Thank you for these videos. I just found your channel today. I had been gathering information about this kind of growing from different resources across the internet. Finding this UA-cam channel has made data gathering much, much easier. Thank you! I make a few videos myself so I understand how frustrating it can be to make videos. It can be a thankless job. Please know that I, and many more like me, very much appreciate you sharing this information here on UA-cam.
Thank you for sharing your method. It's a huge benefit to be able to grow vegetables in California using less water considering the severe drought the west is facing, not to mention the constant recalls for contaminated produce, and rising prices.
Thanks, Matt. Please bear in mind that this information is somewhat historical and the current state-of-the-art has been improved by folks like yourself!
@10:27 ..to cut polystyrene without messy plastic dust. a hot heater wire cuts plastic foam like butter.. heating or sharpening rim edge of a metal can to punch circles or desired shape would be faster n consistent than prior pyro techniques..
I AGREE! Styrene is not your optimal material. It is easily possible to use 1020 plastic grow covers floating or nested on supports that float in the existing water supply. I think it needs to be mentioned in other environments, PH and PPM will need to be monitored as water evaporates (let's think PHX) and PH/PPM will climb to high levels if water is not replaced at some times. In other environments, water supply may need to be entirely replaced, at least one time before harvesting. HW and some other areas are ideal but most will not have ideal tap water to start with, will not have PH that is improving over time as water evaporates in container, let's think about what can still go wrong if you do not live in the world's greatest environments on earth please! It is so easy and inexpensive to monitor and control PH/PPM, I think it is worth mentioning for those that have burnt leaves, these issues can crop up and here is what should be done to mitigate or avoid them.
Thanks for the info on the difference b/n tropics and humidity vs me in cold (as well as the rest, including fertz) . As someone who's giving someone the 'bug' in a different climate. This was invaluable. Watched a few too many vids and never have I seen this mentioned. Cheers. As someone who was into fish would like to do aqua maybe but the problem isn't breeding fish it is the tanks, they breed more. :) My parents house as a kid sounded like a spa 30ft of tanks at least. Bubble bubble, toil and trouble. :) This sounds quiet, but alas back to "Double, double toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble........
Dear Dr. Kratky, thank you very much for the method you brought to us, when I started being interested in hydoponics I heard everywhere "Kratky method" and as I am Czech, Krátký is czech word (means short), I was wondering what is that? Then I found about you. May I have question about where are you from? Warm greetings from Czech republic!
I was wondering about Dr. Kratky´s surname origin as well. I am using Dr. Kratky´s method to grow salads with great success plus my cottage is 30km from Bystrec. Amazing how the world is small!:)
Perhaps, regarding your comment on the mess of drilling the foam board, using a section of pipe. You may be able to get an off cut of exhaust pipe from a muffler shop in the correct diameter. Filing the edge of one end like a knife bevel. Either twisting the pipe through the foam or punch it through with a mallet. Do you think Broccoli could be grown like this? Also, is there any concern with chemicals leeching from the foam board or from the plastic tank liner, especially given the interaction with the chemical nutrient solution? Thanks Doc! :)
Thanks for a great suggestion on cutting holes in polystyrene; I think it would work. Broccoli has a longer growing season and probably needs more water, but either a larger tank or a float valve could supply additional water. We generally paint the top of the polystyrene with white latex paint. Since the temperature is relatively cool and there is no contact with nutrient solution in the top supported method and only temporary contact with the float-support method, the chance for leaching into the nutrient solution should be minimal. The liner consists of polyethylene plastic which is considered to be one of the safest plastics, but possibilities exist for interactions with unpolymerized plastic, colorants and additives. Take notice that food, medicine and water are stored and shipped in polyethylene and it is the state-of-art today, but can and will be challenged and improved in the future.
Aloha Dr. Kratky, I see hydroponics as a way that we can protect against rat lungworm disease because the plants are not grown in the ground. The slugs can't easily reach the plants or a barrier can be constructed to keep them away. Do you encounter many slugs in your systems?
