How to Grow Hydroponic Lettuce in Bottles

Hoocho Grows Plants in Drink Bottles: Any Bottle Kratky
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Hoochos explores the worlds of Hydroponics, Aquaponics, Permaculture, Homesteading, Fermentation, Technology and DIY Builds to look at the world through a larger lens that can incorporate the best of everything into a rich and rewarding lifestyle.
Through self sufficiency we can reduce consumption and increase our hyperlocal household production.
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If you have personal queries about hydroponics or other matters please join me on Patreon for limited individual support or post in the Hoocho Reddit community or on the Hoocho’s facebook group and there are a lot of friendly helpful likeminded people that may have answers for you.
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Happy Hydroponicing!

[@leannekenyoung]

The other thing you can do is wrap aluminum foil(tin foil, cooking foil) shiny side out around the stem of the basil plant and it will allow the plant to stand up perfectly without having to use a skewer. Also you can wrap the entire bottle with the aluminum foil shiny side out and it will do two things it will reflect light back up to the plants and it will keep the water at a cooler temperature. One other thing if you cut just the leaves where they attach at the stem for every leave you cut off two more will grow in its place and it will grow a much bushier basil plant and it will continue to produce an incredible amount of basil! Oh and one other point to make by wrapping the foil around the entire bottle it will keep it dark for the roots and prevent algae growth completely! I’ve grown my basil in 4litre containers and those seem to be the perfect size to keep the basil growing like crazy. Plus you don’t have to start a new plant from seeds you can just take a cutting from a basil plant and pop it in water and it will grow basil leaves and keep the basil growing!

[@lady_v_101]

Thank you for sharing.

[@vagabonddeesadventures8491]

I think his point was for the lazy ppl who don’t want to wrap and waste foil. I have seen someone wrap construction paper around the jars with a rubber band. If you don’t get it wet you can reuse it over and over again.

[@HannahWalters]

I keep thinking "surely hoocho has done everything there is to do with hydroponics" and YET, I am once again surprised with amazing new ideas!!!! onya mate, your channel is my little gardening escape 🌴

[@richjageman3976]

I have been doing this for about 6 months and the results are amazing. I found out that soon 24 lettuce and 24 spinach produce a bunch! I grew 2 types of lettuce and 3 types of spinach and grew more than I can eat. I used 1 and 2 liter soda bottles and 1 inch net pots with clay pebbles. I discovered that transplanting to larger bottles worked better if I had as close to the same pH and temps of the water and measured how high it was in the original bottle and matched that as closely as possible as well.

[@tk421dr]

i just harvested some cauliflower grown in a 1.5l wine bottles

[@wjm1319]

Really cool idea! Suggestion for 3D printless version: Punch a hole into a the side drinking straw near the top & put that into the bottle before the cotton. That should allow refilling and, if you put the hole in the side near the top of the bottle, but still under the cotton, it should allow air to escape when refilling, while the length of the straw should keep it from falling in. Might also want a hole near the bottom to aid in letting the water out of the straw.

[@dxannh8704]

Not sure if this was already mentioned, but it is pretty easy to light proof any bottle using a neoprene bottle sleeve (learned this from Khang Starr's channel)or the top of an old sock (my own hack). You can also soak cardboard from delivery packages in water and in about 15 minutes you can form that around your bottle like really really thick papier mache. I know I got this idea from someone on KZbin and I for the life of me can't remember who it is. I will edit this comment when I hunt it down.

[@GlynisDance]

The sock idea is really good - instant bottle cover, and a little insulation maybe too.

[@racsorange]

Link to the cardboard?

[@scotthartman8390]

🎵 Did you ever know that you’re my hero??? You’re everything I wish I could beeeee 🎼 no but seriously I love the ingenuity and science share. Thank you 🙏

[@latriciacagle4873]

3” net cups fit perfectly in a wide mouth mason jar. I use blue glass bottles to propagate my house plant cuttings. I don’t have access to a 3D printer but I think I will try this method using them for lettuce. I will try using a short section of a large drinking straw next to the cotton ball for an opening to refill the solution.

[@dorianmccarthy7602]

Have you noticed less algae growth in the blue glass version compared to the clear glass version?

