Kratky Hydroponics, Part One of the Continuous Harvest System

First in a three part series of videos that will summarize my off grid hydroponic system beginning with an explanation of Kratky Hydroponics. Everything You Need To Know About or Where To Find It. Find out why I don't use the term Kratky much when referring to my off grid hydroponics and how it is an integral part of my continuous harvest system.
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0:00 Intro
1:19 What is Kratky Hydroponics?
2:50 Choose a container
3:12 Mix hydroponic nutrients
3:45 Insert plant into hydroponics
4:30 Air roots on hydroponic plants
5:45 Other KZbin channels growing with Kratky Method
7:20 Important message about Dr Bernard Kratky
8:25 Pictures from people growing with Kratky Hydroponics
13:00 Outro
#mrduzee1 #diyhydroponics #kratky

[@growkratky5558]

Thanks Mike for your many kind words and expressions! It is truly overwhelming and heartwarming to watch the scrolling pictures of so many successful hydroponic projects. You are an outstanding teacher as evidenced by your many followers and their success! Thanks for sending folks over to my Grow Kratky channel.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Much love and Aloha Dr Kratky!

[@circle4922]

Thanks Mr. Kratky.

[@twspma3549]

Thanks Dr Kratky. I've used your system for years have promoted it to hundreds more. If people don't employ your system then they are too lazy to eat well. Thanks again, your work is truly feeding the world. And Mike is one of your humble facilitators.

[@growkratky5558]

@@twspma3549 Thank you!

[@Metqa]

Dr. Kratky himself even said he was a bit embarrassed that people name the process after him when he was just following the research of other researchers before him. How Humble is that!?!?

[@KeepOnGrowin]

He is a cool dude!

[@BADHIGEEN]

Back around 2000 I got hooked on hydroponics. The best reward of what I learned was blowing my then 70+ year old mothers mind. That aerogarden was a great gift.

[@leannekenyoung]

It was the “cheap & easy” part that always grabbed my attention! After I had spent a flipping fortune on a grow system wheel that promised to grow everything you could ever dream of growing and then me being a first time grower believing it and purchasing their soil squares and their seeds and then discovering that there is no way that a tomato plant or sweet pepper plant could produce fruit and keep roots and plant matter small enough in the wheel environment I was beyond frustrated! Then I found your channel and tried the easiest methods and they worked soooo much better and no soil to contend with which constantly seemed to have a wet dog smell. But I found when using hydroponics if I had water just sitting it developed a stagnant smell indoors but that was quickly resolved with air stones added. Thank you for sharing all you do Mike I’ve learned a ton from you and I always referred people to your channel to learn more and I always try to answer questions when I can and share my knowledges with. 🥰❤️🙏🏻🇨🇦

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thank you Leanne! You are awesome and it is a pleasure having you on the journey! Thank you for sharing with others and always helping out.

[@mmmsshenanigans9422]

I love content creators like you who are more concerned with helping people improve their lives even if that means sending them to another creators channel. You are amazing and I thank you so much for the time and effort you put into this channel

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thank you, much appreciated!

[@happycustomer3448]

Mike is late right now. Bit I will see the Dr. K . Thanks I will continue to see your channel too.

[@edwarddarst4358]

I want to thank you for your service. Done, good work. Thanks for helping out dummies like me😊

[@farminabit7215]

I've followed you from the early "hacksaw and a heat gun" days. You and Dr. Kratky are all I watch on hydroponics. I have been adding Sea-90 (2 1/2 tea.) to the standard MASTERBLEND mix for 5 gal. I've used every container you can imagine but settled with downspouts, totes and buckets. Recently connected with the "Deli Girls" at Winn-Dixie who call me when they have empty 2/4/5 gal. buckets, about once every 10 days. Score! Currently, 3 types tomatoes, yellow squash, cucumbers, boc choy, lettuce, Swiss Chard, basil, sage, green onions and morning glories. Going to start a Seminole Pumpkin today. When I'm cutting downspouts I keep myself entertained by doing Steve Martin from The Jerk . . . "this downspout and this hacksaw and that's all I need and I don't need anything else" . . . ."and this heat gun and that's all I need". . . ."This downspout, this hacksaw and this heat gun, and that's all I need!" . . . . . "and this pool noodle" . . . . "this downspout, this hacksaw, this heat gun and this pool noodle and that's all I need!". Ya gotta make it fun, ya know? Keep doing what you're doing, you're doing good.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

OMG, you made me crack up! 😂 Keep up the great work, I gotta head to Winn Dixie!

