As an option, gluing a lazy Susan with wheels on the bottom buckets allows them to be moved easily if the sun gets too intense or easy movement when cleaning in-home.
Serendipity! I just bought 70 5-gallon pails (wine juice, yes they were empty) for $100 on a hunch…I can’t pass it on a deal. They laughed at me…who will be laughing at $10 lettuce? 😢 Looks like both front and back yards will have lots of mini crop-circles this fall. 😂 So grateful to stumble across your idea, inexpensive, low maintenance and 0 power! Thank you from 🇨🇦
I’ve got crop circles too - i’ve been growing in 4 foot circles. They are fiberglass underground storage tank cut off‘s. I have about 50 of them😂 I call them crop circles and circle of life garden
About growing these in the Summer... I would recommend putting these on the EAST Side of your building... so they get the Morning SUN but not the blistering WEST side, which is hotter... I am taking care of my mother for awhile, and have (moveable) plants in PLASTIC Buckets, but the dirt inside gets really HOT, because it isn't in the ground... so after many mistakes... I put them on the EAST side and they're doing great... One plant is 28 years old!!! still in the same pot... I put fresh soil once a year ... water and feed it too.
I'm a nomad and we cover our coolers with the silver bubble wrap, It reflects so much of the direct light and keeps so much cooler and the ice last so much longer. I would just wrap it and make a small disk for the top and tape it down. 😊
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. I’ve started the germination process and did start the stacking hydroponic. I am loving what I am putting together based on your guidance. Thank you thank you!!!
I love that you mentioned Larry hall rain gutter grow system. He got me hooked 8 years ago and I've had 2 rails and a table since I came across his videos. growing year round with no maintenance. Now from your videos I decided to start a couple jar lettuce experiments to see how well the lettuce grows in the jars right next to the ones in grow bags and also comparing how the same jar lettuce grows in my skylight. I'll be surrounded by food in about 2 months down here in southern california
Didn't know it was a pool noodle And was holding back for asking that question...Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, for taking the time to answer these!!!
You're a life saver! I live in an apartment with no patio in Texas. I usually garden & do good at that. With the push to modify foods & seeds with some people wanting to add mRNA methods to everything I want to grown my own food still. I only get sun as it is going down so I am using grow lights. I started with Hyroponics which started out great but lost my first try. I discovered the water level stayed too high in the tubes. I used rockwool, but that stays sopping wet. I ended up picking up one end to drain some water of the Hydroponics tower to lower the level of the water left in the 2 1/2" tubes. It was a store bought kit. When researching for answers, I found out about the Kratky method. Looking for videos to help, I come across your videos. I LOVE the use of the swim noodles. It will keep the upper part of the plant dry & better supported. I LOVE you are teaching methods that take little money since I semi retired. I want to do well so I can teach other people how to plant food because of the political & economic situations of our day. Thanks so much!!!
Just some thoughts to keep the buckets cool, burry the buckets as far into the ground as possible leaving enough room for growth. And or get some mylar blankets and wrap the bucket to reflect the light. Darker buckets will absorb more heat rather than lighter colored buckets
I definitely don't suggest people integrating fish without knowing proper fish care. For me, aquaponics works as well as hydroponics because I've been an aquarium keeper most of my adult life. Expanding aquariums to aquaponics was a natural transition, because I already had the fish AND knew how to properly care for them. Going from aquarium to pond is another transition, but a minor one. People definitely need to do their homework when it comes to setting up a healthy environment for fish, especially in a concentrated-fish system like aquaponics generally is.
I'm in FL as well.. I'm new to all this and been wanting to start a garden, so did the traditional looking at how to build a raised bed, soil etc... This I can start tomorrow!! So excited to try this!! One question if anyone can answer or lead me to the right resources.. What can I grow vertically with this system? Or are their limits to what I can grow? Thanks!! So glad I found your channel!!
I think I will try some of these. I believe in the hottest part of the summer, growing lettuce will work good sitting in a carport. I believe indirect light would be good or maybe just Morning Sun.
I'm really looking forward to the future videos you are planning to do based on some of these, especially the hot weather one! I'll be cleaning out all my downspouts for my second year having started very late last season by watching your videos. I did get to grow a bunch of pac choy and a few other things before the frosts came, and I've learned some things about spacing and which plants I like to grow with this method. Hopeful for a productive year! Can't wait to follow along with you this season.
EXCELLENT VIDEO as always... I'm sitting here looking at 5 buckets (still need to get my Red ones and White ones) I'm going to use these to Pack to move to Albuquerque, New Mexico here in the next few weeks... then make them into Towers for Plants... Thank You so much for another GREAT Video... I love this K.I.S.S (keep it simple sister) technique. I think my Acting Studio students can learn a lot... since we will also be Cooking and Acting for Mystery Dinner Theatre... YEAH... I might even WRITE a Script about some Mystery surrounding these Hydroponic Towers... Any suggestions?
Just made my first bucket. The hardest part was making the holes because I didn’t have the proper tool. Excited to see how it works. My bucket has 6 tomato plants and I’m wondering how to handle the plants as they get big. I’ll learn as I go. I grow tomatoes every year and have a few plants that are several years old (I live in Southern California)
Trellis them just like other tomatoes. I use twine and S hooks. In my opinion, 6 is too many in one bucket. When they get big enough to produce fruit, you will be adding water every day.
Okay so dummy me just wants to thank you for reminding me that pool noodles float. I have been trying to figure out how I can keep some of my plants float in my fish tank. I am also going to try and make a couple of these with my son this spring. Glad you came across my FYP in TT.
I have been wondering about the pool noodles that you use, how safe are those as far as the material those are made out of? I have wondered this a lot the material those are made out of could be toxic!
