Deep Water Culture vs Kratky... And the Importance of Air Flow in Indoor Systems

[@nicholasroos3627]

Showing these failures is valuable. Sure helps a lot more than "do this for massive harvests!". I had a funny parallel experience with my peppers and their leaves indoors. Vapour pressure deficit matters a lot from what I learned.

[@adollerhead]

Any tips for indoor hydroponic peppers? I've got 4 Shishito plants and 3 Cayennes going but I don't seem much info at all out there about hydroponic peppers! I'm also very new hydroponics in general. Built a setup over Christmas and have planted a ton of different things to see what I can manage!

[@denarisnoctem4562]

Failures prove something happened. Now we have something to move against/towards/around to adjust the situation. Thank you for showing the difficulties you experience! I learn more from your corrections than from your perfections.

[@Hoocho]

Love this, thank.

[@MrMaracuda]

Great content. 🎉 Keep up.

[@rossg-d7780]

I was also going to suggest an episode on VPD but looks like someone beat me to it! From my experience with DWC it really doesn't need to be very complicated. A few years ago I started some chillies using kratky, when they got bigger refilling the kratky became inconvenient so I switched them over to DWC. At first I bought an air pump to do it the same way as you in this video, but eventually they reached a size where the air pump felt inadequate. I can't remember where but somewhere I read that water oxygenates most at the surface. When I first looked into DWC I had assumed that you'd need to pump the oxygen directly into the water, but actually the water/air contact at the top of the container oxygenates the water just as well if not better because of the larger surface area (compared to the bubbles produced by an air stone). I had a bigger water pump laying around so I just threw that in my container instead of the air pump and it worked amazingly well, I had 0 issues. I even had the pump on timer for 15mins every 2hrs and still had no issues and healthy roots. All this to say DWC doesn't have to be complicated, just keep the water moving so that the surface is turning over and in my experience you're good to go. Could be another test for the channel or an idea for a new system for you to play around with - one that starts out kratky and converts to a simple DWC when the plant is big enough. Anyways, great vid as always :)

[@andrewgordonmiddleton]

This comment along with this amazing video needs to have more people know about it. It helps explain plants to me in a way I never realized! They have passive circulatory systems whereas we have active pumps to do that stuff. Your comment suggests, too, that it's the movement more than the air pump that was doing the work. Have you tried two systems side by side, one with an air pump and the other with the water pump? Very curious how that would work.

[@rahbabakahn]

This scientific explanation about Transpiration is fascinating, because it has a direct effect in the plants utilization of nutrients in the water. I'm trying to grow strawberries in a DWC bucket. Without a fan, and air movement, the tips of the strawberry leaves turn brown. I added a fan and airflow over the plants, and the leaves stopped turning brown. Also, the new leaves stayed green. I'm so glad that you experienced the same thing with your lettuce plants, which validates what I thought was happening. Thank you so much for this video !!

[@FlinFarmer]

That airflow tip is a game changer for me. never thought something so simple could be preventing nutrients from getting into the plant.

[@Hoocho]

I know, Blew my mind. too...

[@juliemcgugan1244]

LOL! Your dog was making sure you were doing everything right! Well done, Poocho!

[@TheHayruss]

In my experience DWC has never been a set and forget process I will check the nutrient levels, concentratrions and pH and adjust once a week, with a DWC system like this you might be able to get away with 2 weeks unmanaged maybe a bit longer. also having the airstones raised reduces the volume of oxygenated nutrient water available to the roots and once the level falls below that of the airstones then it turns into a Kratky method which the plants may not like due to a larger root mass expecting to be submerged. With the Kratky method a little bit of maintenance and water level management would have seen a much better end result after fixing the transipration issue. Possibly a nutrient drip could be setup to both setups to continually add a small amount of nutes and water after say week 2, just to keep both methods at a functional water level. Depending on water uptake 50ml - 250mL/ day for each method? Ahhhh forget all of the drivil I just mentioned as I suppose all it really needs is just a larger container and volume of water. It would be interesting to see how the nutrient concentration and water changes from week to week especially if tested against a fan and no fan scenario. Just my thoughts and reading back through my ramblings it sounds a bit critcal sorry for that. Love the time lapse really show the plants dancing and reacting to their environment.

[@11hourprep]

The info regarding airflow has solved one of my biggest breakdowns with my Kratky method. It explains why my leggy, barely surviving kale is miraculously coming back to life and actually showing sign of, do I dare say, flourishing. Thanks Mitch for your expertise. It as opened my eyes to the hydroponic movement! I think I’m ready to give my lettuce garden another run.

