outside.
I don't understand the step with the TDS tester, which usually tells you how much dissolved solids are in your water, including contaminants. Somehow you use that information to determine how much of the liquid nutrient to add. But when you fill the jar, you seem to be just guessing how much nutrient to add. How do you even know how much water to use in a system that requires you to never add water?
Sorry for the confusion. I grew various greens and herbs in mason jars successfully for 3 years without using a TDS tester. While I wanted to show that you CAN use a tester for those who like precise measurements I also wanted to let viewers know that it's not necessary to buy one, especially if funds are tight. In the case of lettuce and most greens, you'll be harvesting earlier than, say, tomatoes...so they have very low nutrient requirements. That said, they also use less water than something like tomatoes. I might have mentioned in the video that although it is possible to grow lettuce in a pint-size jar you'll probably need to add water to fulfill the plant's lifecycle. A quart-size jar is better. I've since moved to using 7qt plastic shoe boxes which holds 3 lettuce plants. I do not have to refill them...thus they are a better option for true Kratky. I'll link that video below.
th-cam.com/video/Qw40p4iDEWM/w-d-xo.html
how to gauge how much nutrients where do u get chart
There are a few available online. Here's one. I mainly grow fast and easy greens like lettuce and in this size shoe box use about 2:TBS of Texas Tomato Food. But if you have a meter then check out this chart.
igworks.com/blogs/hydroponic-tips/nutrient-and-ph-chart-for-growing-fruits-and-vegetables-with-hydroponics
igworks.com/blogs/hydroponic-tips/nutrient-and-ph-chart-for-growing-fruits-and-vegetables-with-hydroponics
What liquid nutrients do you use?
I use Texas Tomato Food.
Thank you
New subscriber. Question about the Barrina lights - they aren't advertised for growing, so have you taken any measurements for red and blue spectrum? I'm just amazed because grow lights cost a LOT more $$$$ than these. Thank you. Mark in Colorado Springs.
Hi Mark! Thanks so much for subscribing and commenting. I'm in Cortez, Colorado! Small world. Because I'm growing mostly greens like lettuce, kale, bok chop, and microgreens, I haven't bothered with taking those measurements. I'm not growing any of these to flower. I've found greens and seedlings tend to do quite well with these lights. I did do an unscientific experiment between the barrina super brights and barrina full spectrum, which you can see here. I imagine if you were growing a more sensitive crop to flower, like MJ, then it might be worth it to check the measurements for blue and red spectrum. I messaged the company to see if they have any additional info so I'll let you know when I hear from them.
th-cam.com/video/es9rU5Kc89A/w-d-xo.html
Couldn't you put the bottles inside of a black plastic box?
Yes, you definitely can if your boxes are tall enough. I just found it much simpler to use the boxes by themselves. The jars still didn't hold enough water to make it truly hands off.
The music is really distracting and louder than your voice.
Thanks for the feedback. I'll work on my audio.