I just started following you a few days ago and man have I learned a ton about hydroponics! Your videos are so informative, and you are very knowledgeable about the subject! I am very thankful I found your channel! I do have a question. I live in Missouri where it gets pretty cold during the winter. I thought about growing plants in my house, but I am unsure of what lighting I should get to help them grow. Do you have any ideas on what I should get? Thank you!
This is what I use right now: amzn.to/3P2GT86 If that does not work for your situation, look for something similar. I would go with LED, saves energy and not as hot as traditional lights.
Great idea and concept - THANK you! Question: Do you think an oxygenation e.g. with aquarium stones or similar via pump is necessary for great(er) growth results?
Great video, thank you. What are your thoughts about creating a reservoir attached to floats for each bucket to maintain a consistent water level for the plants to be at their happy level? If you have the reservoir set above the buckets, there will be no need for power, and it will centralize the solution for the nutrients. Once again, thank you for all of your trial and error that has been productive. please keep up all that you do.
Thanks for all your insight. I just heard about this for the first time last week. But it seems really great to try... as we don't have much space and we are in the boonies with lots of critters... but a few more questions.. do you "plant" a seed in the pool noodle puck? How long do you expect things to keep growing you mentioned something stayed alive for 2 years.. I sorta expected things to be able to grow long term this way is that true?? Could I get a plant from the store and keep it whole?? For example strawberry plant from a friend put it in the diy tower would ot work whole or break apart like you did basil
Man, I wish I had found you a few years ago before I bought the greenstalk... that didn't work out for me and for the past couple years I've felt really defeated. Maybe next year I'll be able to try your method. Thanks for the content 🙏
@make your life easier of course! For me, finding affordable potting soil was the first difficulty. More so now... it's about 8$ a cubic ft for organic where I am so 80$ to fill my 2 planters which hurts. I bit the bullet that first year but then they had mold between the layers and a terrible infestation of gnats. The soil was literally crawling. So I had to leave them unstacked to get rid of the mold then also purchased mosquito bits to finally get rid of the gnats. They also never seemed to water correctly but they've changed the watering recommendations since then. I see those planters overflowing all over CZcams so I'm stuck wondering where I went wrong. Guess that's where the main disappointment lies.
2 thoughts I have re cooling. If I grew a trailing type plant such as squash, I could put the container in the shade while the plant grows out into the sun. Second thought was to put the bucket in a pile of straw to shade it and maybe wet it down in the heat. It does get very hot here in Summer. Have you tried growing squash or smaller melons like rockmelon? Even watermelon? We are mid spring where I am and I have seedlings ready to plant out.
One question i have been pondering about container gardening that i have not yet tried is painting the outside of the container? Have you done it? I live in Tx and my containers start to fall apart from heat even if they have liquids. I have been thinking painting them to make them last longer.. have you tried does it help? Could you use compost tea to feed them or would that make the water too nasty or would that just be good fertilizer? Thank you for your videos i am going to make these systems
I am excited to get started. A friend of mine gave me some old pickle buckets from her work. What size did you cut the holes, though? I'm getting my pool noodle and solution today. Did strawberries do well in yours with the solution you did? I have 4 strawberry plants I need to get in the water. How well did herbs do? I have some dill, cilantro and sage I want to do it in. Am.i better off just keeping those in dirt pots? 😊
Awesome ideas on this channel and so great that everything has been tested by you! One question; how about stacking totes instead of buckets? Wouldn't that be easier as it provides more room for holes and adds more water?
Could you grow microgreens on the lid of that bucket? Maybe drill some holes in the top and run a few pieces of rope into the nutrient solution to draw water up. Might be a good way to double up usage for the same space. Would love to see a video combining these two grow methods in a single bucket!
Great info! Love your videos! Question: will pudding my buckets, which are white, on a concrete balcony at my apartment will the water get too hot? Thank you so much!
Thank you! You will have to experiment. Before planting, just put a bucket out there for a full day and check. You can always set it up on a few blocks of wood, make sure it's steady.
Hi, first off great video and thankyou. I'm very interested in trying this out. I had a question about when you first initially transplant the plant with the pool noodle to the bucket. Do the roots need to be submerged in the water or will it hang above the water line and eventually grow and reach the water overtime? My other question is regarding the nutrients, do you just initially put it in for the first time and then continually just top off with water only? Or would you eventually add more nutrients after awhile?
Hi Mike I thank you and I forgot many years ago how you teach me & others how to grow your system. It just makes sense. Only I don't understand give what kind nutrients for any given plants. Do you already made a video if yes could you please send a links., so I can learn from you I really appreciate thank you 😊 🙏 ☺️ ❤️👍🤝
Hi Mike thank you again and this video link the squirrel so nice and warm. I'm coming back to watch your new video on your CZcams channel. Im in the area of Vancouver Canada 😊😉👍👏❤️
I just commented on a different video asking some questions that you already answered. Thanks..I am looking forward to my journey. I will be growing in a basement. Any suggestions for proper lighting??🌞
I'm a real off grider. And he is correct on the water. You can fill a container with water. Seal it up. And it good water 10 years later. Now. here is something else. If no light is let in no argue grows. However. Algue itself is not harmful. It does make water taste a bit funny. But you can drink argue water and be ok. Its the other things that bad. The bio that's breaking down or other foreign materials. BTW you can eat the argue also. Though I find it has no flavor. 99% of the people within 90 miles of me store their water after the pick it up from a water point. And the smart one have their tanks so no sun reaches the water. I'm the only person that I know that harvest rain water. I harvest about 1000 gallons per year from 4 inches of rain per year. And thats for drinking. I had other rain catches but the winds keep destroying them. And the water from the water point is stronger then a public swimming pool.
