- Joined
- Nov 12, 2014
- Messages
- 910
- Location
- SE Queensland, Australia
- Website
- letsgotravelaustralia.com
- Climate
- Sub-Tropical
What is the Kratky Method?
This method was discovered by B.A. Kratky from the University of Hawaii. One of the easiest hydroponic methods for growing vegetables.
All you need is a container/reservoir to put water and nutrients in for the plants. A lid with holes cut in to hold net pots that are filled with growing media like clay balls, perlite etc and of course seedlings.
Plants roots are partly submerged into the water and partly exposed to the air. You do that to ensure that plants can get moisture as well as oxygen.
As the plants grow and use up the nutrient/water mix the level drops and more oxygen is provided to the plants, negating the need for an air stone.
The container needs to hold enough nutrient for the life of the plant, set and forget. For this reason quick growing veggies like lettuce, Chinese greens etc are best suited for this growing method.
Many do push the envelope and experiment with different veggies. If you do that, you need to be able to top the reservoir up. I experimented with cucumbers for a bit of fun and it’s certainly an eye opener to how much liquid a plant uses as it grows and fruits.
It’s great fun and really interesting to see the roots of the plants growing and how big they can get, something you can’t see in soil based growing.
My 6 year old grandson really loves the “Kratky Method” as he tells everyone and eagerly shows visitors and explains how it works. I am setting up a small Kratky setup for his birthday.
More information can be found here or doing a google search.
The below is a video of what I grew using the Kratky Hydroponics.
This method was discovered by B.A. Kratky from the University of Hawaii. One of the easiest hydroponic methods for growing vegetables.
All you need is a container/reservoir to put water and nutrients in for the plants. A lid with holes cut in to hold net pots that are filled with growing media like clay balls, perlite etc and of course seedlings.
Plants roots are partly submerged into the water and partly exposed to the air. You do that to ensure that plants can get moisture as well as oxygen.
As the plants grow and use up the nutrient/water mix the level drops and more oxygen is provided to the plants, negating the need for an air stone.
The container needs to hold enough nutrient for the life of the plant, set and forget. For this reason quick growing veggies like lettuce, Chinese greens etc are best suited for this growing method.
Many do push the envelope and experiment with different veggies. If you do that, you need to be able to top the reservoir up. I experimented with cucumbers for a bit of fun and it’s certainly an eye opener to how much liquid a plant uses as it grows and fruits.
It’s great fun and really interesting to see the roots of the plants growing and how big they can get, something you can’t see in soil based growing.
My 6 year old grandson really loves the “Kratky Method” as he tells everyone and eagerly shows visitors and explains how it works. I am setting up a small Kratky setup for his birthday.
More information can be found here or doing a google search.
The below is a video of what I grew using the Kratky Hydroponics.