I was able to grow 3 Thai basil plants basically for free! Ordered some take out pho Used the soup containers as the reservoir and added a second container on top. There’s about a 2” air gap Drilled holes in the one on top Covered the bottom one with aluminum foil Shaved off some of the stem and stuck it in some rock wool Bought plant food concentrate and use an old OJ bottle Fill up the reservoir every 5 days They’ve been growing strong for 6mo

We have used the Kratky method to grow vegetables through 2 seasons and the yield is amazing compared with soil grown seedlings grown at the same time.

Epic Gardening is the Khan Academy of the gardening world. Your channel is amazing Kevin, well done!

I've eliminated algae problems by taping insulation around the buckets which also keeps the water cooler. And I don't let the sun in so it stays dark. I've actually just tested this & found those that had those parameters had none. The others that didn't had bad algae problems. I also drilled a half inch hole in the sides of the buckets at the top level the water should be at so the plants don't drown & get air then too. So if it rains, it never fills the bucket up above that hole. And I just turn the bucket away from the sun. My plants were healthier from this. Hope this helps?

I've been doing this for 4 years now with Kratky in my small area I have to garden in. I use 3 and 3 1/2 gallon buckets (from Cat Litter and also from a BBQ joint that had them from their BBQ sauce.) I grow both Green and Yellow beans, plus cherry tomatoes (yummiest are Sun Golds)in them. I get HUGE production, add water and nuturients right up to the netcups at the beginning and rarely have to tend them. Mid way, I'll check for nutrient ppms, and water levels, and add if necessary. Talk about LOW maintenance! I've converted my raised beds into 10 gallon units (ones used for cement mixing at HD), and growing strawberries in those. They are prolific too and very yummy! Being perennials, I only add nutrient and water as needed, and I'm getting them year round, here in So Cal. (Ventura). All started when I saw your post a long time ago, and checked it out. Thanks!

The best gardening videos on the web.

I have had such great results using the Kratky method...Great Video!!!!!!

I have been growing plants by this method since early -80! Kratky is just a new name to this old method named passivehydro.

Thank you for the Kratky basics. I've subscribed and would lime to kniw more. Thanks!

finally someone who actually explains the idea!

In my experiences with the kratky method the only time I was able to only fill it once for the life of the plant is with lettuce and greens, that is if you have a minimum of 1 gallon of nutrient solution per plant, and that was with an inside grow, I only have experience with using masterblend fertilizer. All other plants, like tomatoes and cucumbers will need much more than even a 5 gallon reservoir during the life of the plant with out adding more. You would need to grow plants like those in a 32 gallon trash can for each plant to be able to not have to add water or nutrient for a good amount of time, especially with a plant that is outside, a good sized tomato plant can drink 1/2 gallon or more water per day on a hot sunny day. Pepper plants can be done in smaller containers inside at least due to they are a little less thirsty than tomatoes, I kratky them in 1/2 gallon protein containers inside, have to add nutrient every few days. After I add to them 3 times I change out the solution with fresh due to it concentrates over time and will get too strong. I never fill the container up any more than about 2/3 of the way full as to not drown the roots that uptake air, if I do peppers or bigger plants in kratky again it will not be in anything smaller than a 5 gallon bucket and with much bigger net pots, I used the 2" net cups that I used for greens and had to support the plants when they got bigger as they wanted to fall over.

Great video, short, sweet, informative. Long time follower, first time poster. Keep up the good work mate, from Queensland Australia.

Thanks for the video! I assume the reason you can change out the reservoir on a DWC system is because it has an air pump/air stone that oxygenates the water? And the reason you shouldn't change the resvoir in this method is because there aren't those 2 items?

Just starting out. Glad I found you. Great info for beginners

We can modify the self-watering soda bottle planter in using the Kratky method. Just put lots of holes in the planter / pot; and no soil and no wick

Put a few drops of Colloidal Silver in the water to keep algae from forming.

Merci from Montreal, Canada.

I appreciate Kevin. He is my brother & teacher!! TY

Thanks for the awesome video Eric!

Kevin, Thanks this is exciting for me Than k you fort all the valuable info.