Howdy, sounds like you have a pretty sweet set-up there. I'm super jealous as I'm limited to an apartment patio and that's even more limited by managements rules. Anyways, I had a question maybe you could answer for me. When the c19 crap hit I started storing tap water in those blue 5 gallon water bottles and I didn't have lids for all of them so I used a latex gloves to cover the hole. Well I looked the other day and there's now visible mildew yuck forming inside the ones that I didn't cap. Am I going to have to dump all that out and start over again? Could they potentially all have mold I just can't see? They've been stored in my garage, which is usually almost always dark, but not cool. The temperature has reached 90° in there before. I also have those old fashioned chlorine and iodine tabs and a smart type straw that makes all water safe to drink. TIA for any advise. ✌🏻
Good evening, sir. I have watched several of your videos, and I was wondering is it best to set this system in full sun or against my house where it will receive more shade?
Hi...do the lids have to have the seal in the rim of the lids....I have gotten pickle buckets from A&W in the past for storage of rice and such and sometime you can get the seal ring but sometimes they may have been cut...due to how we open the pails at kitchen level....
I bought 5 gallon buckets from Tractor Supply which don't have that extra height I see in your buckets. In order to provide the air space above the plants how far down from the top of the bucket should I drill the holes for the plants?
My work uses slightly smaller buckets for food stuffs, and I can get ahold of them. Would tying them them in a 3 set and stacking them work with some holes in the bottom for drainage? I was thinking of going out and buying totes, drilling some holes in the sides and growing tomatoes in them, but this would be relatively free and reusing things, so idk. Maybe having a pvc pipe up the middle and cutting grooves to glue them to would work better and sticking some rollers on the botton to make it a little mobile? Not sure what all would be safe for plants, if poking holes in a pipe and the buckets and tying each one to it and each other would work better or not is an idea as well. Any ideas are appreciated!
Sounds cool. I have not done that so I can't say. We did have a strawberry tower made with a 55 gallon drum and a pvc pipe in the middle. It worked ok.
Mike, Im thinking maybe you could use that silver insulated bubblewrap around the outside of the buckets to help keep your water and root temps lower in high heat. No way will our HOA let me grow in 5 gal buckets outside, so I have to figure a "pretty" way to do Kratky outside...I really want to though.
You could wrap in matchstick blinds stood on end so it looks like twigs. I've used that to block sun on a balcony. You would have to cut in half or get one a little wider than 3 buckets tall. And cut to wrap 3 buckets
Hello Mike, I found a channel "Hoocho" and he made same Kratky system with a little difference, he added a gravity feed nutrient refill with float in the buckets to keep the water at the desired level. He calls it the Continuous Kratky System. Can you design one just what you can come up with?
All you need is a float valve. I don't bother because I have 40 to 50 containers going at once. It's easy with just a few. Dr Kratky on "Grow Kratky" here on CZcams has been working on a simple version.
Not at all. It's a good idea. It would dilute your nutrients though. Some people have put a bucket of nutrients higher and gravity fed through a float valve.
Different countries will have different brands look for 4-18-38, Calcium Nitrate 15.5-0-0, and Epsom Salt (Magnesium Sulfate) and be sure they are water soluble.
Hi. I just discovered your channel, you make it simple. One question- do you have a problem with ants surrounding /getting into the bucket etc? Last year, My whole garden, plants on the driveway and eventually my house had ants even my plants which didnt drip any water had an ant issue. - it was terrible! never had thst before. Are ants attracted to the buckets?? Thx.
@@KeepOnGrowin last year was my first year with such a problem. This year. I have decided to try several different ways to not repeat that again, it was such a nightmare! I look forward to giving your ideas a try.
Get small cans, like tuna fish comes in or cat food, cut holes in side and put equal amounts baking soda and powdered sugar and sit where ants are and it will kill the ants.
I have found living in Northern Arizona, my container plants do better on the east side of the house. This is in a desert environment with intense sun, few clouds.
Just came from the how to video and this is EXACTLY the kind of thing I've been looking for to try hydro farming. For me, it's all about emergency food and living in the north, i want to be able to grow winter foods and hydro seems a really efficient way to do it. But i don't want to depend on electricity - both cause prepper reasons and for cost savings. So i knew i was gonna try the kratky method, but I'm not a fan of using totes. Buckets is a great idea. Thanks for sharing!
LED grow lights use nearly zero power and can run off of the smallest of solar systems. In theory the $15, 1.5 watt solar battery maintainer from Harbor Freight would operate an LED grow light during daylight hours without the use of battery. The only problem you face is solar is DC, LED is DC but most LED have a built in AC convertor. You may have to do your own soldering of individual led lights but I am certain this can be done easily and on a budget.
The ones that I have seen use the gutter system with a mechanical float and a large water tank. The factors you need to consider is the amount of real estate each plant takes up and the amount of water each plant consumes. A tomato plant in full growth consumes 1 gal - 10 gal water per week in the ground dependent on the soil and climate. In theory, it will consume 1/10th of the amount in kratky. 4-5 plants in a single bucket will no longer be a passive system but 1 per bucket requires little attention. If you used a standard garden cloths line with string lines going down to train the plants vertically, you could have no less than 10 plants growing with minimal effort. Most certainly enough for a road side market or to help supply a farmers market. It's hard info to find but you can look up how much each plant consumes and go by that. If you wish to earn money, also look at profitability per square foot. Strawberries are high profit, potatoes are not. Your local area/market also play a roll. Between 5-6 PM in an urban subdivision you could sell out of a truck load of leafy greens, every day. In a rural area you will be hard pressed to sell kale by the road side. Green tomatoes on the other hand are hard to find.
