Growing Watercress by a Suspended Pot, Non circulating Hydroponic Method

This video demonstrates how to grow watercress from seed by a suspended pot, non-circulating hydroponic method (commonly referred to as the Kratky Hydroponic Method). Additional details on the growing method plus more information on watercress may be found in the article "Growing direct-seeded watercress by two non-circulating hydroponic methods"
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[@JebGardener]

I saw your method on MHPgardener's channel and that got me started in hydroponics and making videos on KZbin. Thanks so much!

[@growkratky5558]

Aloha Jeb, Your KZbin videos are an absolute delight as well as being informative! I hope you will continue to adapt, improve and interpret our growing concepts and produce videos with your style of music, humor, enthusiasm and great growing information all of which helps everyday folks to grow some of their own food. And by the way, I think your lettuce video is a real classic!

[@JebGardener]

Thanks!

[@hello-sz1jp]

Crazy thing is I watch both you guy's thank's for the content.

[@motellion]

You started me on hydroponics Doc - thank you! Your system is a most generous and kind gift to the world. You are a great man saving and enhancing the quality of countless lives. God bless you and yours! 🙏🏽✌🏽

[@growkratky5558]

Thank you!

[@hpongpong]

I started off reading your paper and have been growing salad greens using your method. Being able to see you sharing your work on KZbin is absolutely fantastic. Thanks for all the hardwork and inspirations.

[@AdrienneEverheart]

Great video and I love your attention to detail.

[@pmfg875]

This is great, I covered them 1/8 inch they still sprouted . I’m glad to know they don’t require soil coverage to germinate. Thank you so much for helping us in a hot climate to grow this wonderful green.

[@benjaminschmid8952]

Dr Bernie Kratky, thank you so much for this video. It worked exactly the way you teach it. We used to pic watercress in the county when kids, now I can grow it nearly year round and invite friends with it. Wish you the best Benjamin

[@growkratky5558]

Thanks, Benjamin. It's great to hear of your success!

[@youthfulhahaha4628]

One of the best videos I’ve seen on how to grow watercress. Thank you!

[@carolinehonse35]

You have many many avid fans on KZbin. Great work for a great man.

[@KhangStarr]

I am a huge fan of your work, subscribed!

[@growkratky5558]

Thanks Khang, I really appreciate all of the exposure you have given to our simple, non-circulating hydroponics with your excellent videos!

[@govindrpillai]

Subscribed. Thanks Dr. for sharing your results of your research and enabling quite a lot of people to grow their own food.

[@MattGarver]

Your videos just keep getting better. Very nice to see this information made available on KZbin.

[@growkratky5558]

Thanks Matt, for the kind words and encouragement!

[@rahulmaron]

Jeb took me here. Love your channel even though I'm not a gardener and I'm kind of getting interested with this day by day.

[@eyeswideshut2800]

Thank you Dr Kratky for starting a movement of ancient growing and getting us all closer to our roots... I made a funny

[@BenjasUberHobby]

What a great harvest! Thanks for sharing :)

[@BackToBasics001]

Another interesting video. Looking forward to seeing more of your methods. Subscribed!

[@Hippiecat67]

The aerial roots on your plant will grow down into the water and under rocks to anchor the plants into soil under the water of a slow moving stream. If the main stem is separated from the plant, it won't die because it has all those extra roots to feed it.

[@gamingrex2930]

8:12 holy shit thank you for such a time saving method

[@Francois_Dupont]

dang, this is the OG!

[@tts80]

Hi, Thanks for the awesome video. It got me interested in growing watercress myself. Wondering what is the growing medium used in the video? I would like to be able to seed directly in the net pot without having to transplant them after. Is that just perlite you are using or a mixture?

[@growkratky5558]

It was a peat-perlite mixture.

[@chrisharrell2449]

Doc You mentioned you didn't know why the roots grow up the stem. I think I can help you there. That's so when they're in the river. and say a storm comes. and parts of the plant will break loose. So if they've got roots up the stem, they can then flow downstream, get anchored somewhere further on downstream and carry on growing. That's the way I grow my own watercress in an ebb and flow system. I just break bits off and replace them into another container. So I never really apart from the first time grow them from seeds. And in the past. I've actually bought watercress from the shop. and just submerge that and it throws roots.