[@LollipoPSSTore]

Finally someone who explained the Kratky in depth the way I understood Thx g

[@Swissindoorgarden]

Great explanation! I have been a indoor gardener for many years. This is the biggest reason most new indoor gardens fail. You nail it!

[@fiddlebender88]

I am just starting my hydroponics journey and I can't thank you enough for this very valuable lesson, especially concerning airflow and how it affects both mature plants and seedlings. Dropping small science nuggets here and there really helps to paint the bigger picture about both indoor and outdoor gardening, whether it be hydroponics or growing in soil.

[@simboodamn]

Very interesting! Thank you for taking the time to do those time consuming experiments for us. I've started DWC indoor with your help (believe it or not) and my romaine lettuce is just about to be harvested and was doing awesome until I saw brown tips recently! I didn't make a big deal of it since I'm harvesting the whole batch tomorrow and starting anew. I will definitely add some airflow! Superb video work

[@seanmcgrath6447]

Came for the timelapse. I also figured out how much of a difference airflow makes. I use cpu fans to provide airflow, super efficient. Now that I have the airflow, I was literally able to double the light flux, increasing growth rate, while eliminating tip burn. Great vid!

[@CapricaSoul]

Great episode! Please consider making an episode about VPD. What it is, what levels you should aim for, and how to regulate indoor systems to maintain it. 🤓

[@davedave3631]

Excellent tutorial, Hoocho. I like how you explain things so everyone can understand them. I also like how you design, create and share 3D printed parts to help solve issues you see in your systems.

[@jaypeabee]

You’re very honest about your lessons. It’s awesome to learn from your mistakes. I’m looking forward to getting my Kratsky going

[@jlewis300]

I use 1/4" soaker tubing rather than a stone. I can make a coil which surrounds the roots with bubbly goodness. I drill a couple of bigger holes as well. Works great, I struggled with my stones getting clogged

[@unclereefer37]

Love the left turn this took, just like everything I try to do in a day, start with one destination in mind and ending up somewhere completely different

[@williamedgar7327]

Hello Hoocho and thank you for your channel. I wanted to comment on the use of the air stone and air pump. I am coming at this from an aquarium point of view. My experience has taught me that it is important to keep the air pump higher than the air stone, in the event of power loss the air lines can fill with water and siphon off the nutrient fluid in bucket adding to the problems already associated with a power outage. Simple inline check valves will also help but as a word of caution they occasionally fail as well so simply keeping the pump higher than the container is the best practice. Best wishes.

[@DasAlbatross]

I just got back from the store buying fans for my indoor plants! Thank you for the video!

[@varmoes]

Hydroponics is the perfect balance between science & engineering. So enjoyable!

[@DogSaveTheBreen]

Came for the yield comparison and tune, left wiser about the air flow problem I was having ❤😊

[@Solarpunk87]

Wow I had the same problem with the tips I thought it was nutrient burn but it's such a simple fix. thank you and to the person who suggested this.

[@victoriadegand2393]

Thank you for showing failures. It is very helpful. You solved one of my problems I found just today!

[@kaytrim]

This was a very valuable lesson. Thank you for sharing your failures and research into them. This may explain why the leaves of my tomatoes are wilting off as the plants grow. I'll have to get a fan on them.

[@quixoticgeeks]

Would be really interesting to see an experiment on how much air flow is needed. And does it need to be all day,or just when the lights are on ?

[@belleomalley1022]

Brilliant! Thank you for sharing when things don't go well and your lil pup!!

[@montanateri6889]

Wow. The information in this vidoe is absolute solid GOLD. The science is totally clear, understandable and so valuable. I'm so glad this test failed as we got so much valuable information out of it. I now understand fans, the value of wind. My mind is expanded and my potenial for better growing is expanded. thank you Hoocho!!!

[@lauriedmills7581]

Great to see a fellow Aussie and Queenslander! Learning a lot from you - thanks. :)

[@michaelgoff9671]

Learned from watching a ton of KZbin before I started anything. Airflow is the easiest way to deter pest, strengthens the plant, and reduces humidity which helps VPD.

[@kevinbarnes133]

Wow. Thanks! Great info for us indoor growers. And the clarity of your presentation is wonderful.

[@daphnetilling6034]

not sure if this has been covered elsewhere but how did you create the pucks? I am currently looking into setting up hydroponics and the idea of not using the cup things appeals to my skint lifestyle.

[@TheOneSpam]

Thank you, THANK YOU for posting this video. I think it's my favourite one on your channel. I haven't seen a video on your channel that I can relate to as much as this one. Learned SO much from this one! We learn so much from our mistakes. We learn almost nothing when things go well. It's a lot harder to know for sure what went right and whether it was a fluke or not (or even if things could have gone better) Like, if you did the kratky vs dwc, and they both did just fine, what would we have learned? I AM interested to see this comparison revisited, but I am very grateful that you posted this failed experiment because we learned things that are relevant for ANY indoor system. Thanks again!