[@goatwhsprr]

Mike, Yo from Jersey. So I got started at the tender age of 63 to plant my first real romance plants. On my Instagram I show my new greenhouse that I seeded tomato plants back in Feb 28 this year. The plants are 9ft high with quite a few fruit on them. After giving away about 370 or so plants I kept about 2 dozen. All are in containers and some are kratky, but all were solo cup seeded. Thanks Mike for starting me down this rabbit hole 😂

[@KeepOnGrowin]

That's awesome!! What's your Instagram?

[@baneverything5580]

I have a Tiny Tim tomato in a 5 gal bucket right now and several Folgers Instant coffee containers growing basil. I used 3 inch net cups in those and expanded clay pebbles. I grew a basil plant in Winter in a south facing window in my camper. It worked well but it needed more light but it was a test. I`m gonna get some 10w bulbs to try next time. I have a 24w and 36w to try some Winter experiments in buckets next. It`s really fun and amazing to have food growing inside when it`s freezing outside. I have an outdoor garden this year too...lots of hot weather crops like okra and various types of Southern peas, green beans, mint, cucumbers, squash, amaranths, moringa, jicama, mustard and collard greens, etc. I planted lettuce for the crazy bunny living in my yard so she`d stop nibbling everything else.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Awesome! You got it going on! Good on you for feeding the bunny too.

[@lisacooper5544]

This is our 2nd year doing our tomatoes in water (hydroponic) black bins from Home Depot. We started w cherry tomatoes & we got so many. This year we're trying bigger types of tomatoes, but so far they're growing great! Thank you for your guidance, we appreciate it Mike!! 🍅

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Nice! Keep me updated!

[@kennethlozada8740]

What size bin are you guys using? And are you drilling the tops or sides?

[@simplysimple7628]

Howzit Mike🤙🏼 I’m from the Big Island of Hawaii and just admire guys like yourself and Dr. Kratky. You’re not out here tryin to get rich, but rather pass on knowledge so people can have a choice. I just hope and pray(even though I’m not religious) that more people(especially younger people) find growing ANYTHING is cool. The world has taken such a weird turn towards materialism that it’s kinda scary. Love all your content that the fact that you take so much time and energy and effort put into it. Much love and Aloha brother 🤙🏼👍🏼✊🏼

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thank you very much for this. You really get it. I turn down offers every day for sponsorships and free products. My yard could be full of greenhouses and garden equipment but it doesn't fit my mission of helping those that need it most. It is hard to stay on point sometimes but it helps when I hear from you and others that really understand what is going on. Thank you, Aloha and have a fantastic weekend!

[@simplysimple7628]

@@KeepOnGrowin much love brother✊🏼🤙🏼

[@kkl8631]

Great video and explanations. It was interesting to see the photos from Facebook. So many great ideas and a huge community of people participating in off-grid, Kratky hydroponics. I'm having my first adventure with it and would have never started this journey without finding your channel. So thanks for your dedication, honesty, and kindness. Thanks also to others who post comments about their ideas and experiences with off-grid hydroponics. I'm wishing you all well.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thank you very much! I am humbled to be part of all this!

[@margarettekanealii4101]

Thanks for acknowledging Dr. Kratky. He is amazing and so are you.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thank you!!

[@pfar]

Mike, thanks for this educational video! I now really feel inspired. The term Kratky was never really explained, though: tor those who still wonder what KRÁTKÝ means, it is a very common Czech name meaning "short".

[@MattGarver]

Mike, thank you for your kindness in mentioning me and others in this video. You have been able to speak intelligently on a wide variety of topics in a manner that makes the Kratky method simple and easy to understand for most everyone. I wanted to point out that Dr. Kratky's willingness to share research and help me was instrumental in getting me started. I am looking forward to sharing with the next generation of growers. Your channel and videos are a great resource and are very helpful when I want to show someone how affordable and easy this method can be.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thank you too Matt. You were one of the first people I found on KZbin when I started exploring new ways to grow. Keep up the great work and teaching people to grow.