[@growkratky5558]

Thank you!

[@joharris8212]

Thank you!

[@GlynisDance]

Great video - thank you :)

[@gatetres]

just discovered your work. very interesting . Q: can Hydroculture clay balls be used instead of Peat+Perlite soil media? ( i experimented gnat, water insect by using Peat moos media)

[@jbraga7166]

Watercress create roots spontaneously from its stem if they are too much together. Any humidity and they start to grow.

[@jakubchrobry3701]

Does the 0.6 lb of magnesium sulfate per gallon make a solution of a N:S ratio of 10:6? I want to make sure that I'm maximizing the phenethyl isothiocyanate.

[@yenyung66]

Good idea clean and healthy though many preparation

[@loydairizarry3482]

How many galons for 4 onces of nutrients?

[@growkratky5558]

The tank capacity was 7 gallons. We normally recommend 0.75 ounce stock solution A + 0.75 ounce stock solution B per gallon of growing solution for watercress ; that would have been 5.25 ounces for 7 gallons. However, the plants respond well to a slightly lower rate as was provided in this study.

[@BrandoToe]

Nicely done video. 👍

[@user-sy7ck3ln6o]

Those little tiny roots will allow you to take cuttings and plant them.

[@bilaltahirhacoglu3762]

Thank you for the information and guide. Can I start the beginning process by using coco peat instead of seedling box?

[@growkratky5558]

I think that could work. Make sure the salts are washed out of the coco peat before using.

[@bilaltahirhacoglu3762]

​@@growkratky5558 Thanks, I will start with rockwool and I hope can grow them with your technique.

[@jaskeda]

I love watercress but I never grow. We are living in San Diego, the climate is pretty dry. I wonder it is ok to grow it? Can you links to all equipments to setup the system. Thanks

[@healanimatthews1140]

thank you so much. Mahalo.

[@jennifermcmillan9518]

If I wanted to do this in something like a clear fish tank or fish bowl on my counter with a growing light, how long would I be able to keep the plant and would it continue to yelled a harvest if I keep the roots trimmed back in the bowl/tank?

[@growkratky5558]

You might get a month of ratoon harvest after the first harvest which takes about 6 weeks. In a greenhouse trial, we kept watercress growing over a year by just taking periodic cuttings, but that would be unusual because root aphids or some other affliction would likely occur well before that.

[@natureboy6410]

I live in the desert, with very limited resources. Is there a natural nutrient, such as fermented plant juice, that can be used with this method??? And if so, at what ratios should it be used??? Thanks.

[@darrennarine2603]

Great video

[@solfeinberg437]

Is there a good way you know of to do this without any of the chemical solutions. Like, if I want to use natural methods and locally available free materials. I have plenty of finished compost. Plenty of urine. Animal manures. Woodchips. Limestone. Clay.

[@kk2ak14]

Very good job!

[@isaiahdandini-haynes6148]

Hey neighbor I'm living in puna hawaii and hoping you may know where I can get the master blend locally have been really inspired by your success and made a pvc hoop house to start my own garden

[@growkratky5558]

Try Hawaii Farm Coop in Hilo. I think they have Hydro-garden products which will be similiar to what you are requesting. Good luck on your garden!

[@WonderfulWanderingTopics]

Thanks Berny. I talked to you many years ago about gardening here in Hawaii. Only recently did I get interested in growing watercress and the hydroponic method. Those roots on the lower stems, can they be succesfully replanted? Or do they suffer the same fate of more disease and insects as allowing the cut rootball to regrow?

[@growkratky5558]

Watercress can be propagated vegatatively by just placing a shoot (with or without roots) into nutrient solution or wet growing medium or by allowing the root mass to regrow. But propagating from seed is a better option since seed is more likely to be free of diseases and insects.

[@donh7654]

Just curious, can you cut the watercress shorter and keep growing it?BTW, great info and entertaining aswell!

