A Kratky garden is a simple way to grow a plant. There is no pump and no electricity.
Simple Kratky Method
This page is the Kratky method for beginners: everything you need to know before you set up your first jar.
The Kratky method is a way to grow plants in water. There is no pump and no electricity. Plants grow in a container of water with hydroponic nutrients mixed in.
It is simple, cheap to set up, and one of the easiest ways to try hydroponics at home.
Follow the six steps in Make a Kratky Garden. Then pick a plant from Plants to Grow.
The Kratky method is named after Bernard Kratky, a horticulture researcher at the University of Hawaii. He was looking for a way to grow vegetables in water without pumps, power or much upkeep. The idea is simple enough that home growers all over the world now use it on windowsills, balconies and in small greenhouses.
It is a passive form of hydroponics. Hydroponics means growing plants in water instead of soil. Most hydroponic systems use pumps to move water or bubble air through it. The Kratky method skips all of that: you set it up once, and the plant does the rest.
Roots need two things: water with nutrients in it, and oxygen. In soil, air pockets between the particles supply the oxygen. In a Kratky container, the oxygen comes from an air gap at the top.
At the start, the water almost touches the bottom of the net pot. As the plant grows, it takes up water and the level slowly drops. The roots grow down with it. The lower roots stay in the solution and feed. The upper roots hang in the humid air gap and take in oxygen. That balance is what makes the whole method work without a pump.
The full list is on the Supplies page. Many kitchens already have a jar, a lid and some foil.
Setting up a jar takes a few minutes. After that, the plant does most of the work. Leafy greens like lettuce and basil grow quickly, so you can usually start harvesting within a few weeks. Larger plants take longer.
Daily care is a quick look at the plant, plus a water check every few days. There is no daily watering, no pump to clean and nothing to plug in.
The whole method is six short steps. Start with Step 1: Pick a container, then Step 2: Add water and nutrients, and work through them in order. Each step has its own page with a practical tip at the end.
Not sure what to grow? Lettuce and basil are reliable first plants. You can read about more choices on Plants to Grow and Kratky Vegetables. Quick answers to common questions are on the FAQ page.
Grab a jar and turn to Step 1: Pick a container. Your first Kratky garden is only a few steps away.
It suits anyone who wants fresh herbs or greens with very little effort or equipment. If you want to grow large fruiting plants or harvest continuously for months from one setup, an active hydroponic system may suit you better later on. For a first try, Kratky is hard to beat.
Tip: Read all six steps before you buy anything.
Nutrients, pH and safety guide