[@susangichuhi]

Starting with 4 Swiss chard plants, in Nairobi Kenya, I', super excited. I have a whole rooftop to utilize as I like

[@wsams]

I'm finally trying Kratky with a yellow brandywine tomato. I use a water transfer hand pump (cheap) to remove the water nice a week. I fill a five gallon bucket a few inches below the net pot. I also use food grade hydrogen peroxide 3% at 3 Tbsp per bucket refill, and once mid week. That keeps the root rot away and adds oxygen to the water. So far it's about twice the size of its soil version. It's about 6 feet tall now. And the leaves are dark green and bigger than my hands. I'm feeding it MaxiGrow. About a tsp per gallon of water. I also use Hydroguard and Protekt. I've tried this before on my patio DWC style without H2O2 and the heat caused root rot. I can't figure out how to grow outdoors in a bucket without H2O2. ❤

[@iwanttobelieve5970]

I'm grateful for your approach. Hydroponics and even the Kratky method has been intimidating for me. So thank you. Hopefully I can learn to do how to do this and get started.

[@barrel1971]

Thank you for al your time and the great video's. I love watching you talk and explane cheap and easy hydroponics. I hope i have the courage to post some of my growings 💞

[@VickiLossow]

Thank you so much for all that you do and for sharing all of this awesome knowledge! Been doing and following you since I found you 6 months ago. What an incredible journey this is becoming! Thank you and your wife for all that you do!

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thank you very much Vicki!

[@12pointlife51]

Great video as always! Thanks for all you do!

[@twspma3549]

Mike, your one of the most honest and humble men on the net. Keep it that way, bro. You rock on simplicity as well. Thanks again for all that you do. It truly shows what you are all about. Thanks, friend.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thank you, I appreciate you and all you do too. We are all in this together.

[@cindyglatkowski844]

Thanks, Mike, for all you do!

[@davidcrawford6505]

Thank you for your hard work and for providing this information.

[@Magnus_E]

Referencing fellow hydroponic people: Amazing job! Thanks!

[@truthbetold2611]

When I first saw the Kratky method, the new world opened up for me. It's like, nothing is impossible. Solutions are there. We just need to be educated and keep on growing. Again Mike, you're making great things happen. Growing own food is to manifest New Heaven and New Earth. Thank you.

[@mexarrinha]

I saw his channel before he stopped uploading videos, and o follow a few more channels. I can say that even tho you can get a bunch of ideas from a lot of channels, I have learn the most with you and Hoocho. Thank you!

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thank Pedro!

[@camerons.2831]

I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge and ideas. Thank you. I'm just starting my journey

[@christos1985]

Mike, just wanted to say I recently discovered your channel about a month ago, and I love all the great content! I’ve been growing plants for 30 years but what I’ve learned from you has transformed my growing. I’ve been planting spinach and herbs in large yogurt containers and wine bottles, with impressive results already! Thank you!

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Awesome! That makes me happy!

[@janicecassista8975]

Love your cheap and easy method!!!!

[@circle4922]

I love your channel, sir. Thank you.

[@GrowYourHomesteadWithAngie]

Your so nice! Thanks for sharing my content ❤❤❤ means a lot coming from you. I teach all sorts. Although I love my more expensive systems (set it and go) I do love exploring all ways of growing. Thanks again! Oh and I feel you with the questions. And I love helping people so I have to answer everyone 😂

[@KhangStarr]

Great video, Mike! Love your honest and humble approach. And also thank you for showing us how to pronounce dakine =).

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thanks Khang! Always appreciate you brother. Keep up the great work!

[@mamouzabeth]

You really do a good job. I am french from Canada but you speack slowly. You bring sometings in this wold. Bravo et good bless you

[@pamallen3788]

I absolutely love your channel ❤ I'm almost ready to share some pictures of what you thought me. Thank you!!!

[@KeepOnGrowin]

That's great Pam!! Can't wait!

[@ronm6585]

Thanks for sharing Mike.

[@Yvonne-]

Wow! Awesome ideas and awesome explanations.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thanks much!

[@littletechgirl2]

Great video! So nice of you to shout out a couple of my buddies. :) Keep up the great work!

[@KeepOnGrowin]

If they are your buddies, we should be buddies too.

[@littletechgirl2]

@@KeepOnGrowin Absolutely!

[@melodylyons4631]

Great video Bud

[@user-nr8ol6yu5p]

thanks for the education video

[@user-nr8ol6yu5p]

mike thanks for the education video

[@1turf32]

Thank you for all your cool videos and hard work. Juat saw a cool setup on red it you inspired. Be safe thanks again

[@KeepOnGrowin]

That's awesome! Take care!