[@latriciacagle4873]

@@dorianmccarthy7602 The blue is so dark that I can’t see in the bottle. However, when I pour the water out I don’t see any evidence of algae. I don’t see any algae growth in any of the wine bottles(green or clear) either. The only algae growth I see is in my NFT system and my seedling trays🤷‍♀️

[@karensterling5246]

Latricia Cagle, I just saw this video and I had the same thought about using straw along side the cotton. I’m in a hot and humid climate and lettuce and some greens are very challenging to grow. I’m going to give this method a try for sure. 🌿🌸🦋

[@TNBushcrafter]

2 inch net pots fit regular mouth with the rings on.

[@ianroberts8371]

Plastic net cups fit perfectly in pasta sauce jars which i used to successfully grow lettuce in. Love the channel 🤙

[@vagabonddeesadventures8491]

The time lapse is so much fun to watch. As a true newbie, I have seeds & am waiting for sprouting I love your videos. I am going to wrap some of my bottles in construction paper with a rubber band and a few in fabric. I am a quilter and I will enjoy the esthetic. Keep sharing you always provide so much information.

[@lindacouture3915]

Exploring this world with you is the best : 1) because of your knowledge and great explaination, and 2) because of this so so nice music to my ears !!!

[@Tomalek111]

If ever I needed an excuse to open a wine bottle, I have a really good one now😊

[@Hoocho]

It’s a noble cause 🍷

[@Bbluenight]

So nice, thank you for these tests, you gave me a simple idea : to bury few bottles like this outdoors, it will keep the algue out and it will keep the nutrient cold (ground temperature).

[@sambagamb]

Great idea for summer 👍🏻

[@janetbransdon3742]

I am wondering would coffee pods fit some bottles

[@bigonprivacy2708]

Your content is awesome! Love that you keep going back and forth from 3-D customized ways to the low-cost, low-tech way to make it happen. This may be one of your most important videos. Suggestion: for the low tech cotton ball/rock wool, wrap it around a straw before inserting.

[@darlenefraser3022]

For those of us without a 3D printer, I’m just wondering if one were to put a drinking straw into the top beside the cotton to give the opportunity to water them. Cut the straw flush with the top of the bottle. NO idea if that would work!

[@Schallerotto]

If the bottle is a plastic bottle, you may Poke a hole on it's neck with a hot metal point tô allow Air in!

[@carlstockenberg2785]

Hi Hoocho! Thanks for the content. I am using regular 0.5L aluminium beer cans (we dont have larger here in Sweden). If you use a can opener (correctly) you get a smooth cut and a net cup or pool noodle style item will fit snuggly. Would be a great follow up content to the bottle video. The cans will nicely keep light out and are easier to refill and manage than thin necked bottles.

[@PewpewFiah]

While it's a separate item, the DraftTop works fantastic for this as its designed to take the tops off cans in one go!

[@elijahisrael86]

What I’m getting from this video is: “GROW SOMETHING. IT’S EASY” Excellent video.

[@eerotarik2567]

Cut the top off the bottle, invert it and it will be supported by the outer shell of the bottle. To refill you just lift up the top.

[@AdamHatmaker]

You can stick a cut straw in beside the cotton to give it an air hole. Great idea. will be trying this in my greenhouse.

[@matthewstrydom6992]

Yes! Just the type of content I have been waiting for. Get in!🎉

[@vincent2872]

11:50 That moment of pure satisfaction from it matching perfectly was awesome

[@gannonleonard]

This is really awesome to see! Thank you so much for doing this, I have a lot of bottles around and am probably going to try this.

[@Krystino]

Amazingly pleasant and interesting to watch, as usual. Thank you mate for all these contents.

[@sambagamb]

It's called a funnel Mitch 😃 Absolutely fire idea, already grabbed them from the Patreon Well done on continuing to be an utter legend and sharing with the rest of us ❤️ love ya guts! Maybe v3 could have a funnel included?

[@braveladder1682]

Another great video. The time lapse videos really set your channel apart and I wish everyone did it. The stupid aerogarden netcups fit nicely in alot of bottles, which is nice.

[@MOONAGEDAYDREAM28]

Great work hoocho, the da vinci of hydroponic

[@dimitriv4987]

I've been doing this with my water bottles, I'm very happy with the results

[@StumpyTales]

I definitely think a wider mouth version for jars would be useful to many people. Coffee jars could be good. Yes we could scale up the bottle size, but as you said the walls would start to get really thick. I'm just more attracted by the idea of a jar than a bottle as I could work within lower height limit. Same volume but half the container height. Also, did I miss where you said what 38mm version was for? I heard you say the 28mm was for the Coco water bottles but if you mentioned the 38mm I must have been distracted and missed it. I guess it would be around the Snapple bottle size (do they still make that stuff?) Definitely going to have a poke around in my plastic bottle stash for some likely candidates to play with.

