My Hydroponic Experiments- Kratky Method

I grew up on a farm and have always been interested in technologies to grow more of safer crops.  One technology that has always intrigued me is hydroponics, or growing plants in water.  In an effort to effort to learn more about hydroponics I started by reading many books and watching allot of youtube videos. I also talked to people I knew that had experience with hydroponics, one friend in particular was very helpful and even gave me allot of supplies to use for my first experiments.

• earthmom’s Guide to EASY, CHEAP and FUN Home Hydroponics 5 projects you can make NOW to get started growing your own food! by Linda Jones; Amazon Link- http://amzn.to/1BGLeEL

• The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Aquaponic Gardening (Idiot’s Guides) by Meg Stout; Amazon Link- http://amzn.to/1K6RAQn

• Aquaponic Gardening: A Step-By-Step Guide to Raising Vegetables and Fish Together by  Sylvia Bernstein; Amazon link- http://amzn.to/1I9AdfY

• Hydroponic Food Production: A Definitive Guidebook for the Advanced Home Gardener and the Commercial Hydroponic Grower, Seventh Edition by Howard M. Resh; Amazon link- http://amzn.to/1I9Awrh

 

Notice a couple of these books are on auaponics.  Aquaponics uses only fish waste as the feed for the plants.  I eventually hope to set up an aquaponic system, but I live in a location with a cold winter and do not currently have a space indoors to keep the fish alive during the winter months.

 

Kratkey Method

My first experiments are with the stagnant water or Kratkey method.  I first heard about this method on the MHP Gardner Youtube channel.

This is the absolute simplest hydroponic method and thus where I started.  To grow plants with this method I started out by filling a coffee can with water and a mix of nutrients.  I drilled a 2 inch hole in the coffee can lid using a 2 inch Forster bit.  I placed a 2 inch netcup into the hole and placed a pea plant inside the netcup.  I previously started some alpine strawberry seeds in paper towels and lettuce seeds in rockwool.

• Jacks – 1 tablespoon for each gallon
• Potassium – 2/3 tablespoon for each gallon
• Epsom Salt – 1/2 teaspoon for each gallon
• 2″ Forstner Bit; link to Amazon- http://amzn.to/1H8Ok6w
• 2″ netcup; link to Amazon- http://amzn.to/1Gi5CIs
• Food safe plastic container- I used a Folgers Coffee container and I also  tried 3  holes in the lid of a 3 gallon pail