[@UVIcki]

Wow, look at those tomatoes. Now I need to give this a shot

[@lulop022882]

Just started some tomatoes using the “Kratky” method. They seem to be doing fine. Can’t wait till they start producing fruit. A great way to get into hydroponics. I started my plants in red solo cups and potting soil. I moved them to the 5 gallon bucket when they were about 6-8 inches tall. I’d recommend waiting a bit longer till the stem starts changing to a dark purple brown color only to avoid breaking the delicate stem when the plants are still small. Ask me how I figured this 😑🤣🤣

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Patience is not my virtue, lol.

[@PlantObsessed]

Man i hope that tape didn't hurt too much taking it off. Just ate my first off grid hydroponic tomato today thanks to you🎉🎉

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Just lost some hair, lol. Great job on the tomatoes!

[@gottcha03]

There are no mistakes. Only experiments. The data are still useful!

[@joedefazio1464]

Pretty cool to see pictures I posted on the group

[@KeepOnGrowin]

We all appreciate you Joe!

[@GaragemdoCaio]

Thanks for the tips. I have one quick general question. How do you grow outside without cover. What happens when it rains? Maybe you do have but couldn’t see. Apologies if I missed

[@dxannh8704]

Dr Kratky is all that and a side of chips. And, for the potatoes to make those chips, I'd use one of his five passive hydroponic approaches to grow potatoes (I'm not a Kratky encyclopedia ... I just happened to watch that video two nights ago.) Have you tried the approach he describes in that video where they used newspaper for growing potatoes?! I know for a fact that I'll need to try that myself. Thanks for everything you do!!

[@lhoglin3515]

I just realized...I did my first hydroponics in the 1970s via Santa Claus....Ch ch ch Chia Pet!!!!! (I don't think the first ones were called Chia Pet yet, but y'all know what I'm talking about :) )

[@MsRahul133]

Thank you for the video, brother. May I ask, how do you prepare the nutrient solutions for leafy greens? As in names of all the nutrient and the ratio of the nutrients in water? Essentially, I just need to learn how to prepare a perfect nutrient solution. Appreciate your help.

[@martinjoppa7654]

Do you have a list of all the various plants that are successful using this method.

[@janelord6648]

Brilliant Mike ! What else can I say... How about doing a QAndA with Keely

[@randallwithee2189]

If you are aiming for beginners and inexpensive, maybe you should look into replacing that expensive nutrient solution with homemade compost or vermicompost tea diluted 10:1. It is so insanely inexpensive if you make your own.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Disagree. Only comes to about 25 cents a gallon. Homemade compost is a lot of work and goes anaerobic really quick in a non circulating system.

[@calittlegarden-3311]

Mike I have trouble to use bucket grow cucomber. It formed flower but the plant size stays about 10 inches long and the leaves doesn't looks healthy. Last year I tried and result was the same. Don't know what I need to adjust

[@KeepOnGrowin]

I have not done cucumbers yet, just started one. Are you in my group? Some people there have grown these, ask around or post that question. facebook.com/groups/107573573095912

[@happycustomer3448]

Mike i tried pine apples not too good? Please relate to my reply❤

[@crawford323]

Critics of hydroponics in general, have pointed to the microbial content of the soil which enters into s symbiosis with the plant systems enabling the plant to absorb more nutrients. This advantage, they say produces plants which are healthier to humans for consumption. A fact which is highly debated in the hydroponic community. In fact, critics expound, that plants don't want to be eaten and have systems which attempts to discourage this. Except for goats, they can eat anything. Full disclosure,the mention of goats was not in these studies, just me trying to be a comedian. Have you known any studies comparing soil vs hydroponic nutrient content? I am a fan of hydroponic in general and built a tower system which became root bound. Going to do Kratky this year. By the way, I like the way you think.

[@patriciamillar5496]

Does your course include how to make the rectangular ends for the downspouts? I have a tomato in a large Folgers container. I’m getting lots of flowers but no tomatoes. I’m a beginner so it could be about anything I’m doing. Experimenting and watching to learn.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

No, I have videos on making resin endcaps. The pvc ones I cut on a cnc machine which most people don't have.