[@tracyboyd4867]

Im going to give this a try outdoors to see how they grow...great video...😊

[@MyTube4Utoo]

Very interesting. I always learn something on this channel.

[@ChristineHauber]

In my town, we have glass jar/bottle recycling. I find the best things there for this.

[@mlh496]

I also use 3" net cups since they fit perfectly in a wide mouth mason jar. I'd be super interested in a 3D model for a mason jars. Though if using cotton a regular mouth jar lid might make more sense.

[@Scrambles7]

BIG DOG!! This is truly awesome! I don't own a printer, but I'll be asking a friend to make me a few on his. Love this design!

[@Hoocho]

🤙🏻🐕

[@wayne8113]

Thanks Hoocho

[@belleomalley1022]

Brilliant!! I was giving up on hydroponics lately but you have resparked my interest! Also, whoops at 19:43 DEMONITISED LOL So happy to be supporting you Hooch!

[@Hoocho]

I’m here for ya!

[@pseabrook]

Great video hooch! Also looking fit and yolked my man!

[@Hoocho]

Today I learned what yolked means hahaha

[@franzgruber4159]

thank you and greetings from germany

[@bonacci01]

I am a new patron and trying indoor hydroponics for the first time. I am starting with these kratky bottles, a sf 600 light and general hydroponic maxigrow nutrient. Well see how it goes! 😅

[@spencero6774]

My business uses food products that come in 1 gallon plastic containers. I think I will try this method with them! I’m going to drill a hole in the top of the lid and “web” the cotton ball around the top before trapping it with the lid. Thanks for the ideas!

[@lolitabonita08]

very nice experiment.

[@haydo1990]

On ya Hooch, love your work mate. Perhaps the texture of the inside of the container could also influence the algae differences you see across the containers? Rougher surface, more surface area, more for them to hold onto... Your OJ bottles appear to be of a rougher finish

[@dillardhayes3612]

When you topped off/transplanted the unhappy plants I think you covered the air roots that were already in place and disturbed the ecosystem. I feel if you start with enough nutrients for the full lifecycle in the container is the goal. Keep up the great work.

[@EricDawe-jq2hy]

Leaving a bit of a plastic or metal straw (or any other small pipe) beside the cotton wool will allow for top-ups with a funnel without removing the plant or 3d printing

[@Engineering_Science]

Many people in the US will use wide mouth mason jars for this purpose, I use those and the internal dimension (ID) is 74.90mm (millimeters) and outer dimension (OD) is 86.42mm. Interested if you can make a 3D cad for this. Thank You.

[@ginabisaillon2894]

You are so clever!

[@Sarah-qp8mc]

We have here in Germany 1l glas milk bottles (or if you prefer the "Pfand" free version tomato juice bottles), the opening is a little wider on those then on the wine bottles but with the 3d prints those should work nicely.

[@chrisz.9974]

I designed a very long and narrow netcup for a bottle to grow basil cuttings. The roots itself support the plant.

[@mexarrinha]

Nice one! The bottles of wine seen to do the trick, no weeds. You could also put a air pump hose and feed the nutrients with a syringe

[@gavinroocke2936]

I’ve been using 2kg yoghurt containers to grow cos lettuce 1 per tub. No algae works great.

[@3dPrintsAndLeaves]

Thank you for this video, it should be way more popular! I've never commented here before but I was Kratky curious and this video was a tipping point. No need to buy big crates and to find space for them, and I already 3d print. I've designed similarly shaped inserts for my own bottle sizes, use peat and cotton wool as growing medium, and got a nice little leafy green garden quite fast :)

[@Hoocho]

By the look of your channel you're exactly my audience hahaha

[@3dPrintsAndLeaves]

Haha, true that :) @@Hoocho

[@quietspacearts]

i been using sauce jars and works great but found had to put sacking/cloth around it but still easy to pull cloth down to see nutrients and roots, also sanitary soap 6litre containers for tomatoes/peppers

[@Optamizm]

When I was growing in bottles, I just sticky taped aluminium foil around the bottles to keep out light.

[@Engineering_Science]

5:41 - Smart concept.

