Kratky Hydroponics Under LEDs vs. Windowsill Deep Water Culture Under Sunlight

[@projectdevelopment9111]

I think your sunlight version has got some other issues except for the light. Firstly those poor lettuces are kinda far down in their pot but more importantly the kratky system relies upon the water level going down so that the roots can get some oxygen. In your case it looks like the lettuce plants are sitting on the water’s surface and are never able to absorb some form of oxygen. That setup would only work with a DWC ;) Best regards and thanks for your video!

[@brycesawyer2477]

That’s exactly what I was going to say.

[@darinz1]

Yep.Without an air stone in there those plants will suffer

[@equallywrong]

Good observation. Supports should have been placed in the container. So, as the nutrient solution falls and the grow platform come to rest on the supports, the roots continue to grow and the space between the surface of the nutrient solution and bottom of the grow platform will develop air roots.

[@surtur6664]

100% Would love to see this done again but with the window system top tray being supported by sitting on some skewers or something so it doesn't drop with the water level. Unfair comparison using two different style containers.

[@imwlf21]

Great results and well explained. Good work!

[@karronlaneNOLA]

tks for the video. what are the specs on your led lights?

[@oldmcdonald0101]

If the windows are low e tinted like most newer ones, the plants won't likely get a full spectrum of light.

[@markgutierrez2024]

Looks like you’re getting burning on the leaves under the LED lighting? Is this because the lights are too close to the plants?

[@TheChiggins]

Nice work William!

[@GrowAnywhere]

Thanks, Chris!

[@frostsmaker8966]

There is no way 16 hours of full light can't beat natural sunlight for plants. Yes, 16 hours is clearly the winner. More exposure to light more time to grow. Plants need to take a rest. 8 hours without light is enough. :)

[@educaracas726]

Basically windowsill setup doesn't suply root aeration.

[@truckinglogistics3880]

Very good experiment. Keep it up Sir.

[@realmup3r]

Great video, thanks a lot for that. I am interested in what ppfd level you have with your grow lights. Measured at the base of the plant.

[@embrj1453]

So you grew this on water alone? no fertilizers?

[@marambula]

Sadly no comparisons can be made because you grew the two groups of lettuce in entirely different styles of hydroponics. One was kratky and the other was.... waterboarding I guess? You suffocated the roots on the windowsill plants ==> Oxygenation of the roots is one of the most important concept in hydroponics so sadly the entire experiment has to be thrown out as spoiled. Lettuce looks tasty!

[@Teach-me-aletter]

Any type of LED I can use in my system?

[@HudaTechTalk]

Great experiment! Please confirm it was LED shop lights, not LED grow lights. LED shop lights are much cheaper than LED grow lights and I am skeptical about shop lights for growing. If LED shop lights work well for growing leafy vegetables, will any type of LED light work well too? Thank you.

[@GrowAnywhere]

LED shop lights indeed. Not "grow" lights. Plants use the photons emitted by LED shop lights for efficient photosynthesis, too. I'll make a video about this topic soon.

[@HudaTechTalk]

Thank you for clarifying.

[@tony_estrella]

How many hour should I expose my lettuces to the sun light and how many hours should they be in a dark? Great video btw 💯

[@GrowAnywhere]

Thanks! 12-24 hours of light a day should be good for lettuce. I keep my lights on for 15 hours a day. You can go longer or shorter, and plants will grow faster or slower, respectively. 24 hours is completely fine for lettuce, too. Rather than just daylength, there should be a decent total amount of light plants get in a day. If light is intense/bright, shorter daylength should be enough. If light is dim, you want to maximize daylength. I should make a video on the concept of "daily light integral" requirements for hydroponic crops!

[@tony_estrella]

@@GrowAnywhere Tomorrow I'm gonna start my first kratky hydroponic system and one of the things I was more concerned about it was the light, Thanks man you explanation was great.

[@GrowAnywhere]

@@tony_estrella You're welcome. Make sure your plants get plenty of light as seedlings so they don't "stretch" or grow too thin and fall over. Once seedlings are established (maybe 11-14 days if light is sufficient), you can be more flexible on light levels (the more light, the faster plants grow). Good luck with your trial!

[@Sophie_519]

The experiment wasn’t fair imo. In the kratky method, you have the light directly overhead. In the DWC-like system (proper DWC would have a pump aerating the solution) the seedlings would have been below the pot line to start, then because it relies on the window for indirect filtered light, it’s not really a sun vs kratky comparison. It’s just a led light vs window sill. You should have place the DWC system outside. I have compared this myself, outside, the plants grow with much deeper Colors and faster.

[@hussamka]

Can you inform me which base fertilizer you are using? and what's the percentage formula of Water+ Fertilizer + Epsom salt. Thanks

[@GrowAnywhere]

I use the Jack’s hydroponic base fertilizer, but most commercial hydroponic fertilizers should do. I’ll make a video on the specifics soon, so stay tuned.

[@elizabethr2908]

@@GrowAnywhere , I would love to see that video too! ❤

[@danielalmond7823]

Looks like the salad under led light got burnt. Looks like its been to close to light. That will stunt the growth big time.

[@moksabisa775]

Does it work when i use LED lamp not growth LED?

[@GrowAnywhere]

Yes, just make sure the light output is high enough for plants.

[@biolifeagri]

How much whatts of LED BULBS you have used? Thanks

[@GrowAnywhere]

Each shelf has two LED light fixtures. Each fixture pulls 50 watts of electricity to output 5000 lumens of cool-white light at 5000 K.

[@anwarkadara]

@@GrowAnywhere thanks for details

[@songshinez7555]

Very cool!

[@noelwing245]

Thank you for sharing bro

[@sybergaus]

Do a cannabis comparison

[@MrWhaatay]

I have had horrible luck under a grow light. The seeds will germinate grow to an inch and then stop growing.

[@GrowAnywhere]

If light intensity is sufficient, maybe there is another cause for the poor seedling growth?

[@MrWhaatay]

@@GrowAnywhere Well I seem to have better luck growing things on my kitchen counter under regular fluorescent lights. I am thinking maybe the grow light is to intense. Thank you for the reply.

[@MasterKenfucius]

Windowsill? That's like growing it in partial shade. That's not an accurate experiment.

[@bismarkvillanueva8025]

You should mafe them both kratky

[@bismarkvillanueva8025]

Dwc needs air stone