[@toniearnest1861]

I love your channel you make things easy to understand ... I have only been growing plants with a Indoor Hydroponics growing system ... I would like to know how big of a container I would need to grow a tomato plant with the Kratky method Indoors near window and with grow lights ? 🥰❤

[@KeepOnGrowin]

I would do at least a 5 gallon container, more if you have room.

[@toniearnest1861]

@@KeepOnGrowin Thank you !!!

[@lonups]

If growing indeterminate, i would suggest at least 20-gal

[@patoboyle150]

Hi Mike.What size are the white Pvc retangular downpipes you use in your Kratky method. I can only find 110mm x 54mm. It seems very shallow to me for nutrients. I found a 205mm x 64mm would that be better.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

3x4". I started with the 2x3" but like you said, it's kind of shallow.

[@zeneszpeter]

How to avoid the rottening of the hydroponic liquid?

[@gaffm4384]

What nutrients can you suggest to add to the water please, I am new but I want to try the hydroponic method. Thx

[@KeepOnGrowin]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZKxZ3eim5ebeck

[@bcmiller2000]

I grow indoors in DWC and have root rot in every grow. How are you keeping pythium, root rot, fungus and molds in check?

[@KeepOnGrowin]

I don't.

[@mehmet8833]

Thanks Mike! Quick question: Does it take a gallon of nutrient solution to grow a head of lettuce?

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Depends on your setup.

[@circle4922]

So, all of these plants, or the vast majority of your plants, are fed the same *ratio* (blend) of fertilizer? (I don't mean strength). Thanks.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Yes. I keep it simple

[@robz1girl]

Hello, very new to this and on a tight budget. Is there a more natural way to get the nutrients in the water?

[@KeepOnGrowin]

You can try and experiment but most organics break down fast and become smelly.

[@robz1girl]

I put some egg shells and dried out banana peels and some coffee grounds I'm going to boil a potato and use that water after it cools mix it all together and feed my plant I will let you know how it goes

[@cliffordfujii5376]

Do you ever need to test the nutrient solution? If yes, how do you test the water/solution?

[@KeepOnGrowin]

I never do.

[@chefgotbeats3390]

How you doing Sir? So my question is, what and how do you make the water for your plants? What is the make up of the water nutrients recipes?

[@KeepOnGrowin]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZKxZ3eim5ebeck

[@user-rx7th9hr4l]

I like your method, the problem is, it works during warm weather and it's outside, all sort of bugs and animals can eat your plants, unfortunately it won't work where I live. I need something for inside the house and i need artificial light most likely

[@KeepOnGrowin]

I grow indoors and with lights.

[@user-fx4kq7fy4d]

I knew a WWII veteran that was doing that method in his backyard way back before Dr Kratk…so there you go. Rich doctors trying to get a name for themselves. 🤣

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Dr Kratky never asked for it. It was "organic" and people just started referring to it. .....so....there you go

[@fatinahill2789]

Thank you... Looking forward to part-two

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thanks, almost ready!

[@happycustomer3448]

Peace.mike❤

[@michalxky]

Kratky 🙋🏻‍♂️

[@happycustomer3448]

Like your off grid. Dr. Kraky?m

[@awaitingSaint777]

Thanks! Looking forward to part 2. I'm sick of trying to keep up with buying soil. 😅

[@davidsvoboda2900]

I have healthy plants then when is is time to start producing they die. What am I doing wrong?

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Could be any number of things. Maintaining the level, your environment. the plants you are growing, etc

[@4everascending511]

Hey guys, does anyone know if we can make a homemade organic solution for kratky hydroponics using things like.. eggshells and things like that? I can't find this information.. maybe it's just not possible. Thanks to anyone who has any info.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Most of the time , organics go anaerobic quickly. They smell bad. You can experiment. Would be great!

[@4everascending511]

@@KeepOnGrowin Will do, thanks! :)

[@whatthefunction9140]

I live down the street from kratkey, in hilo hawaii

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Sweet!!

[@hakajiru264]

I would not recommend transplanting from soil, as you will get root rot, which is difficult for beginners to fix.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

I transplant all my tomatoes and peppers from soil. Been doing it for years, even as a beginner.

[@kenbrown5217]

Hi there Mike, I have noticed that the pool noodles available here are now smaller diameter and must be shimmed to fit in the holes tight enough to remain in place?

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Just adapt. Some I find were bigger.

[@happycustomer3448]

Kracky? You don't remember me?