[@yaoyayra]

Welcome back to Hoocho's ✔

[@keithusace4352]

I was thinking about a soda straw on the cotton bottles to replicate the fill hole on the 3D printed

[@N1ghtR1der666]

i would like to see some more side by side comparisons of methods, also an idea I had would be to find a way to combine greenhouse under sun with grow lights to boost existing sun light for more favorable grow seasons without having to run the lights all day

[@richardcooney7789]

Hi great show , I got a roll of tin foil and covered my walls in my grow room ,cost very little but it made the light reflection real good . anyone looking for free containers , I get old refrigerators take every thing out and take off the doors line it with 6 mill plastic and lay it on its back ..I use the crisper bins in my greenhouse.

[@trishapomeroy9251]

I've been experimenting with wide mouth quart canning jars for growing lettuce. The 3" net pots fit perfectly in wide mouth canning jars. I have mine wrapped in black socks, but it is a pain. I love the idea that maybe I don't have to deal with that.

[@pb6839]

I also cut the neck off beer bottles with a $12 cutter from amazon because 2 inch netcups fit perfectly

[@CosyPosy]

Do you have to refill them often?

[@theyetilines5648]

Me: I really don't need a 3D printer Hoocho just existing, well that is a solid argument you have there.

[@Hoocho]

😂

[@janetbransdon3742]

Fantastic

[@downunderfulla6001]

I’ve just dropped 1x purple cauliflower and 1x sugarloaf cabbage in a kratky styrofoam box 🍺🍺

[@Hoocho]

Beers to ya

[@emilethesnaar6604]

What about using several bottles with a large reservoir and 4mm fish tank tubing using capilliary action to keep the bottles filled to 40-60%m

[@user-sf8mn9ed3d]

It might mess with the printing and make it more complex, but it the top of the printed lids were concave instead of flat it would act as a small funnel and make refilling easier.

[@cheapcharlie7]

Thought: if using the non print option, utilise a section of airline which stays in place through the cotton for refill purposes

[@ginabisaillon2894]

With the cotton wool alone, you could insert a little piece of tube at the same time so that you could use that tube for refilling.

[@matthewblankowski2265]

I have started instinctively answering the phone, "welcome to hoochos" my friends think I'm nuts

[@Hoocho]

🤣

[@that_garden_gnome]

sweet!

[@tonysako]

funny been doing this method with sponges to hold seedling in last few mothns protein containers works amazing

[@699hazard]

You could modify your print to include a tube for refilling the water

[@varanasihydroponics4641]

And best guru

[@pierrex3226]

I'm going to go ahead and utilize that hole.

[@CatHamster-wf5xs]

Excellent work Mr Hoocho. Maybe 3d print a funnel to aid in the top up process

[@Hoocho]

There’s two designs I’d like to add to this, the funnel, for a small watering can, and some kind of support system for taller plants.

[@CatHamster-wf5xs]

@@Hoocho Wonder if you could have a syphon going to a central reservior to auto top up all the bottles

[@mknight3488]

amazing

[@Martin1991zab]

Hi, i tested something similar a few years ago: growing in bottles outdoor or at a windows is ideal if you want a algae farm ... depending of the type they are eatable, but my basil had not liked it. Btw: can you please explore growing algae too?

[@jeremiahbullfrog9288]

For mason jars, I'd recommend a standard lid with a hole drilled into it to accept your 3d printed adapter, as opposed to printing an entire custom lid.

[@jasoncallaghan3084]

You are a genius, making stuff out of 3D printing and I love your cap design. 👌🏼👌🏼 What temp do you usually have in the room? Are you fussy with temp or just keep it at consistency temp

[@michellecolledge2355]

mason jar 3D print would be fantastic

[@dorianmccarthy7602]

Here's a variant/idea i'd like to see tested. a mason jar/broad rimmed jar plant holder for bulbs such as onion/garlic that's perhaps like a half-sphere splined design (like an orange juicer) for the roots to grow through. Too eccentric? perhaps :P

[@latriciacagle4873]

I tried growing garlic in a mason jar using a net cup. I used a soft neck variety which didn’t work well. Ultimately, my water level was too high and the garlic started to rot( beginner’s mistake). I threw them into a compost pile and a year later I had garlic so it wasn’t a complete loss🙃

[@Suchtzocker]

why do i have to think about veggi or vegetable molotows now lol what also would look nice and have enough reservoir would be wine balloons idk what they are called right, the big glass bottles with a netting around them where you let wine produce co2 while riping in fermentation

[@TheCassenator]

I really love all the content hoocho comes out with. It’s always informative without pandering and devoid of clickbait. Only thing I could possibly ask the community is what variety is that pretty curly leaf lettuce with the red tips? I’d love to try to grow it myself. It looks tasty.