[@Grudg]

Can anyone point me to any studies that cover health info of consumption of hydroponic food please?

[@JoeKissell81]

Regarding the Stomata, I read that birds chirping in the morning trigger the stomata into opening. And, that is the reason why people growing indoors see improvement when playing classical music to their plants. The theory is that classical music simulates birds chirping and therefore improves respiration through the stomata. I would love to see an episode where you run tests on playing music to your plants.

[@ThePrimeMinisterOfTheBlock]

I would expect a recording of birds chirping would have the effect you're looking for? After all, without birds to chirp the playing of classical music would not have any effect?

[@billbarnes5137]

I really enjoy your teaching moments. This one, regarding air flow, was particularly enjoyable. 😊

[@MKSouthernStar]

Thank you, I have learnt heaps in this episode.

[@tjoppanz8848]

What foam do you use? Brand name perhaps? Trying to find some across the ditch but can only find extruded polystyrene, is it the same thing?

[@bennythepetty]

Do you have a video of the tiered NFT system you built at 0:48 ?

[@MattGarver]

Clever 3D holder for the air stones, I like those. Your indoor grows are looking better. Simplicity and great results..., repeat.

[@brian420pm]

The airstone positions can be improved. Currently they will affect the two center plants twice the amount of the 4 corners. Just move them 1/3rd the distance to each closest end. That will shrink the disparity of those center plants from 100% to just 8%.

[@jonathanporter9983]

I've been having the same exact issue with my indoor kratky system. Thank you so much for the explanation and I can't wait to add some fans!

[@benwhiting7173]

Just wondering where you got the XPS board from?

[@charlesraeclark7141]

This explains some of my own burnt ends. Thank you for sharing!

[@MR-ri1qp]

Love the setup and the science lesson. Love the zapper at the end, bad boy sounded like bacon sizzling... haha

[@Hoocho]

Poor little fella… unless he was eating my plants… in which place, he got what he deserved.

[@gpsawyer]

Amazing video, thank you for showing a failed experiment and using the opportunity to learn and teach!

[@bobby.schlueter]

I have the OXYPOT XL as my first DWC reservoir for indoor growth and had planned on some 3D prints to duplicate the air stone placement just like you have shown here. I think this will be a perfect compliment to my grow towers. As always, appreciate your trial and errors to help us avoid the same in our grows.

[@atomizer2665]

The oxypots have the airstone holders molded into the base of the reservoir. This is prolly where Hoocho got the idea from :)

[@patdodrill9411]

Mate you are just the best!! I look forward to every experiment you go through. You help me tune up my system regularly 🤙🤙

[@davidw1324]

Good lesson with great information. Thank You.

[@AznDumbum]

This is valuable to watch.

[@claudiolenz6178]

Thanks again for the nice experiment and of course the great time laps. I've already noticed the airflow thing myself and got better results with fans, but your explanation was very helpful to understand the context in the right way. thinking about it, it's kinda obvisouly plants do need some air, like in nature. I run my setup with some 120mm PC fans (30 min on/off), which are very cheap and mostly powerful enough. Looking forward to your next comparison video. It would be interesting to see if different air on/off intervals or diffirent intvervals during day/night cycles would affect plant growth. By the way i think dwc has only an advantage to bigger plants with fruits.

[@hereslukas]

Hey mate, just FYI - Bunnings has deleted that EPS foam from their inventory. Got told by them a few weeks ago, half way through insulating my shed.

[@mistyjohnson4794]

Thank you so much for explaining the science in this. It makes so much sense I appreciate it. Also shows the importance of nature & being outside in its natural habitat therefore we should do our best to try and replicate that environment as much as possible when we can.

[@nodwas11]

I need a Hoochos starter guide (beyond lettuces albeit I know they are the right place to start) and summary of nuances between different plants. There's so much information to digest. My goal is to have a small variety of systems and plants for a level of self sustained food production and I know it'll grow, some pun intended, from there

[@Hoocho]

What would you like included in the starter guide?

[@nodwas11]

@@Hoocho that's a really good question. I think my sticking points today as I'm trying to dive into hydroponics are recommendations on what system might be easiest to start up with different varieties of plants and watchouts. I'm working my way through the various textbooks and I haven't seen any sort of guidance yet on nutrient differences between plant families, certainly the lettuces need different nutrients from potato or strawberry? Maybe they don't. I'm going to start with small samples of different things but it would be nice for a Hoochos quick start guide for newbies.