Kevin, This rocks I am going to start one this weekend.

Couple questions. How do you calculate what size tank you need? Too big and the level won’t drop and too big it will drop too fast? Also, how do you compensate for low humidity? Won’t you get evaporation ?

So freaking smart!! Newbie Gardner here and I’m definitely going to use this method!! TY!

Great! I've subscribed. Thank you.

Thank you so much for sharing this info!

Could you use this method to establish a perennial and then transplant it? Or would the roots be too weak to survive in soil?

What if i live in a warm climate and the water evaporate so fast? is there a way around that, or it does not work in warm climate ?

Thanks Kevin!

How does this keep stagnation and bacteria from forming though?

Perfect timing!

Egptians used this method on riverbeds cut with floating sod....such an old method that has come around again and again...

Hi tyres it for the first few weeks my vegg grows well but when it starts to push flower buds the plant go's back ward's the leaves turn yellow and do not know wether short of nutriants or to much nutrients is there any thing to test for this.

Hi epic gardening, would you recommend any good forums to discuss hydroponics and other growing methods?

As far as I'm CONCERN YOUR VIDEO HAS THE BEST ILLUSTRATIONS AND EXPLANATION ON HYDROPHONICS et al ....I'M Recommending THEM (HYDROPHONICS ENTHUSIASTS HERE IN THE PHILIPPINES ) TO WATCH AND SUBSCRIBE YOUR CHANNEL.... VERY INFORMATIVE.. 👍👍👍

Is this same solution with yamasaki,, same din po ba yung pag gaawa ng solution

Very informative step 1!! I'm on it

Leaving the container outside with the heat, water will evaporate over time. The question is, do the nutrients evaporate as well or will the solution become more concentrated? When it becomes low do you top it off with fresh solution or just water?

thanks

Thank you so much!

I have covered Mason jars with seedlings on a bay window, so I still need grow lights?

I would like advice on what to do with plants that move to the cold for the winter, stop watering,....they should have their own winter biorhythm. I am in Europe where the plants are allowed to "rest" for the winter. What should I do if I convert them to hydroponics?

Why not start with flowering plants? Would the nutrients need to be changed?

Ag, hierdie video het my laat glimlag, dankie! 😀

I have read some where that EC & pH has to be monitored periodically. How could we say it practically hands free!??

I'm just a beginner, I want to grow organic herbs like mint, basil....the nutrients(organic?) look scary because of the colors. How do I know this is even good for me? Is there another 'organic' alternative?

Great vid was wondering where to start my water level at, thank you happy growing 🙂

Thank you very much.

What brand is nutrients do you use? Or what kind of nutrients go into the water? How often?

Thank you, looking forward to watching your others. I'll find them :)

I clicked on this video without looking at the channel. Then I heard your voice and thought, "is that dude"?? Turns out, it is dude. Cheers.

Are there different sized Net Pots? Say for example you were going to grow in the Home Depot buckets.

Thank you 😊

I have a plant growing with this method. I am impressed. So how full do you fill the res. When you have to change it

Hi, someone know if that can work with plant like Salvia Apiana (White Sage), because that kind of plant is recognized not taking often water in the soil. Thanks so much for time to answering me !

What's about TDS and PH of water? How to maintain it through entire process?

Is there any way to do this organically as well like are there even water soluble organic fertilizer?

Does anyone in here use Click & Grow/Aerogarden? Would you mind if I ask if it is much easier for you to grow vegetables with these setups or it works just fine? A comparison between cost of buying these setups vs cost of setting a DIY setup? Also, does growing your plants at home really cheaper than buying the vegs in stores, including the plant pots, power for the lights and water usage? Lastly, does using Click & Grow/Aerogarden easier/less labor/less things to take care of than setting up your own hydroponics setup?

excuse me, will these hydroponic fertilizer feed vegetables be poison? i tried this method and ate the lettuce grew but caused vomiting and badly sick, almost went to hospital for that. i think i got the fertilizer poisoned. makes me scare to use fertilizer any for fruit growing. but from your video and other related video, everyone is doing fine. and this method seems no problem to grow food for consumption. so how was that happened? the brand i used is called

How does it grow with no light ?