I'm wondering if modifying the bucket to reflect heat would help? I did some poking and found research about roof colors v. temperature (closest thing I could find good data on). Seems like the best cheap option is just white acrylic paint. Have you noticed any differences between your buckets based on color? I know the Firehouse subs ones are a darker red. It sounds a bit silly, but I am surrounded by concrete where I live (apartment with small porch). I want to do some documentation on these to tweak as needed for the hopeful future. Thank you for the inspo! I've been poking around the idea of hydroponics but was always terrified of the money. If mine this year works, I plan to use it as an instructional tool in my science class. This channel is awesome!
My next video will show the difference in colors. Also, @healinghobbies just did a video where she wrapped them in insulation. czcams.com/video/B4xA7l71LuA/video.html
Hello Mike. I emailed you back in Oct/Nov. I started hydroponics last Sept. I had problems getting seedlings to grow. Now I am getting tempted to grow but after 3 or 4 weeks the bottom leaves start drying out. I check the water and it seems ok. I have been using Humboldt liquid nutrients and getting ready to switch over to Mastr Blend . Help. What am I missing?
I tried this with strawberries and must have substantially over fertilized with nutrients. I killed 7 gorgeous plants. 🌱 help with a video about what nutrients etc and how much. Please!!!
Per videos I've watched on other channels, plants grown hydroponically don't do anywhere near as well when fed compost tea or other fertilizers designed for soil. They need microorganisms living in the soil to help break these down to release the nutrients into an easy to consume form for them. Hydroponic fertilizers are in the right form already.
@@chronos401 to add to your answer, you’d also be adding “decomposing matter” into the static water, turning it into stagnant water. A counter intuitive thing to do.
As an option, gluing a lazy Susan with wheels on the bottom buckets allows them to be moved easily if the sun gets too intense or easy movement when cleaning in-home.
Serendipity!
I just bought 70 5-gallon pails (wine juice, yes they were empty) for $100 on a hunch…I can’t pass it on a deal. They laughed at me…who will be laughing at $10 lettuce? 😢
Looks like both front and back yards will have lots of mini crop-circles this fall. 😂
So grateful to stumble across your idea, inexpensive, low maintenance and 0 power!
Thank you from 🇨🇦
OMG, I want pictures!
I’ve got crop circles too - i’ve been growing in 4 foot circles. They are fiberglass underground storage tank cut off‘s. I have about 50 of them😂 I call them crop circles and circle of life garden
Mosquito can be controlled with table spoon of vegetable oil. When the larva at born they can’t get there snorkel through the oil and die
Awesome tip, thanks!
About growing these in the Summer...
I would recommend putting these on the EAST Side of your building... so they get the Morning SUN but not the blistering WEST side, which is hotter...
I am taking care of my mother for awhile, and have (moveable) plants in PLASTIC Buckets, but the dirt inside gets really HOT, because it isn't in the ground... so after many mistakes... I put them on the EAST side and they're doing great... One plant is 28 years old!!! still in the same pot... I put fresh soil once a year ... water and feed it too.
We had a swiss chard that was so old we named it. I love it!
I want to know what the name was!
I'm a nomad and we cover our coolers with the silver bubble wrap, It reflects so much of the direct light and keeps so much cooler and the ice last so much longer. I would just wrap it and make a small disk for the top and tape it down. 😊
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. I’ve started the germination process and did start the stacking hydroponic. I am loving what I am putting together based on your guidance.
Thank you thank you!!!
I love that you mentioned Larry hall rain gutter grow system. He got me hooked 8 years ago and I've had 2 rails and a table since I came across his videos. growing year round with no maintenance. Now from your videos I decided to start a couple jar lettuce experiments to see how well the lettuce grows in the jars right next to the ones in grow bags and also comparing how the same jar lettuce grows in my skylight. I'll be surrounded by food in about 2 months down here in southern california
Thank you! That's awesome, keep up the great work! I love experimenting.
Didn't know it was a pool noodle And was holding back for asking that question...Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, for taking the time to answer these!!!
You're a life saver! I live in an apartment with no patio in Texas. I usually garden & do good at that. With the push to modify foods & seeds with some people wanting to add mRNA methods to everything I want to grown my own food still. I only get sun as it is going down so I am using grow lights. I started with Hyroponics which started out great but lost my first try. I discovered the water level stayed too high in the tubes. I used rockwool, but that stays sopping wet. I ended up picking up one end to drain some water of the Hydroponics tower to lower the level of the water left in the 2 1/2" tubes. It was a store bought kit. When researching for answers, I found out about the Kratky method. Looking for videos to help, I come across your videos. I LOVE the use of the swim noodles. It will keep the upper part of the plant dry & better supported. I LOVE you are teaching methods that take little money since I semi retired. I want to do well so I can teach other people how to plant food because of the political & economic situations of our day. Thanks so much!!!
You are doing great. I love when people analyze and adapt, figure stuff out. Keep on Growin'! So awesome of you to want to teach others too!
I found 4 buckets and lids stashed in my backyard. Gonna get started!
Nice!!!
This is an exciting thing to try. I love the obtainable ideas!
Just found your channel, just what I was looking for. Thank you for all the good info and sharing your advice and knowledge!!!❤
Glad it was helpful! Happy New Year!
Just some thoughts to keep the buckets cool, burry the buckets as far into the ground as possible leaving enough room for growth. And or get some mylar blankets and wrap the bucket to reflect the light. Darker buckets will absorb more heat rather than lighter colored buckets
I live in country where there’s no masterblend formula. What NPK nutrients can I use with calcium nitrate and Amspon salt? Thanks. 23:08
I can’t wait to try this!!