[@robcitizen6169]

Thanks Hoocho REALLY Great stuff Love ya work !

[@rburn99]

so why did both trays stop growing? You said they ran out of nutrients? What could be done to keep that from happening? Can you add nutrient enriched water periodically?

[@gutrali]

Are the white cameras you're using everywhere Wyze cams? Which ones ?

[@TimCheney-l9m]

I made a kratky wishing well that holds 2 30 gallion tubs.growing 6 cucumber plant's. Using master blend nutrition did very well till hot dry winds it is partially shaded from 12pm till 4 pm I have had to add 15 gallions to each tub

[@seansmith3422]

In my indoor DWC you can definitely see the effect of the air movement right now it’s a little overgrown and the plants not getting as much airflow have the expected brown tips. I usually rotate the plants every few days, been busy and didn’t the last week and it is showing.

[@michaeleyeisha2003]

What lights are those on the shelf? Where can I find them? Thanks

[@victoriadegand2393]

Thank you for all your information, but as a newbie to this I’m frustrated. I probably follow you more than anyone, because of your explanations of the good bad & ugly. So, my growing is about 1/4 your rate. I’m using master blend. I start my seedlings in either a propagation box or the aero system. Both do well. It’s when I transfer to Kratky that things slow down. I have the red/white/blue grow lights. Use MB, some foods are in coco noir, lava balls or a combo or coco noir/vermiculite/perlite. I wash & all before using & soak in nutrients as well. My plants are also exposed to South windows & I have a fan going. Yet my plant growth is so slow. Nothing like your time lapse & I feel like I’m doing all you are doing EXCEPT perhaps I do not have the proper humidity or heat levels. We recently moved to an area where food gardening outside is not allowed. I have planted some lettuce & other items between flowers but that’s all I can do without being discovered. Is the answer what I think? Humidity & heat?

[@bbdoll1234]

Does anyone know where he's bought the foam board

[@drfrostybuds5288]

What's the name of the song and band playing during timelapse 2?

[@timnic3850]

I've added the KNF Jadam Organic Pest and Disease solutions to manage my pest and disease issues. It is cheap to make, organic and doesn't affect my vegetables and improves the leave's moisture absorption too.

[@marineleong850]

Although this may sound contradictory, it’s better to located the fan higher up to blow air downwards instead of horizontally across the leaves. Just to share.

[@SnakeAndTurtleQigong]

Appreciate the reminders!!

[@danielsanderson-brown4960]

HI, What's the nutrient solution that you use? Thanks

[@MIKE12334455]

What is the best pump always on or pump off on x number of minutes. I use hydroponics tower and pipe system

[@mattpedler4517]

23:50 What's Stomata with you?

[@MikeParentLeap]

Great information. TY. Now run that Kratky vs DWC TEST PLEASE. 😉

[@aloveofsurf]

Thank you for the information. As I understand it, you believe, as your viewer suggested, that your evidently necrotic, burnt-looking leaves resulted from insufficient airflow causing reduced transpiration causing both calcium deficiency and insufficient turgor to support the plant. What evidence did you find supporting your viewer's suggestion that insufficient airflow is the ultimate root cause of this disease?

[@_hazplants]

I see commercial indoor farms rising the air pressure in their growing rooms to prevent any insects or diseases from entering. Maybe this task is a bit above for hobbyists, but a combination of some clear housing, a fan and some filtering on the side, where the air enters the fan, could give some protection against flying insects.

[@Hatchmade]

Thanks for sharing. I appreciate your knowledge and experience.

[@danieldewindt3919]

Nice and surprising result :)

[@keysersoze1202]

Issues aside, it doesn't look like DWC was significantly more productive than Kratky.

[@Dasedandconfused314]

Love it! If you use a heat gun on the 3D print for a couple seconds, all the stringing will disappear.

[@amydolby1010]

Amazing, didn't know any of that! Thanks!!

[@austinscottful]

Thank you so much for this. I have had similar failures and your video has really opened my eyes to the ... Root cause.

[@CrankyCoder]

Do you run your fans 24/7? I have heard of people saying to run the fan while the lights are on. Then in the "night" cycle cut the fan too and let the plants reset.