The floor in my greenhouse is covered with a geotextile fabric and the slugs don't like it because it is dry and rough and probably causes them to lose slime. Additionally, I placed copper sheeting under the legs of the bench. As I understand it, the slug slime on copper becomes an electrolyte and imparts an unfavorable electrical environment which discourages the slugs from climbing up the legs. This combination has been pretty effective. Now, it still might be possible for slugs to crawl up the greenhouse legs and onto the plastic cover and fall into the lettuce.
Aloha, Dr. Kratky. Jeb will be very proud of your closing music selection. I was wondering what advantages are there to using long beds over multiple individual grow containers? I use individual containers because my grow area isn't suitable for large grow beds. I'm just wondering if I need to change my process if I significantly expand my operation and upgrade to a larger facility (which I hope to do someday). Thank you for posting all your content, my grow operation wouldn't be the same (or probably even exist) without it.
Everyone's operational design is unique to their situation. The purpose of the research was to see if a less expensive ground tank could work and also if aisles could be mostly eliminated, but there was a 'cost' of bending to pick up the rafts. I was delighted to learn this classical music by Beethoven was available for uploading from the UA-cam Audio Library.
Aloha Dr Kratky. Thanks for your highly informative video. Regarding the mosquitos, you said fish could keep them down. Can fish/shrimp survive in nutrient solution?
Certain species of fish are salt tolerant to varying degrees. Fish would need to be purchased locally and your local fish experts would need to guide you on the selection of a species.
Thank you so much for sharing and the rich info video. I have a question, so you add the nutrients to the seed/ seedlings in the bottle method right at the beginning or you wait untill the first true leaves appear?
Hello Dr. Krakty, Thank you for sharing this method. I am wondering if your method will work with standard potting solid as growing medium and a simple water reservoir . I am bit reluctant to use nutrient solutions, as the disposal of any left over solution is an other environmental challenge. Do you have experience with such a setup? Thanks in advance for taking the time to respond. Best wishes TS
Yes, too much plastic is used but much less will be used in the future as plastics become stronger, thinner and lighter. Polyethylene and weed cloth are normally not rapidly biodegradable, but technology exists to make them biodegradable. Weed cloth is typically made of polypropylene and plastic tank liners are made from polyethylene; both of these are among the safer plastics. Polyethylene is used for milk bottles and polypropylene is used in yogurt containers and margarine tubs.
Thank you so much. I was planning on experimenting hydroponic on hot tropical climate using Pet Bottles and through this video I have confident that I can trial out my experimen.
No, this wouldn't be considered organic because a chemical fertilizer is used. However, the system is usually pesticide-free as herbicides, nematicides and soil fumigants are not needed because there is no soil to deal with and greenhouses/rainshelters discourage foliage diseases and small scale growing discourages large buildups of insects.
@VanLess Dweller Yes, you can produce crops from a chemical solution containing the correct amounts of the necessary elements for plant growth. Plants also need carbon dioxide, water and light for photosynthesis.
Thank you for these videos. I just found your channel today. I had been gathering information about this kind of growing from different resources across the internet. Finding this UA-cam channel has made data gathering much, much easier. Thank you! I make a few videos myself so I understand how frustrating it can be to make videos. It can be a thankless job. Please know that I, and many more like me, very much appreciate you sharing this information here on UA-cam.
Thank you for sharing your method. It's a huge benefit to be able to grow vegetables in California using less water considering the severe drought the west is facing, not to mention the constant recalls for contaminated produce, and rising prices.
Watch it many times. Love it. Already grow lettuces in small contianer. Next project is grow 30 lettuces in one container.
Nice tutorial video that answers a lot of questions asked by beginning gardeners wanting to use this method. Thanks!
Thanks, Matt. Please bear in mind that this information is somewhat historical and the current state-of-the-art has been improved by folks like yourself!
Great stuff. Working on making some indoor crops of my own!
A fount of information. Thank you, Doctor!
Thank you! This is wonderful. I plan to try your method this spring, Dr. Kratky.
@10:27 ..to cut polystyrene without messy plastic dust. a hot heater wire cuts plastic foam like butter.. heating or sharpening rim edge of a metal can to punch circles or desired shape would be faster n consistent than prior pyro techniques..