[@Hoocho]

Red oak leaf lettuce 😊

[@TheCassenator]

Awesome thanks 😁. Definitely gonna have to grow that one. The red lettuce I’m growing right now is called “Red Velvet” and it’s stark how red it is. I’ll have to post pictures of it in the subreddit when it gets into is final home.

[@zoemeow7677]

If put net pot with regular soil and wick is more veggies is reasons is my favorite system of gardening

[@Draakdarkmaster6]

glass is a partial UV blocker, that could be why there wasn't as much algae in your glass containers

[@varanasihydroponics4641]

You are my best friend

[@rysrys5213]

Great 😊

[@robertprainito9611]

just started watching your videos! Seems like you really know your stuff! I am planning a hydro grow very soon! IF you can do mason Jars that would be awesome! I do have one question. For the clear bottles, how do you control algae growth?

[@roidroid]

The bottles could be _topped-up_ by submerging the whole bottle in the nutrient solution for a few minutes, you may need to turn them on their side so the bottle-top is under. Let them bubble away for a few minutes. Doing this submersion in a CLEAR nutrient solution container, near the side of the container, would help you see when the submerged bottle has replenished to a good level (but i guess you could just tip it upside down afterwards to drain out any extra).

[@whammybar2976]

Gizz!! Woooooo!!

[@simonwrublik2045]

For refilling, I recommend using liquor pour spouts on a large liter bottle. It works a treat and reduces spilling

[@karvinmedia]

small food grade funnel...

[@toastiesburned9929]

I use a mason jar and stick a small playdough cup with the bottom cut out to hover a rockwool cube in the mouth to clone my canna

[@08047870]

very informativ thnx, why do you have a blower blowing on them

[@mikec3820]

mason jars either the wide mouth or the regular size are all the same no matter the ounce sizes of the jars. except the small half pint ones. those have a regular size lid.

[@Meansi]

I wonder if when you transplanted them you could cut the roots back and let them regrow so you don’t drown the air roots. When I see people adding terrestrial plants to the top of their fish tank they cut the roots back to help them acclimate to being underwater

[@chriswilbourn]

Was thinking about the mason jars and I bet you could just find net pots that would fit.

[@vincent2872]

I love your videos man thank you so much for these ! Do you have any ideas on what causes my kratky lettuces to always end up with root rot after a couple of weeks ? They're inside so the temperature of the water isn't the issue I believe

[@Optamizm]

It's usually due to lack of oxygen.

[@wyattwolf8150]

You could probably wedge a small piece of a straw in with the wool if you can't use the 3d printed option!

[@neiloxley7904]

I have been doing similar to the bottles using 2 litre plastic milk bottles. I am in Adelaide the milk bottles are square in profile and I have laid them on there sides and been able to make two holes to grow two plants in each one. I am using Bunnings Manatec hydroponic mix. Just wondering about upping the nutrient mix to match Masterblend tomatoes mix where they up the nitrogen level and add Epsom salts.

[@DJ_K0D4]

Mason jar should be pretty easy to make though using the same design. Just extend the outter lip. Wont have to worry about too big or too thick of walls and cuts down print times.

[@ninjabuddy1]

I obviously haven't tested it yet but I think half gallon (~1.5 liter) plastic milk cartons would be good, since many are opaque it may help with algae and the caps are weak and large enough to easily cut holes in for a half cotton/half fill hole you may not even need more than 1 hole because the extra clearance may make them easier to lift out and refill periodically They are also square so the line up to each other a little easier. These ma be US specific though.

[@chitharanjansarvesan5714]

Nutella jars are actually really good for this. But they are a bit small and need a bit of extra care..

[@ugponics]

Great idea. But with hydroponics always prevent access into root-compartment and nutrient reservoir - from #insects! So it needs update on the design. Thank you for the video. Also, you will notice that the form factor that is more vertical than 2:3 h:v is non-ideal for kratkys, not sure why but I suspect the area of solution surface becomes so low it makes solution anoxic whenever temp goes up. Of course, not all plants care at all, you can always put mint.