[@growkratky5558]

If you are lucky, it might regrow when cut short, but your luck will probably improve when about a one inch stubble is left. Thanks for the favorable comments about the video!

[@Cchi4321]

Where do you buy your seeds. The local watercress in Hawaii tastes different than mainland watercress?

[@growkratky5558]

I bought seeds from Johnny's Seed Company and Stokes Seeds.

[@kimuseni]

Thanks

[@cbc9852]

I think roots on the stem are looking for air. maybe leave more air gap under polystyrene or add an airstone

[@Baelfyr]

Is it possible that the little roots along the stem allow the plant to grow out like a ground covering plant?

[@panfilobhutia]

In the nature in the eastern Himalayas these occcur. The streams on shallow areas have a continuous supply in this way.One way of continuously getting new supply.

[@AlexGallegos]

chopping so much at a time shocks the plant which makes it susceptible to disease. The key is to cut a little bit from all plants, this way you can keep cutting an infinite amount of times.

[@jinghuiniu7335]

How deep is that black tank? Can it be very shallow? Thx

[@growkratky5558]

Go to about 3:15 of this video - kzbin.info/www/bejne/nquqnGV5mraioKc A somewhat shallower tank would probably work ok.

[@katraz19]

awesome thank you for your info

[@jersonsegundo8589]

Wow i like your method...

[@estherholloway1348]

Clean the trays with white vinegar. Clean and sanitary

[@alanmunce7824]

Put a couple of goldfish in the water - no mosquito’s 👍

[@tts80]

I gave the method a go using rockwool and placed each net pot in a mason jar. So far the root development has been poor after 4 weeks and leaves development has been slow. The watercress seems to develop a fair bit of roots at the stems. Does that mean I should top up the solution so the net pot is once again submerged?

[@growkratky5558]

One good thing about watercress is that it can be grown by either the suspended pot or floating topcover method, but I recall that roots grow on the stems with both methods. I don't know how to prevent root growth on the stems. Root and shoot growth should be pretty good at 4 weeks. Possible causes of slow growth are high temperature and fertilizer deficiency.

[@tts80]

Thanks for the response. Glad to hear that it should be normal for root growth on stem. I am not using the exact formula for the nutrients maybe that is affecting the root growth. Trying to use organic fertilizer and haven't found any with the strength comparable to non organic. Also, you mentioned something about disease and so you only harvest the watercress twice. Just like to clarify if those are plant diseases or that cut-and-regrow approach would produce watercress unhealthy for human consumption? Thinking of using propagation technique via cutting after I have a successful batch.

[@growkratky5558]

Actually, our biggest problem with multi-cropping was a buildup of root aphids. Most of the field-grown watercress in Hawaii utilizes the cut and regrow approach, so it is safe for human consumption as long as the plants are generally healthy. Yes, it is ok to propagate with cuttings as long as they are generally insect and disease free.

[@sitaramrampalli3902]

Is it possible to grow other greens and vegetable plants using this non circulating hydroponic method?

[@growkratky5558]

Yes, you may wish to check other videos on my dakineapproaches channel.

[@mayapirati8468]

Is this avaiable all around years?

[@OsascogamingBrSP]

Thanks!

[@bestroseriverspham1525]

Hi there, when can I buy those plastics tank? Please respond. Appreciated! And thanks for video!!!

[@growkratky5558]

The manufacturer is Iris USA, Pleasant Prairie, WI. It is called a 'Stor-it-all Trunk Tray. I think Iris is headquartered in Japan.

[@carolynwong4937]

Where did you get the tank?

[@growkratky5558]

The tanks are Stor-it-all trunk trays mfg by Iris USA of Pleasant Prairie, WI.

[@fredblair8694]

The very best watercress is grown in the county of Wiltshire in England in moving water

[@brianclark7412]

Why the concern about mosquitos ?

[@kusudakron2833]

Good.

[@sandrawool5053]

it's like a watercress haircut. lol

[@jenniferyuqizhang]

Pineapplessssss!!!!