Thank you for the excellent suggestions!
I AGREE! Styrene is not your optimal material. It is easily possible to use 1020 plastic grow covers floating or nested on supports that float in the existing water supply. I think it needs to be mentioned in other environments, PH and PPM will need to be monitored as water evaporates (let's think PHX) and PH/PPM will climb to high levels if water is not replaced at some times. In other environments, water supply may need to be entirely replaced, at least one time before harvesting. HW and some other areas are ideal but most will not have ideal tap water to start with, will not have PH that is improving over time as water evaporates in container, let's think about what can still go wrong if you do not live in the world's greatest environments on earth please! It is so easy and inexpensive to monitor and control PH/PPM, I think it is worth mentioning for those that have burnt leaves, these issues can crop up and here is what should be done to mitigate or avoid them.
Thanks for some excellent comments.
Dr. Kratky, I am a new subscriber. I heard about you and your method from a UA-cam video by Mike VanDuzee. Thank you for sharing. :)
Absolutely fascinating!
Brilliant!! 😊🌱
Thanks for the info on the difference b/n tropics and humidity vs me in cold (as well as the rest, including fertz) . As someone who's giving someone the 'bug' in a different climate. This was invaluable. Watched a few too many vids and never have I seen this mentioned. Cheers. As someone who was into fish would like to do aqua maybe but the problem isn't breeding fish it is the tanks, they breed more. :) My parents house as a kid sounded like a spa 30ft of tanks at least. Bubble bubble, toil and trouble. :) This sounds quiet, but alas back to "Double, double toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble........
Thank you! You truly started a sustainable revolution! Quick question: Have you ever had any problem with co2 buildup around the oxygen roots?
wonderful information. New friend Ruthie
Dear Dr. Kratky, thank you very much for the method you brought to us, when I started being interested in hydoponics I heard everywhere "Kratky method" and as I am Czech, Krátký is czech word (means short), I was wondering what is that? Then I found about you. May I have question about where are you from? Warm greetings from Czech republic!
And warm greetings to you, too! My grandfather came to the US in 1901. His father = my great grandfather was born in Bystrec in 1843.
@@growkratky5558 Wow 1901, it must have been real adventure to travel such distances those days, glad you shared your family history. Happy Easter!
I was wondering about Dr. Kratky´s surname origin as well. I am using Dr. Kratky´s method to grow salads with great success plus my cottage is 30km from Bystrec. Amazing how the world is small!:)
Doctor Kratky PLEASE could you make a video about worms tea to be used in your sistem and how to deal avoid root rot? Thanks!!!
I could not understand the advantage of the third method? Polystyrene floats and what does it make?
Perhaps, regarding your comment on the mess of drilling the foam board, using a section of pipe. You may be able to get an off cut of exhaust pipe from a muffler shop in the correct diameter. Filing the edge of one end like a knife bevel. Either twisting the pipe through the foam or punch it through with a mallet.
Do you think Broccoli could be grown like this?
Also, is there any concern with chemicals leeching from the foam board or from the plastic tank liner, especially given the interaction with the chemical nutrient solution?
Thanks Doc! :)
Thanks for a great suggestion on cutting holes in polystyrene; I think it would work.
Broccoli has a longer growing season and probably needs more water, but either a larger tank or a float valve could supply additional water.
We generally paint the top of the polystyrene with white latex paint. Since the temperature is relatively cool and there is no contact with nutrient solution in the top supported method and only temporary contact with the float-support method, the chance for leaching into the nutrient solution should be minimal.
The liner consists of polyethylene plastic which is considered to be one of the safest plastics, but possibilities exist for interactions with unpolymerized plastic, colorants and additives. Take notice that food, medicine and water are stored and shipped in polyethylene and it is the state-of-art today, but can and will be challenged and improved in the future.
Cuál es el secreto para que las raíces queden así tan blancas, eh probado con mucha oxigenación y tampoco logro conseguirlo. Gracias
How would you rate the difference in taste/flavor compared to soil raised lettuce?