I definitely don't suggest people integrating fish without knowing proper fish care. For me, aquaponics works as well as hydroponics because I've been an aquarium keeper most of my adult life. Expanding aquariums to aquaponics was a natural transition, because I already had the fish AND knew how to properly care for them. Going from aquarium to pond is another transition, but a minor one. People definitely need to do their homework when it comes to setting up a healthy environment for fish, especially in a concentrated-fish system like aquaponics generally is.
I'm in FL as well.. I'm new to all this and been wanting to start a garden, so did the traditional looking at how to build a raised bed, soil etc... This I can start tomorrow!! So excited to try this!!
One question if anyone can answer or lead me to the right resources..
What can I grow vertically with this system?
Or are their limits to what I can grow?
Thanks!!
So glad I found your channel!!
I'm making this tomorrow!! Thank you!!
Me too ❤
Thanks . It is very helpful 👍.
You answered all my questions!😊
Lol I'm sorry but a million tadpoles sounds like fun 😊. Not in my plants though I agree 👍🏼
😂
Thank you for all the information, I am starting my hydroponic systerm too, got motivated from your video😊
Awesome! Good luck!!
Definitely use the pool noodles from your tip 👏👍
I think I will try some of these. I believe in the hottest part of the summer, growing lettuce will work good sitting in a carport. I believe indirect light would be good or maybe just Morning Sun.
I agree Flora.
This is awesome thanks
I'm really looking forward to the future videos you are planning to do based on some of these, especially the hot weather one!
I'll be cleaning out all my downspouts for my second year having started very late last season by watching your videos. I did get to grow a bunch of pac choy and a few other things before the frosts came, and I've learned some things about spacing and which plants I like to grow with this method. Hopeful for a productive year! Can't wait to follow along with you this season.
Awesome! That's what I love to hear! Happy gardening and Keep on Growin'!
I’m putting in a vote for the hot weather one too!👍
awesome video thanks
EXCELLENT VIDEO as always...
I'm sitting here looking at 5 buckets (still need to get my Red ones and White ones)
I'm going to use these to Pack to move to Albuquerque, New Mexico here in the next few weeks... then make them into Towers for Plants...
Thank You so much for another GREAT Video... I love this K.I.S.S (keep it simple sister) technique.
I think my Acting Studio students can learn a lot... since we will also be Cooking and Acting for Mystery Dinner Theatre... YEAH...
I might even WRITE a Script about some Mystery surrounding these Hydroponic Towers...
Any suggestions?
Just made my first bucket. The hardest part was making the holes because I didn’t have the proper tool. Excited to see how it works. My bucket has 6 tomato plants and I’m wondering how to handle the plants as they get big. I’ll learn as I go. I grow tomatoes every year and have a few plants that are several years old (I live in Southern California)
Trellis them just like other tomatoes. I use twine and S hooks. In my opinion, 6 is too many in one bucket. When they get big enough to produce fruit, you will be adding water every day.
A million tadpoles and 400 tilapias in the backyard... I was dying... 🤣🤣
Okay so dummy me just wants to thank you for reminding me that pool noodles float. I have been trying to figure out how I can keep some of my plants float in my fish tank. I am also going to try and make a couple of these with my son this spring. Glad you came across my FYP in TT.
I have been wondering about the pool noodles that you use, how safe are those as far as the material those are made out of? I have wondered this a lot the material those are made out of could be toxic!
I love your Videos !!! 🥰
Thank you!!
Interesting Ideas
I just started following you a few days ago and man have I learned a ton about hydroponics! Your videos are so informative, and you are very knowledgeable about the subject! I am very thankful I found your channel!
I do have a question. I live in Missouri where it gets pretty cold during the winter. I thought about growing plants in my house, but I am unsure of what lighting I should get to help them grow. Do you have any ideas on what I should get? Thank you!
This is what I use right now: amzn.to/3P2GT86
If that does not work for your situation, look for something similar. I would go with LED, saves energy and not as hot as traditional lights.
@@KeepOnGrowin, thank you so much!!
Great idea and concept - THANK you! Question: Do you think an oxygenation e.g. with aquarium stones or similar via pump is necessary for great(er) growth results?
Always room for improvement. This is just the basics. I talked about it in my other video.
My late husband had a chiller to keep bait fish cool. Bet that would work for hydroponics since I am in middle Georgia
Great video, thank you. What are your thoughts about creating a reservoir attached to floats for each bucket to maintain a consistent water level for the plants to be at their happy level? If you have the reservoir set above the buckets, there will be no need for power, and it will centralize the solution for the nutrients. Once again, thank you for all of your trial and error that has been productive. please keep up all that you do.
If you have the time, patience and inclination...yes. I am focused on beginners and the easiest way to do this.
Thanks for all your insight. I just heard about this for the first time last week. But it seems really great to try... as we don't have much space and we are in the boonies with lots of critters... but a few more questions.. do you "plant" a seed in the pool noodle puck? How long do you expect things to keep growing you mentioned something stayed alive for 2 years.. I sorta expected things to be able to grow long term this way is that true?? Could I get a plant from the store and keep it whole?? For example strawberry plant from a friend put it in the diy tower would ot work whole or break apart like you did basil
Man, I wish I had found you a few years ago before I bought the greenstalk... that didn't work out for me and for the past couple years I've felt really defeated. Maybe next year I'll be able to try your method.
Thanks for the content 🙏
I heard so many good things about the green stalk I was tempted to buy. Would you be kind enough to explain your negative experience? Thanks.
@make your life easier of course! For me, finding affordable potting soil was the first difficulty. More so now... it's about 8$ a cubic ft for organic where I am so 80$ to fill my 2 planters which hurts.
I bit the bullet that first year but then they had mold between the layers and a terrible infestation of gnats. The soil was literally crawling. So I had to leave them unstacked to get rid of the mold then also purchased mosquito bits to finally get rid of the gnats. They also never seemed to water correctly but they've changed the watering recommendations since then.