You need to put enough nutrients for the plant's entire life cycle. How do you figure that out? In your list of things needed to get started, that seems like #1 on the list to me.

Pretty cool, but how about natural (homemade) nutrients? do exist?

How do you find out what a plant needs (& their amounts) over 30 days ?

what if i wanted to use pumps?

What I'd like to know is how you keep ph correct? I have basically same set up and ph water every time and check it 3 days later and it's up over 7 ph?

Hi. Your link for the hydroponic nutrients is out of date. What nutrients do you use?

Can tomatoes be grown uusing this mthod?

How does the Rockwell work from seedling? I don't understand if I have to keep the tank full to keep the rockwell wet or if it will obsorb the water?

Thank you for the concise and information vid!

Wouldn’t the nutrient solution get too concentrated as the water levels drops?? Like your PPM would go through the roof. And then there’s the pH!

How do I know what plants will grow hydroponically?

I have the nutrients you recommended but I am unsure if you what you would add? Big bloom or grow etc. Please any advice on the right nutrients to make it work would be great. thanks

But why the pvc pipe system need to use the pump to run the water. If I use 4" x 8' pvc pipe with 10 plants by using kartky method should be ok , right!! Because I don't want to hear water pump running all night when I was sleep. Thx

You certainly DONT have to have all the water/nutrients the plant will need for its entire life. Not only can you most people do use smaller containers and top then up. Also for heavier feeders you would have to have bloddy 50galon containers to have enough.

What specs of LED lights do I need to grow indoors?

Is the plant gonna be OK during the early period cause the pot will be sinking inside the water. The media will be soaking wet. Thanks

Can you root tree cuttings like this?

Does it matter if the barrel is in full sun? or does it need to be in shade?

Surely it's beneficial to add an air stone to the nutrient reservoir.

So for this method,do I need to adjust the water ph?

That's the most rudimentary system in hydroponics; plants drink more water than they do eat fertilizers, deeply depending on weather conditions, with a consequential concentration of the solution that can easily lead to fitotoxicity and/or radical asphyxia. If you wanna try hydro's potentiality with simple setups use dwc.

Your Amazon nutrients link isn't available. Can you please identify the exact nutrient products needed? I will go directly to General Hydroponics to order. Thank you!

Hi can I try tomatoes using this technique for the first time? And can they grow under LED?

I want to try this. What would be the ballpark price to do this for a chili plant?

Where do you buy the nutuents? Can u make your own? ❤ aloha from big island 🏝️

I do this method but with airstones as well and the nutrient solution 4"-6" below the net pot, its essentially and RKWC system lol

My kratky jars are not as successful as growing in the IDOO system. The only difference is the light. I don’t have a suitable window, so I bought a blue/red light. Can you recommend a better light for a small setup. Is it better to use a white light along with the red and blue? I am in Australia. Thanks.

hi there, i wonder if it is okay to put small wick for this system? maybe a short one? or does it stopping the root from going down? im just started using 1 liter mineral water bottles and other trash i can find.

i've never did this without an airstone. What about perennial plants? you just put more nutrients into the reservoir?

Dude this video is 7 years old?? Wow

interesting where I find the video x the nutrients? thanks

I would be very cautious about which buckets you use, some of the containers people use to grow what their family is going to eat make me cringe.

So.... what keeps the roots from rotting?

Do these work for broccoli? 🌲

Hi.. No clay pebble or coco pits or rock as media in this systeme please??

Why would you not recommend Kratky to beginners for plants that flower?

Are net pots really necessary? Can we just use glass bottle with thin neck and either let plant hang or fix it in place?

Won't it get nutrient lock? How can you put all the nutrients at once

I just can't rap my head around this. How dose it not rot without the air stones? And wouldn't the EC spike threw the roof once most of the water is gone?

So I been looking for something to do in gardening for a long time. I live in the city of chicago and have a small backyard with limited space. I was wondering about how this would work for me. Can I sit this baby out in spring / summer only.. Are there ways to do this in house during cold months? I am literally trying to do basic stuff at home.

The Amazon link on your website no longer works for the nutrients.