Gather Your Kratky Supplies
Lesson 3 of 14
You need very little to grow your first Kratky plant. This lesson lists what each item does, so you can buy only what you need and use what you already have.
The essentials
- A container with a lid. A quart or half-gallon jar is plenty for one lettuce plant. Lesson 4 explains how to choose one.
- A net cup that fits the lid. It holds the plant and lets roots grow through into the solution.
- A growing medium to hold the seedling in the net cup: rockwool cubes, coco coir plugs or clay pebbles.
- A hydroponic nutrient. It must be made for hydroponics. Ordinary garden fertilizer is missing nutrients that soil normally supplies. Lesson 6 covers this.
- A pH test kit and pH down. Test strips or liquid drops are fine to start. Lesson 7 covers pH.
- Seeds of your first plant.
- Light: a bright window or a grow light. Lesson 9 covers light.
Useful extras
- An EC or TDS meter to check nutrient strength. Not essential for a first lettuce if you follow the label carefully, but very helpful once you grow more.
- Measuring spoons or a syringe kept only for nutrients.
- Something to block light: paint, tape, foil or a fabric sleeve for clear jars.
- A notebook or labels to record the date, plant and solution in each container.
Things you do not need
No pump, air stone, timer or electricity is needed for the method itself. A grow light is the only thing you might plug in.
Your task for this lesson
Gather the essentials before Lesson 5. If you are reusing a jar or tub, make sure it is clean and has never held chemicals.