I see those planters overflowing all over CZcams so I'm stuck wondering where I went wrong. Guess that's where the main disappointment lies.
@@nancyhongthe1 Thanks for the info!
Thx so much 😁😁
Thank u
2 thoughts I have re cooling. If I grew a trailing type plant such as squash, I could put the container in the shade while the plant grows out into the sun. Second thought was to put the bucket in a pile of straw to shade it and maybe wet it down in the heat. It does get very hot here in Summer. Have you tried growing squash or smaller melons like rockmelon? Even watermelon? We are mid spring where I am and I have seedlings ready to plant out.
I did yellow squash. It did ok but was too much work for my taste refilling all the time.
One question i have been pondering about container gardening that i have not yet tried is painting the outside of the container? Have you done it?
I live in Tx and my containers start to fall apart from heat even if they have liquids. I have been thinking painting them to make them last longer.. have you tried does it help?
Could you use compost tea to feed them or would that make the water too nasty or would that just be good fertilizer?
Thank you for your videos i am going to make these systems
Yes, my wife is painting some of ours. As for the compost tea, mine turned putrid smelly in a week, lol. I'm still experimenting thogh.
I am excited to get started. A friend of mine gave me some old pickle buckets from her work.
What size did you cut the holes, though?
I'm getting my pool noodle and solution today.
Did strawberries do well in yours with the solution you did? I have 4 strawberry plants I need to get in the water.
How well did herbs do? I have some dill, cilantro and sage I want to do it in. Am.i better off just keeping those in dirt pots? 😊
2"
Awesome ideas on this channel and so great that everything has been tested by you! One question; how about stacking totes instead of buckets? Wouldn't that be easier as it provides more room for holes and adds more water?
You could but the buckets are about 30 lbs. Totes would be much heavier.
I hope you have a video about the nutrients you put into those!
Ask...and you shall receive...
czcams.com/video/SaN6Dlf2hCg/video.html
Could you grow microgreens on the lid of that bucket? Maybe drill some holes in the top and run a few pieces of rope into the nutrient solution to draw water up. Might be a good way to double up usage for the same space. Would love to see a video combining these two grow methods in a single bucket!
I thought of it but wouldn't be able to stack it.
I had to laugh, the water doesn’t get stagnant. I worry more about people’s thinking being stagnant.
They took the shot and boosters
Stagnant is not a problem, plant survival is priority.
@@chinesevirus-ix3yr ok flat earter
Great info! Love your videos!
Question: will pudding my buckets, which are white, on a concrete balcony at my apartment will the water get too hot? Thank you so much!
Thank you! You will have to experiment. Before planting, just put a bucket out there for a full day and check. You can always set it up on a few blocks of wood, make sure it's steady.
@@KeepOnGrowin Thanks! Will give it a try👍👍
Hi, first off great video and thankyou. I'm very interested in trying this out. I had a question about when you first initially transplant the plant with the pool noodle to the bucket. Do the roots need to be submerged in the water or will it hang above the water line and eventually grow and reach the water overtime? My other question is regarding the nutrients, do you just initially put it in for the first time and then continually just top off with water only? Or would you eventually add more nutrients after awhile?
The roots need to be touching the nutrient solution from the start. I mostly top off with the same mixture.
I had same questions lol. I also really wanted to look inside the bucket lololol
I live in SW GA, and it is extremely hot in the summer. I was thinking about sitting these in a kitty pool with water, it would help them cool down.
That's pretty much the gist of one of my next videos. I was waiting for it to warm up a little for everyone. Great job!
Hi Mike I thank you and I forgot many years ago how you teach me & others how to grow your system. It just makes sense. Only I don't understand give what kind nutrients for any given plants. Do you already made a video if yes could you please send a links., so I can learn from you I really appreciate thank you 😊 🙏 ☺️ ❤️👍🤝
czcams.com/video/SaN6Dlf2hCg/video.html
Hi Mike thank you again and this video link the squirrel so nice and warm. I'm coming back to watch your new video on your CZcams channel. Im in the area of Vancouver Canada 😊😉👍👏❤️
Thank you!! What region/climate are you in. Wondering how I’d need to adjust for the desert, 9b zone.
9b, Florida though
I'm in Southeastern New Mexico in the Desert... it gets HOT.
When topping up do you just use water or use the nutrients again?
I just commented on a different video asking some questions that you already answered. Thanks..I am looking forward to my journey. I will be growing in a basement. Any suggestions for proper lighting??🌞
I use Barrina, works pretty good for me.
I'm a real off grider.
And he is correct on the water.
You can fill a container with water. Seal it up. And it good water 10 years later.
Now. here is something else.
If no light is let in no argue grows.
However. Algue itself is not harmful.
It does make water taste a bit funny. But you can drink argue water and be ok.
Its the other things that bad. The bio that's breaking down or other foreign materials.
BTW you can eat the argue also. Though I find it has no flavor.
99% of the people within 90 miles of me store their water after the pick it up from a water point. And the smart one have their tanks so no sun reaches the water.
I'm the only person that I know that harvest rain water.
I harvest about 1000 gallons per year from 4 inches of rain per year. And thats for drinking.
I had other rain catches but the winds keep destroying them.
And the water from the water point is stronger then a public swimming pool.
Howdy, sounds like you have a pretty sweet set-up there. I'm super jealous as I'm limited to an apartment patio and that's even more limited by managements rules.
