If you are looking for a simple, hands-off way of learning how to grow plants indoors, then the Kratky garden method is a good way to start. Today, we will be talking a bit about this unique way of growing plants, some tips that can help you, and some things you should know before starting.
What is the Kratky Garden Method?
At its very core, the Kratky method is a passive hydroponic gardening technique, where you suspend a plant in a container of water and liquid plant food. As long as the plant has access to light, it will continue to grow, absorbing water and nutrients as it needs, resulting in a low maintenance plant that can live for weeks without you having to constantly check it and water it.
The Kratky method was named after Bernard Kratky, a researcher at the University of Hawaii, who first proposed this idea back in 2009. This is one of the simplest hydroponic techniques out there, and has since seen a lot of popularity with homemakers who are looking for an easy way to grow lettuce or herbs.
What is great about it?
Personally, I think the greatest thing about it is the fact that it is, in essence, hands off! Once you’ve sown your seeds in the container, you don’t have to feed it or water it for pretty much the entirety of the plant’s life. You only need to give it a place with light, and you’re good to go.
Another great thing? It is very simple. Arguably one of the simplest hydroponic methods out there, it is a very easy way to understand the concept of hydroponics and is a great way to get started with indoor gardening without having to break the bank. You could literally find the materials around your home, such as a mason jar, and you can get started.
What are some drawbacks?
As awesome as this method may be, there are some issues and downsides that we need to discuss.
For starters, the Kratky method only works for certain kinds of plants. Herbs, flowers, and leafy greens like lettuce and spinach are great because they are smaller plants, and do not require a lot in terms of space and nutrients.
Once you start looking at peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, or pretty much any large fruiting plant, it can become more troublesome to grow, because they often need a lot of water, and require certain amounts of nutrients at the various stages in their life. Having to open the lid and fill the container with water and nutrients can risk stressing the plant.
I should also mention that root vegetables are not viable with the Kratky method, just as with any kind of hydroponics. As much as I love my carrots and potatoes, I’m afraid these cannot grow in water the same way other plants can.
Another drawback to the Kratky method is that it really only works best on a small scale. Sure, it may very well be the most efficient way to passively grow your own food, but if you plan on growing a large number of plants, it can be a lot of effort to manage and set up all of those individual containers and a sunny environment for them to be able to grow.
If your goal is to grow dozens of plants, your best bet may be to build your own hydroponic system.
How do you make a Kratky method system?
Since the Kratky method is very simple, you might have everything you need right at home. You may need some tools, such as a sharp blade for cutting, or a grow light, if you lack sufficient lighting in your home.
Here is a rundown of the essentials that you need:
Container. Ideally, this has to be an opaque container, so that sunlight cannot get through and touch the roots of the plant. This can be as simple as a glass mason jar, or you can go as large as a 5 gallon bucket. It’s always important to choose a container in relation to the size of the mature plant. If you don’t have an opaque container to work with, you can always use a transparent one and cover it with some tin foil or something that will keep sunlight out.
Net Pot. These are plastic pots with a net-like pattern, allowing plant roots to reach through and absorb the water in the container. In a best case situation, the size of the net pot should be large enough to fit inside the rim of the container, otherwise a hole can be cut in the lid for the container. If you use an AeroGarden, you can even reuse any old seed pod cages that you might have!
Lid/Cover for the Container. If you aren’t using a mason jar/net pot combination, you may want to ensure that your chosen container has a lid that can fit over the top of the container. If you have none, you can always make one with plastic or even styrofoam. The lid should be opaque, and you will need to cut a hole in it later.
Growing Media. There’s a lot of options out there, from rockwool to clay pebbles. In some cases, you can even use a combination if that works best for you. I often start my seeds in an AeroGarden, so I like to take the growing sponges, cut it to fit in the net pot and fill the rest of the net pot with another growing medium such as clay pebbles. Whichever you use, make sure that is a pH-neutral growing medium, so that it doesn’t mess with the liquid fertilizer that will be used in the container.
Liquid Fertilizer. Since we are dealing with a simpler form of hydroponics, you will need to have a solution of nutrients that will ensure your lettuce plant is fed throughout its life. For any leafy greens like lettuce or herbs, you can go with a hydroponic fertilizer that has a decent amount of Nitrogen. I like using AeroGarden’s Liquid Plant Food, personally, as it has a well-rounded ratio of ingredients.
Can you buy a pre-made Kratky garden?
If the idea of DIY doesn’t sound appealing to you, the good news is that there are a few companies out there that make such gardens.
Companies like VIVOSUN and iDOO got their reputation by selling hydroponics equipment and supplies, and now, they also sell indoor gardens to rival that of AeroGarden.
Often advertised as “indoor hydroponic system” or “hydroponic growing system”, these indoor gardens are very similar to that of an AeroGarden; they have grow lights and a container to hold water and liquid plant food, and of course, they have special holes to suspend the plant in the container. What they don’t have is a water pump that circulates the water in the system.
The Final Word on the Kratky Method
To sum things up, growing plants using the Kratky method is a very simple way to introduce yourself to hydroponic gardening. Herbs and leafy greens that could grow inside an expensive AeroGarden can be easily grown in bottles for much cheaper.
As long as you take the time to properly set up the plant from the start, the entire process of growing the plant remains hands-off.
As I mentioned earlier, the Kratky method is passive gardening at its best. You “set it and forget it”, and come back later to harvest a bounty of tasty plants. Even houseplants can thrive in this system, and it is dead easy to care for them.
Well, that’s about all I have to share on the Kratky method. I really hope this information helps you out in your future hydroponics endeavors.
If you feel that I might have missed something, or you’d like to see more content like this, feel free to leave a comment down below. I always appreciate the feedback!
Until next time, wherever you live in the world, enjoy life and happy gardening!