[@leannekenyoung]

That is really interesting and I guess intuitively I just must have known this because I’ve always had a fan running on my indoor grow systems(not my seedlings though). I never knew why it worked I just knew it did and I was having amazing results with all my leafy greens and everyone was always amazed at the colors. To me it was normal and I was always cutting the outer leaves off every 7-10 days so I never gave the plants an opportunity to not get their required nutrients. But it’s very interesting my initial thought was to keep good air flow to prevent any mold or fungus issues but I’m blown away to learn how it actually helped the plants to pull in the nutrients needed. One question-on your video time lapse you said that your pak Choi ran out of nutrients and that was why they were weathering and dying but did they also run out of water entirely? Because it’s been my experience as long as they have water they will continue to survive and they will grow slowly but the intensity of the green leaves will be quite light in color but they won’t die down the way yours did, so was it nutrients and water that was lacking?🥰❤️🙏🏻🇨🇦

[@krassimirharalanov5158]

Are the black containers available for purchase in US?

[@anatomicallycorrectmuppets8180]

I think the chief failure of both kratky and DWC is not having a simple way to monitor your nutrients. I see nft or bato buckets as far superior because you can easily monitor and adjust systems and prevent problems like these

[@rebel4466]

Can you maybe do differen't plans in the version 2.0 of this test? Lettuce isn't very demanding by itself and won't have a huge difference in the end. I'm pretty much half way around the world from you, so completely different climate and circumstances, but in my experiences, a plant that requires lots of nutrients and that has a relatively fast growth will push the comparison towards DWC. Most of my experiences are from Chilli plants and adding the airstone makes a huge difference for me. Wasn't as crucial to the growth of a tree seedling though. But maybe you can find a little selection that can show other demands for plants without taking up your time for a year to film it.

[@michaeljust9940]

Any thoughts on how relative humidity in the air could affect plant transpiration? I live in a high desert region that has very low humidity year round and have my hydro setup indoors year round. If I understand stomatal transpiration correctly, it's the evaporation of water from the stomatal specifically. So if the stomatal has high humidity, and the air around it has low humidity, I am curious if there is a % difference I'm humidity that allows for appropriate stomatal transpiration without the need of air flow.

[@diogosilva2475]

Fantastic video !!!!

[@Ledfords96]

You can use a fish weight on your airstone with a rubber band to hold it in place.

[@toastrecon]

Fascinating! So the transpiration acts like a discharge or outlet so the water and nutrients coming up from the roots can happen, or happen more quickly. Faster than a mechanism like osmotic pressure. Question: is there a way to produce starts using kratky that would eventually be transplanted into soil? I live in a cold climate and want to start some larger plants that I don’t have room for indoors, but that would get killed by occasional frosts in the spring. Would the air/water roots live in soil?

[@Hoocho]

I’ve replanted into other substrates with success. But only into hydroponic media… unsure about soil. The plant will need more water than usual for a time. The difference being the plant will need to reestablish the roots to contact the soil, rather than hydro where the nutrients are aqueous in the provided water.

[@toastrecon]

@@Hoocho cool! I might give it a shot and do half and half - some sprouted and started in a soil planter and then some in a kratky and then transplanted.

[@MB-co6qj]

@@toastrecon yeah it'll work! Make sure you water it in really well, as the roots aee used to water. Then gradually diminish the moisture. You'll have to play around a bit to know when is the time to treat it like a real soilplant.

[@CrankyCoder]

what do you use for your timelapse cameras?

[@pauljohnston2201]

Don’t you use silicone before ph up or down???

[@andyyonce518]

What are lids with holes in them made of?

[@TNBNaturals]

You do such an amazing job!

[@williamwashburn8031]

I never thought about using air stones to splash the grow media to keep it hydrated/ bring roots down! Don’t the air stones also oxygenate the water? Isn’t that how lettuce rafts get oxygen? I wonder if the lettuce takes up more oxygen from the air gap or from the dissolved oxygen in the water. What is easier for the plant?

[@tradermunky1998]

Ha, I'm test running a 2x4 foot lettuce kratky indoors at the moment. You were smart going with smaller bins, I didn't think this through as I have to clean out the whole thing at once which is not ideal. I guess I better get a fan 😆

[@inaneglory7431]

Confused on why you are lowering the water level on the kratky so they grow more air roots but not doing the same on the DWC? Everything I've read on DWC says to lower the water level as the roots grow.

[@floydbertagnolli944]

Very helpful!!! Thanks. - PS. I know the US government should switch to the metric system but they haven’t done it yet. Many of your viewers both present and future will be from the US so would you please also include the imperial measurement system for example, talking about hole drill, size, etc.

[@garys6583]

Awesome video and info , thank you

[@kevinrowse2324]

Are there any benefits to using the bamboo sticks vs foam pucks?

[@N1ghtR1der666]

smaller bubbles mean more water contract per volume of air and more transfer of oxygen to the water if that matters?

[@lynndietz490]

What keeps the water from going sour?

[@andrewislas7742]

This was so amazing to see man Thank you