Anyways, I had a question maybe you could answer for me. When the c19 crap hit I started storing tap water in those blue 5 gallon water bottles and I didn't have lids for all of them so I used a latex gloves to cover the hole. Well I looked the other day and there's now visible mildew yuck forming inside the ones that I didn't cap. Am I going to have to dump all that out and start over again? Could they potentially all have mold I just can't see? They've been stored in my garage, which is usually almost always dark, but not cool. The temperature has reached 90° in there before. I also have those old fashioned chlorine and iodine tabs and a smart type straw that makes all water safe to drink. TIA for any advise. ✌🏻
I was thinking about putting airstones in my tomato buckets, but I am rethinking that now...
Good evening, sir. I have watched several of your videos, and I was wondering is it best to set this system in full sun or against my house where it will receive more shade?
You will have to experiment. Get as much sun as you can without having your plants wilt really bad.
Where do you get your seeds? Have you ever tried to harvest your own seeds?
Hi...do the lids have to have the seal in the rim of the lids....I have gotten pickle buckets from A&W in the past for storage of rice and such and sometime you can get the seal ring but sometimes they may have been cut...due to how we open the pails at kitchen level....
No, I do not seal them. In fact, if they are hard to get off, I just sit them on top, lol.
@@KeepOnGrowin thank you ....for storing foods they would be needed but to know that the ring isnt needed for this is great...
Could i use water beads in the buckets?
I bought 5 gallon buckets from Tractor Supply which don't have that extra height I see in your buckets. In order to provide the air space above the plants how far down from the top of the bucket should I drill the holes for the plants?
The lip is about 2" down so maybe drill the center at 3".
What about wrapping tin foil around the bottom water area, and then wrap with fabric of whatever sort? As a short of insulator?
Sounds good.
We have a tremendous Iguana problem in South Florida. They eat everything we try to grow. Any suggestions?
My work uses slightly smaller buckets for food stuffs, and I can get ahold of them. Would tying them them in a 3 set and stacking them work with some holes in the bottom for drainage? I was thinking of going out and buying totes, drilling some holes in the sides and growing tomatoes in them, but this would be relatively free and reusing things, so idk. Maybe having a pvc pipe up the middle and cutting grooves to glue them to would work better and sticking some rollers on the botton to make it a little mobile? Not sure what all would be safe for plants, if poking holes in a pipe and the buckets and tying each one to it and each other would work better or not is an idea as well. Any ideas are appreciated!
Sounds cool. I have not done that so I can't say. We did have a strawberry tower made with a 55 gallon drum and a pvc pipe in the middle. It worked ok.
You can put them on a turntable to give your whole bucket a turn to the sun.
Put speed to 45....
45👍
What size are the holes where you put the pool noodle?
2"
How do you keep the water from coming out of the holes?
If the water is deep enough to cover the roots doesn’t it seep through the pool noodles?
Nope. Fill as high as you can and aim the roots down.
Mike, Im thinking maybe you could use that silver insulated bubblewrap around the outside of the buckets to help keep your water and root temps lower in high heat. No way will our HOA let me grow in 5 gal buckets outside, so I have to figure a "pretty" way to do Kratky outside...I really want to though.
You could paint the buckets.
You could wrap in matchstick blinds stood on end so it looks like twigs. I've used that to block sun on a balcony. You would have to cut in half or get one a little wider than 3 buckets tall. And cut to wrap 3 buckets
Do you increase the AMT of nutrients when you make it as the plants flowers
no
Hello Mike, I found a channel "Hoocho" and he made same Kratky system with a little difference, he added a gravity feed nutrient refill with float in the buckets to keep the water at the desired level. He calls it the Continuous Kratky System. Can you design one just what you can come up with?
All you need is a float valve. I don't bother because I have 40 to 50 containers going at once. It's easy with just a few. Dr Kratky on "Grow Kratky" here on CZcams has been working on a simple version.
You said not to let it get too hot. Would it be a issue outside beside my barn where there's alot of sunlight?
I can not tell, you will have to experiment. Watch it the first few days.
For the nutrients added to water, is every water filling with nutrients or are there refills with just water?
I add nutrients
Do you see any downfall to sticking a garden hose with a float valve through one of the pool noodles? Less maintenance maybe but higher up front cost
Not at all. It's a good idea. It would dilute your nutrients though. Some people have put a bucket of nutrients higher and gravity fed through a float valve.
Will this work in a high temp and humid place ? Place where I live, avg temp is always above 30c and in summer it is close to 38.
I am in humid Florida, USA. Temps near 100F.
I have seen you with seedlings with long pool noodles. How do you start them that way? Do you have a video about that?
Not yet. Soon.
I live in country where there’s no masterblend formula. What NPK nutrients can I use with calcium nitrate and Amspon salt? Thanks
Different countries will have different brands look for 4-18-38, Calcium Nitrate 15.5-0-0, and Epsom Salt (Magnesium Sulfate) and be sure they are water soluble.
can miracle gro be used for the nutrients?
I would use the one for their Aerogardens and not the blue stuff
6:03 is there anything in the plastic buckets or pool noodles that would effect whatever you grow?
Yes, nutrients
I meant anything harmful from the plastic bucket or pool noodles - sorry I wasn’t clear in my post. New to this whole thing.
Hi. I just discovered your channel, you make it simple. One question- do you have a problem with ants surrounding /getting into the bucket etc? Last year, My whole garden, plants on the driveway and eventually my house had ants even my plants which didnt drip any water had an ant issue. - it was terrible! never had thst before. Are ants attracted to the buckets?? Thx.
I have not had trouble. I did have some get into a few of my downspouts that I had crops in for a long time.
@@KeepOnGrowin last year was my first year with such a problem. This year. I have decided to try several different ways to not repeat that again, it was such a nightmare! I look forward to giving your ideas a try.
Get small cans, like tuna fish comes in or cat food, cut holes in side and put equal amounts baking soda and powdered sugar and sit where ants are and it will kill the ants.