[@gardenlady1293]

you are awesome

[@domoetker3967]

Can I smoke it?

[@dilekcolak1202]

Super wery good 💖👍👍👌👌

[@Brigittedada]

Why not let a few plants go to seeds. ?

[@domoetker3967]

No money. Nice to have a house, a expensive watch and an awesome hobby right?

[@steveraman4562]

excellent

[@bri3449]

29 by 15 inch filled half way

[@hawkesbaynz4546]

You sound like Jordon Peterson 😂

[@solfeinberg437]

The cause of the roots on the bottom of the stems? Doesn't it just grow that way? Like if those roots found some soil or water, they would sink in. I noticed my tomatoes if they lay on the ground before I stake them up, start sending out roots from the side of the vine (the what was the upright part before it fell over / stalk). Similarly I noticed when pulling up a pumpkin (or squash or something) vine that was laying in the wood chips, in order to drag it out of the path, it ripped up - it was attached via roots. You're growing it - quite well and successfully - but in an artificial way. Normally the plant would crawl around a bit and re-establish some roots. Also, personally, a little saddened by your restarting it each time. Maybe I'll see the diseases and stuff you're talking about and change, but my first thought is to heck with that - I'm going to keep re-cropping it.

[@growkratky5558]

Well, I certainly encourage you to follow your intuition and hope you will adapt and improve on this method. By the way, in one set of experiments we made 13 harvests over a 1 year period from the original planting, but it was necessary to add additional nitrogen and manganese to the refill solutions in order to maintain yield and quality.

[@solfeinberg437]

Oh, I wouldn't go so far as to presume I'll improve on your method. You seem quite successful. I'm just wondering if the nitrogen and manganese might be in some compost / algae? I want to try it in a floating pot - to that end, I just set one afloat yesterday and sprinkled some seeds on top. I'm hoping - if I even get started, to be able to propogate the plant by just grabbing a clump - like with mint. I've never started mint from seed successfully, but I have to mow my mint now - so once it gets going. Anyway, if I'm fractionally as successful - just have several harvests. Oh, I see, in your video you said you started over after 1 or two harvests, I think it was, but in your reply you said you harvested 13 times but had to add nitrogen and manganese. I hope to have a clump I can harvest periodically and spread around rather than getting the seeds out again. And just stick it in some ponds - which I also have to make. I have a tub I was using to soak myself and water the garden but I'm leaving it now because some tadpoles made an appearance. Maybe I'll put a fish in too, because now I'm growing mosquitoes. Okay, all over the place with my comments - probably too blathering, but thanks for the reply and video!

[@bri3449]

28 by 14 inch

[@tuffgonggbUNCTION]

SOULJAH JAHBLESS

[@user-oo4zo8yy5u]

6:00 Maori people are dancing to the music

[@Bella-pr1sl]

Yum

[@bri3449]

0.81 kg

[@Dollapfin]

Wait what about your micronutrients? You’re missing a few.

[@growkratky5558]

Chem-Gro 8-15-36 also contains boron, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum and zinc.

[@Dollapfin]

dakineapproaches thank you

[@raybon7939]

I'm growing them in soil without this.

[@susanabbott3181]

Dont like the chemicals, perhaps organic feed could replace this!

[@jenniferyuqizhang]

LOL MTW soup

[@misetaemail7543]

All natural plants need to be soil based otherwise it is totally useless

[@morphling337]

You can do aquaponic or bioponic as well.

[@GH-if5xw]

Who says. Watercress is an aquatic plant and grows on the edge of streams.

[@hawaiib8]

I just realized that this dr never responds to the comments being made, why is it doctor hilo man why you not answering the people comments,

[@solfeinberg437]

Is there a good way you know of to do this without any of the chemical solutions. Like, if I want to use natural methods and locally available free materials. I have plenty of finished compost. Plenty of urine. Animal manures. Woodchips. Limestone. Clay.

[@growkratky5558]

Watercress is a pretty good scavenger for nutrients, so there should be other ways to provide nutrition. Perhaps some of the other viewers might like to make suggestions or relate their experiences.