Kratky off-grid passive hydroponics (or how I got interested in growing)

[lunari]

So I recently got an interest in growing things by starting windowsill herb garden. I started with a few dirt planters but quickly got interested in the kratky jars I would see on reddit and youtube. It is like DWC but without an air pump, where as the plants drink the nutrient solution they create a moist air gap and they grow air roots. Once the plant has drank nutrient solution down you don't want to fill it up more than 1/2 way so you don't drown the air roots that have grown. The technique was developed by Bernard Kratky a researcher at the University of Hawaii. My current kratkys are a genovese basil, mint, regrown from scraps green onions, lemon basil, and a bagseed bonsai mother plant. I have cloned my barney's farm triple cheese and will be making a krakty bonai mother plant with her as well. My basil is my oldest kratky and it's been going about 3 months now.

One of the commonly used nutrients is Masterblend due to it's very low cost and the fact that it is very complete not needed anything supplemented. Some of my favorite youtube channels for kratky are Jeb Gardener (he has some funny videos like making a space brute with carbon filter for growing tulips lol) and Mike VanDuze.

I use the same masterblend in my grow journal linked in my signature. A kratky herb garden has been a great introduction to gardening and made me realize growing things isn't too difficult so I decided to get a tent setup to grow my own cannabis Here are some pics of my kratky dispensary bagseed bonsai mother.

 

[Tracker]

So I recently got an interest in growing things by starting windowsill herb garden. I started with a few dirt planters but quickly got interested in the kratky jars I would see on reddit and youtube. It is like DWC but without an air pump, where as the plants drink the nutrient solution they create a moist air gap and they grow air roots. Once the plant has drank nutrient solution down you don't want to fill it up more than 1/2 way so you don't drown the air roots that have grown. The technique was developed by Bernard Kratky a researcher at the University of Hawaii. My current kratkys are a genovese basil, mint, regrown from scraps green onions, lemon basil, and a bagseed bonsai mother plant. I have cloned my barney's farm triple cheese and will be making a krakty bonai mother plant with her as well. My basil is my oldest kratky and it's been going about 3 months now.

One of the commonly used nutrients is Masterblend due to it's very low cost and the fact that it is very complete not needed anything supplemented. Some of my favorite youtube channels for kratky are Jeb Gardener (he has some funny videos like making a space brute with carbon filter for growing tulips lol) and Mike VanDuze.

I use the same masterblend in my grow journal linked in my signature. A kratky herb garden has been a great introduction to gardening and made me realize growing things isn't too difficult so I decided to get a tent setup to grow my own cannabis Here are some pics of my kratky dispensary bagseed bonsai mother.

That looks super cool! I like it! How old is that plant?

 

[lunari]

That looks super cool! I like it! How old is that plant?

She was a tiny seedling on June 12th, she's on the far left. I started her for fun before I decided to really try doing a grow. It wasn't long after that I ordered some seeds and equipment. I have cloned her to determine sex and the clone is currently flowering in a corner of my 2x2 so I can decide if I want to keep the mother around or not.

A windowsill mother is a convenient way to keep a mother around without needing a clone/mother tent. I'll also add some pictures I've taken of my other kratkys along the way. With my local tap water and masterblend I get a little over 800ppm and all my plants get that from seed

 

[lunari]

I also have a jalapeno plant growing outdoors using a large laundry soap container as my kratky reservoir. lol