What if you coated the buckets with cool coat or something similar
You can do lots of things. I show the bare minimum so beginners will get excited and start. You can always advance and run things better.
I have found living in Northern Arizona, my container plants do better on the east side of the house. This is in a desert environment with intense sun, few clouds.
I think I will try that. Thank you. However I think I will try some in my carport. Maybe put in carport in the hottest part of the summer.
@@florawillis1384 morning sunlight is necessary, but Arizona intense mid day sun can fry plants. Shade cloth can help.
Central/southern Arizona is about the same. Mainly berries and some fruits do better on the East side.
@@corygardner3945 it was so when we lived in Globe and Coolidge!
where i am planning on putting this, it gets about 10-12 hrs of direct sun. Do you think the plants would be successful here with this system?
Should be, I have less than that in a shady yard
My master blend set is in its way to me
Awesome!!
What size drill bit to make the wholes in the buckets and spouts??
2"
@@KeepOnGrowin thank you.
Just came from the how to video and this is EXACTLY the kind of thing I've been looking for to try hydro farming. For me, it's all about emergency food and living in the north, i want to be able to grow winter foods and hydro seems a really efficient way to do it. But i don't want to depend on electricity - both cause prepper reasons and for cost savings. So i knew i was gonna try the kratky method, but I'm not a fan of using totes. Buckets is a great idea.
Thanks for sharing!
Lol the stagnant water qs are funny to me as someone who is constantly propagating cuttings in water
LED grow lights use nearly zero power and can run off of the smallest of solar systems. In theory the $15, 1.5 watt solar battery maintainer from Harbor Freight would operate an LED grow light during daylight hours without the use of battery. The only problem you face is solar is DC, LED is DC but most LED have a built in AC convertor. You may have to do your own soldering of individual led lights but I am certain this can be done easily and on a budget.
I live in Maryland. It’s gets cold. 1/2 the yr below 50 degrees. how can I keep this system outside? I live in a town house and not much space indoors
We can't change Mother Nature and how plants grow. They need warm temps, nutrients and lots of light. Have to find some way to accommodate them.
Can you put reflect around the containers 🤔 so they don't get so hot in there?
Try it!
@@KeepOnGrowin I like your style 🙂👏
Right! I was thinking those shiny silver thermal blankets they have for emergencies.
One reason why I would not use the fish in the bucket- it would be too hot, I think.
What do you do with all the greens?seems like more than you can eat.
If you cook down any kale, it's not much at all. We eat most raw, in salads and smoothies. Have to account for bugs too, never know,
How do you keep your water from getting hot? I have a problem with that. Oh ok, I'll check back with you on this after the summer.
Check my latest video that I just posted and more to come, I am working on it now. czcams.com/video/0owGBSeYIcs/video.html
Is it possible to start a small business growing tomatoes and other suitable plants using this particular system??
The ones that I have seen use the gutter system with a mechanical float and a large water tank. The factors you need to consider is the amount of real estate each plant takes up and the amount of water each plant consumes. A tomato plant in full growth consumes 1 gal - 10 gal water per week in the ground dependent on the soil and climate. In theory, it will consume 1/10th of the amount in kratky. 4-5 plants in a single bucket will no longer be a passive system but 1 per bucket requires little attention. If you used a standard garden cloths line with string lines going down to train the plants vertically, you could have no less than 10 plants growing with minimal effort. Most certainly enough for a road side market or to help supply a farmers market. It's hard info to find but you can look up how much each plant consumes and go by that. If you wish to earn money, also look at profitability per square foot. Strawberries are high profit, potatoes are not. Your local area/market also play a roll. Between 5-6 PM in an urban subdivision you could sell out of a truck load of leafy greens, every day. In a rural area you will be hard pressed to sell kale by the road side. Green tomatoes on the other hand are hard to find.
I need to know how to make nutrients to add to water
czcams.com/video/SaN6Dlf2hCg/video.html
Put you're a p c v pipe in ther so you can water put you a cap on it keep bugs out😊
I'm wondering if modifying the bucket to reflect heat would help? I did some poking and found research about roof colors v. temperature (closest thing I could find good data on). Seems like the best cheap option is just white acrylic paint.
Have you noticed any differences between your buckets based on color? I know the Firehouse subs ones are a darker red. It sounds a bit silly, but I am surrounded by concrete where I live (apartment with small porch). I want to do some documentation on these to tweak as needed for the hopeful future.
Thank you for the inspo! I've been poking around the idea of hydroponics but was always terrified of the money. If mine this year works, I plan to use it as an instructional tool in my science class. This channel is awesome!
My next video will show the difference in colors. Also, @healinghobbies just did a video where she wrapped them in insulation. czcams.com/video/B4xA7l71LuA/video.html
@@KeepOnGrowin Thank you!!
What nutrition do you put in
czcams.com/video/SaN6Dlf2hCg/video.html
Hello Mike. I emailed you back in Oct/Nov. I started hydroponics last Sept. I had problems getting seedlings to grow. Now I am getting tempted to grow but after 3 or 4 weeks the bottom leaves start drying out. I check the water and it seems ok. I have been using Humboldt liquid nutrients and getting ready to switch over to Mastr Blend . Help. What am I missing?
I have never used that. I am not sure if it is made for hydroponics. I can't speak much about other nutrients, I just know Masterblend works for me.
@@KeepOnGrowin I am getting ready to switch over to master blend. Do you deviate from the mixture or just follow the standard recipe?
@@aztecred I use the standard.
I tried this with strawberries and must have substantially over fertilized with nutrients. I killed 7 gorgeous plants. 🌱 help with a video about what nutrients etc and how much. Please!!!
I do leafy greens. