Health, Food and Life

Research Pays

I’ve been reading and watching YouTubers and studying the concepts behind the methods, and at this point, I think I’m going to go with the Kratky method.

Basically, it’s one of the simplest and cheapest, a good way to go when you don’t have a bazillion dollar budget. It involves a container, preferably one that doesn’t allow light to penetrate, filtered water (got heaps of that), nutrients and seedlings.

I’ve got these glass Moccona coffee containers — original contents: 400g of coffee — which I’m going to spray-paint black. The Jalna yoghourt lid fits perfectly on that.

Looking forward to tomorrow morning — I’m on a late — when I’ll be picking up growing supplies in Slacks Creek, at Logan Hydroponics. At this point I think I need:

— vermiculite or / and clay pebbles
— rockwool
— netpots
— some sort of nutrient
— pH measuring device

We’ll see what else they have. This project will start off small, then as I go, hope to grow into it. By the way, I did water my existing garden this morning. [[PICTURE HERE]] The basil is definitely showing signs of malnutrition (those brown leaves) as well as being attacked by some bug. The parsley could probably grown a but faster: this is definitely one crop I want to do hydroponically.


Another, more daunting aspect is the biochemistry I’m going to need to get comfortable with. I’ve just ordered this:

…from eBay, $20 for both. I’m going to need to get real familiar with PPM (parts-per-million) and adjusting pH: apparently most leafy greens like their water slightly acidic. Oh, and on the Kratky method? mostly good for greens only. Keep that in mind.


Addendum: I had a very fruitful morning talking to Tim at Logan Hydroponics this week. He’s very knowledgeable about all sorts of growing techniques. At this point, Kratky appears to be a somewhat questionable approach — still going to try it, though — because of the SE-QLD climate and local fungi and that. Also, another limitation of Kratky: it’s a one-shot deal. You grow the plant to a harvest stage and then harvest: no refilling nutrient-water, as the plant won’t handle it, apparently.