A Kratky garden is a simple way to grow a plant. There is no pump and no electricity.
Kratky Supplies
Knowing how to choose Kratky supplies saves money and avoids the most common beginner problems. The method needs very little, so the goal is to buy the right few things, not the most things. This guide explains what to look for in each item on the Kratky Supplies list, and what you can skip.
Bigger is more forgiving. A larger container holds more water, so the plant is less likely to run dry before harvest, and the water warms more slowly. More in Step 1: Pick a container.
The net pot has to fit the lid snugly. A loose fit lets in light, rain and insects, and the pot can tip. Buy net pots and lids together, or check the net pot's top diameter against the hole you will make. Small net pots suit jars; larger ones suit buckets and totes. If you buy a pack of net pots, make one hole and test the fit before drilling the rest.
The medium holds the plant upright in the net pot. Clay pellets are reusable and let air reach the stem and upper roots. Rockwool cubes and seed sponges are good for starting seeds. Many growers use both: a seed cube in the center of the net pot, with clay pellets around it. Clay Pellets vs Rockwool compares them.
One-part nutrients are simplest for beginners. Two- and three-part nutrients give more control, but each part is added to the water separately and they are never mixed together directly. Store any nutrient as its label says. More in Step 2: Add water and nutrients.
A pH test tells you whether the plant can use the nutrients in the water. Drops and strips are cheap and need no calibration. Digital meters are quicker to read but need calibrating and careful storage. For one or two containers, drops are enough. pH Test Kit vs pH Meter goes into the details. You will also want pH up and pH down products, ideally the ones your nutrient's maker recommends.
If a Kratky product needs to be plugged in, it is not part of the basic method. Kratky vs Deep Water Culture explains where pumps come in.
Kits are convenient and make sure the parts fit together. Buying separately lets you match the container to the plant and reuse things you have. Either works. Check that any kit includes a light-blocking container or sleeve, a hydroponic nutrient and a way to test pH, since those three matter most.
With a jar from the kitchen and some foil, that is everything for a first grow. Then follow the six steps in Make a Kratky Garden.
If you plan to grow several plants, buy net pots in a pack and clay pellets in a larger bag, which usually costs less per plant. One bottle of nutrient and one pH kit serve many containers. Match all your containers and lids to one net pot size, so parts are interchangeable.
Set up one container completely before buying for ten. You will learn whether the lid holds the net pot firmly, whether the container blocks light and whether it is the right size for your plant.
Store net pots, pellets, nutrient and the pH kit together in one labeled box, out of reach of children and pets. Everything is then ready for the next planting.
Tip: Buy for one container first. You will know much better what you want after your first harvest.
Nutrients, pH and safety guide