Aloha Dr. Kratky,
I see hydroponics as a way that we can protect against rat lungworm disease because the plants are not grown in the ground. The slugs can't easily reach the plants or a barrier can be constructed to keep them away. Do you encounter many slugs in your systems?
The floor in my greenhouse is covered with a geotextile fabric and the slugs don't like it because it is dry and rough and probably causes them to lose slime. Additionally, I placed copper sheeting under the legs of the bench. As I understand it, the slug slime on copper becomes an electrolyte and imparts an unfavorable electrical environment which discourages the slugs from climbing up the legs. This combination has been pretty effective. Now, it still might be possible for slugs to crawl up the greenhouse legs and onto the plastic cover and fall into the lettuce.
Aloha, Dr. Kratky. Jeb will be very proud of your closing music selection.
I was wondering what advantages are there to using long beds over multiple individual grow containers? I use individual containers because my grow area isn't suitable for large grow beds. I'm just wondering if I need to change my process if I significantly expand my operation and upgrade to a larger facility (which I hope to do someday).
Thank you for posting all your content, my grow operation wouldn't be the same (or probably even exist) without it.
Everyone's operational design is unique to their situation. The purpose of the research was to see if a less expensive ground tank could work and also if aisles could be mostly eliminated, but there was a 'cost' of bending to pick up the rafts. I was delighted to learn this classical music by Beethoven was available for uploading from the UA-cam Audio Library.
Aloha Dr Kratky.
Thanks for your highly informative video.
Regarding the mosquitos, you said fish could keep them down. Can fish/shrimp survive in nutrient solution?
He mentioned salt tolerant fish. Maybe mollies from the aquarium store would work in a warm enough environment?
Certain species of fish are salt tolerant to varying degrees. Fish would need to be purchased locally and your local fish experts would need to guide you on the selection of a species.
dakineapproaches thank you
Thank you so much for sharing and the rich info video.
I have a question, so you add the nutrients to the seed/ seedlings in the bottle method right at the beginning or you wait untill the first true leaves appear?
We added all the water and fertilizer up front and either seeded or transplanted the lettuce and no additional effort was needed until harvest time.
Hello Dr. Krakty,
Thank you for sharing this method. I am wondering if your method will work with standard potting solid as growing medium and a simple water reservoir . I am bit reluctant to use nutrient solutions, as the disposal of any left over solution is an other environmental challenge.
Do you have experience with such a setup?
Thanks in advance for taking the time to respond.
Best wishes
TS
I normally use rock wool as growing medium. But I once used kitchen paper and it worked. I wouldn't use potting soil as the particles are too small.
😎
So much plastic! Is polyethylene and the weed cloth biodegradable? Is it foodgrade and safe for plants that will be consumed and digested by humans?
Yes, too much plastic is used but much less will be used in the future as plastics become stronger, thinner and lighter. Polyethylene and weed cloth are normally not rapidly biodegradable, but technology exists to make them biodegradable. Weed cloth is typically made of polypropylene and plastic tank liners are made from polyethylene; both of these are among the safer plastics. Polyethylene is used for milk bottles and polypropylene is used in yogurt containers and margarine tubs.
do you need a aerator for these methods
No
Please translate this to gallons, cups, feet and inches. Thank you for the video.
KRATKY GANG WHO TF UP
Watch it many times. Love it. Already grow lettuces in small contianer. Next project is grow 30 lettuces in one container
How’s it going?
Thank you so much. I was planning on experimenting hydroponic on hot tropical climate using Pet Bottles and through this video I have confident that I can trial out my experimen.
Thank you Dr. Kratky for some wonderful videos. I was just wondering is this method considered organic?
No, this wouldn't be considered organic because a chemical fertilizer is used. However, the system is usually pesticide-free as herbicides, nematicides and soil fumigants are not needed because there is no soil to deal with and greenhouses/rainshelters discourage foliage diseases and small scale growing discourages large buildups of insects.
@VanLess Dweller Yes, you can produce crops from a chemical solution containing the correct amounts of the necessary elements for plant growth. Plants also need carbon dioxide, water and light for photosynthesis.