A Guide on Kratky Method: Set and Forget

Growing your own food is an amazing thing to do; however, people get quite anxious when they think about expensive setups, electricity bills, and complicated systems… and suddenly, it doesn’t sound so great anymore. Fortunately, there’s another method for those people, the Kratky method!  

This method is a passive way to grow your plant without any pumps, electricity, or attention! 

So, what’s the deal with this non-circulating hydroponic system? Let’s learn together! 

Kratky Method and Its Essentials (The Set-It-and-Forget-It System) 

The Kratky method is a set-and-forget type of hydroponic method because of the way it works; plants can grow without any pump or aeration system! It was developed by Bernard Kratky. He built it on a gradually forming air gap to give oxygen to plant roots while consuming the water. 

To make it work, farms need to place a seedling in a net pot with a growing medium. After that, suspend the net pot over a container that is filled with nutrients. In that way, plants drink the water and because of that, air gaps are formed and the need for a pump to oxygenate the roots vanishes. 

As can be seen, this method is one of the best beginner-friendly hydroponic methods that exist. 

Why Grow with the Kratky Method?    

Kratky makes the process quite simple, and this is the main reason why people love it! As you can see above, only basic equipment is necessary to use this method, but let’s make it clearer. 

• No Electricity, No Bill: Most of the hydroponic systems require gadgets and electricity to run those gadgets. However, those wires and high bills can be quite annoying. Yet, the Kratky method gives an answer to those problems because it is 100% passive, which means that no pumps or aerators are required, only plants and water following their nature. 
• Low Maintenance: This method requires really low maintenance since there’s no complex equipment. However, do not forget to check your water level once a day and get your plants when they are grown. 
• Budget-Friendly Equipment: A container, net pots, a nutrient solution, and seedlings are essential for nearly all the systems and methods for hydroponics. And thanks to that, the Kratky method is super budget-friendly. 
• Indoors or Outdoors: A backyard, a balcony, or even a spare room—it doesn’t matter because this method can be set anywhere, which makes it perfect for beginners and people who don’t have a lot of space. 

As you can understand now, the Kratky method is quite fast and easy, and you don’t need to spend a lot of money on it, which makes it quite reasonable. 

What Can You Grow with the Kratky Method? 

The Kratky method shines when it comes to leafy greens, herbs, and compact vegetables.. For example: 

1. Lettuce (The most favored one.) 
2. Basil, oregano, cilantro, parsley (perfect for mason jar setups!) 
3. Spinach (an amazing plant for non-circulating hydroponics) 
4. Peppers (go for a larger container to support growth for this one) 
5. Tomatoes  
6. Strawberries  

Keep in mind that for bigger plants like tomatoes and peppers, you’ll need deeper or bigger containers with a more nutrient-rich solution; otherwise, you won’t be happy with the result! 

Steps to Build Your Kratky Hydroponics Setup 

Setting up the Kratky method is quite simple because there are no complicated gadgets here to adjust your method. Just get the items on the list first. 

• A container (5-gallon bucket, storage tote, or mason jar can be used!) 
• Net pots to hold your plants. 
• A growing medium (clay pebbles, coco coir, perlite, rockwool, etc.) 
• Nutrient solution (a mix of essential minerals for plant growth) 
• A pH meter (optional, but useful for checking the water quality) 
• Seeds or seedlings 

After getting these materials, follow these steps. 

1. Fill Your Container: Add a nutrient solution, making sure it reaches the bottom of the net pot. 
2. Place the Plants: Add your seedling into the net pot with your growing medium. 
3. Suspend the Net Pot: The roots should just touch the water to start; do not just dip all of them. 
4. Let It Rest: As the plant drinks up, the water level drops, creating an air gap for root oxygenation. 
5. Changes: If the water gets too low, top it off with fresh nutrient solution so that your plants can get what they need. 

After following these steps, you can grow your plants without any soil. 

Is the Kratky Method Eco-Friendly? 

Briefly, yes, it is quite an eco-friendly hydroponic method that can be used. Let me make it clearer. 

• Water Usage: Since there are no automated tools here, water should be adjusted manually, and plants can drink it when they need it. This means that there is no runoff, making it quite water efficient. 
• Sustainability: Compared to traditional ways, the Kratky method uses pesticides because there is no soil or environment for bugs. Also, organic nutrient solutions can make the method even more sustainable. 
• Plastic Waste: In recent years, the usage of biodegradable containers has been increasing, which is an important step to make this method eco-friendly. 

As you can see above, using the Kratky method for hydroponics is quite an environmentally friendly approach. 

Innovations, Variations, and Upgrades for the Kratky Method

Some growers are always upgrading their hydroponic systems, and this includes the Kratky method too. With these adaptations, this method levels up to something more advanced.  

For example, most of the growers update their Kratky method with hybrid systems. Such as:  

Kratky + Aeration: Root health can be a big problem sometimes, and growers find a solution by combining this method with aeration pumps. With this simple air pump, anyone can easily improve the root health and oxygen rate of the plant. 

Kratky + Wicking System: To prevent drying out, growers use wicking mechanisms to control their plants. Thanks to capillary action, water moves to the roots gradually and gets absorbed by the roots. 

Common Problems about the Kratky Method

It is a quite simple and effective method, yet it comes with its own challenges that you need to be aware of, such as:

1. Pest Control: Since there is no soil, pest problems are at a minimum, but algae growth can be quite annoying. You can check and clean regularly or keep your nutrient reservoir covered to block light and prevent algae. 
2. Nutrient Management: This is a manual, passive method, which means that there is nothing automated. So, occasionally nutrient levels should be checked and adjusted when they get too low for plants. 

These two problems are the most common ones, but it is important to mention that root rots, too, are quite common. Just leave enough space for an air gap; otherwise, the plants will suffocate. 

FAQs

How much water do I need for the Kratky method?  

It depends on the plant! Lettuce may only need a small mason jar, while tomatoes require 5-gallon buckets or bigger. 

Can I grow root vegetables with the Kratky method?

Not really. Crops like potatoes or carrots need more soil support, but there are experiments with them, too. You’d better stick to leafy greens, herbs, and fruiting plants. 

What happens when the water runs out?  

Your plant simply suffers; don’t do that. Refill before the roots dry out completely. 

Can I move my Kratky plants to soil later?

Yes, you can, but make sure that you do that slowly; otherwise, you’ll experience root shock.