In My Kratky Closet

[Sher]

I have napa cabbage, and romaine and a dwarf minibelle pepper in the first two pictures.

The third picture shows 2 Tiny Tim tomatoes, 2 dwarf eggplants, and another minibelle pepper.  They were stunted by growing in one quart jars, and maybe by using AG nutrients.  I just moved them to 3 quart jars today, and switched them to 4 ml Dyna Gro 7-9-5 per gallon like the others.  So hopefully they will catch up soon.

I plan to start Jericho romaine in the Bounty tonight instead of the herbs I had planned on.  I can't get enough lettuce!

[Shawn]

Will they all stay in the kratky's?

I have grown Jericho and liked it.

[Sher]

Yes, they will stay in the Kratkys.  I might have enough nutrients for the entire life of the lettuce.  I may have to add nutrients to the cabbage.  And I will definitely have to add them to the fruiting plants.

Glad to hear you liked the Jericho!

[Shawn]

I have grown Jericho, Little Gem and Dragoon.  I liked them all.  I need to find a spot for another machine to grow lettuce again.  

[Sher]

You don't know how many times I have put Harvests in my cart this month.  I did want to join the flower GAL.  I backed out at the last minute when I remembered that I need to get hearing aids next month.

I will probably quit resisting in a few months, the next time there is a super sale!

[Shawn]

Jan 29, 2020 18:53:56 GMT -5 Sher said:

You don't know how many times I have put Harvests in my cart this month.  I did want to join the flower GAL.  I backed out at the last minute when I remembered that I need to get hearing aids next month.

I will probably quit resisting in a few months, the next time there is a super sale!

We will have other GALS that you are welcome to participate in.

[Sher]

None of the plants in jars are doing well.  The only thing that is thriving is this lipstick pepper in a bucket.

[Shawn]

WOW!~

Yikes, that looks like it is ready to push out some flowers soon!

[Sher]

It is the first time I have tried Kratky in a bucket.  I will definitely be doing more!

[Sher]

The pepper bit the dust.

I am trying the greens again -- this time in 3 gallon buckets with the lights hung higher above the plants.

Here they are at two weeks:  Baker Creek Rocky Top lettuce blend, napa cabbage, and bok choy.

[urbandemeter]

Hi all, this Kratky jar method intrigues me as, in the pic, it looks like they don't even use a pump. I Googled it but better to ask real users!

• Is your experiment with still water with a pod, sponge, nutrients and seed?
• What is the solid matter that looks like round pellets at the base on some plants?
• What wattage LED light are you hanging? I have a 45w AG panel I could get out...

Thanks for sharing!

[Sher]

Yes, all I use is plain water, 5 mg DynaGro 7-9-5 per gallon, no pH adjustment, net cups, seeds planted in rockwool, with clay pebbles around the top of the basket to help anchor the plant and keep out light. I used them because I already had them on hand.

I think it would work fine using Aerogarden pods and Aerogarden nutes.  That would eliminate the need for rockwool and clay pebbles.  It works best with at least one gallon of water per plant so you don't have to refill nutes and potentially drown the air roots.

In my experience, this works best for very fast maturing crops like lettuce and bok choy.  Longer growing plants use the various nutrients up at different rates and the nutrient solution becomes unbalanced.

I have killed more plants adjusting pH to the recommended levels and worryng about ppm.  Quick growing plants do fine in just water and the recommended amount of nutrients.

I use Aerogarden's 45 watt light panels.  It is easy to burn plants hanging the lights too close.  That's what happened to the plants I started in one gallon jars.  For some reason they need more space between plants and light than in a 45 watt Aerogarden.

I am using an array of 4 panels for the current grow.

Kratky is rewarding, but I have killed a lot of plants getting the hang of it.

[Sher]

Time for some main dish salads!

Lookin' good all 'round,sher.

[urbandemeter]

Apr 3, 2020 17:22:04 GMT -5 Sher said:

Yes, all I use is plain water, 5 mg DynaGro 7-9-5 per gallon, no pH adjustment, net cups, seeds planted in rockwool, with clay pebbles around the top of the basket to help anchor the plant and keep out light. I used them because I already had them on hand.

I think it would work fine using Aerogarden pods and Aerogarden nutes.  That would eliminate the need for rockwool and clay pebbles.  It works best with at least one gallon of water per plant so you don't have to refill nutes and potentially drown the air roots.

In my experience, this works best for very fast maturing crops like lettuce and bok choy.  Longer growing plants use the various nutrients up at different rates and the nutrient solution becomes unbalanced.

I have killed more plants adjusting pH to the recommended levels and worryng about ppm.  Quick growing plants do fine in just water and the recommended amount of nutrients.

I use Aerogarden's 45 watt light panels.  It is easy to burn plants hanging the lights too close.  That's what happened to the plants I started in one gallon jars.  For some reason they need more space between plants and light than in a 45 watt Aerogarden.

I am using an array of 4 panels for the current grow.

Kratky is rewarding, but I have killed a lot of plants getting the hang of it.

[urbandemeter]

Oops! I accidentally just reposted your post  . What I meant to is, you are a fount of information, so generous with it.  It runs in this group -- you all are tops! That was a great mini-lesson in thrifty kratkying. Much appreciated.

I've a 45w panel sitting unused. Hmm.

[Sher]

Thank you, urban. But I have learned so much from this AG community!  Especially their nutrient guidance. 

I was killing plants using too much, and they taught me that less is more, and to only up the nutrients when the plants let you know they need it.

There is a lot of experience here!

[Shawn]

Looks yummy

[Sher]

This is my prettiest lettuce.

I think it looks like a flower!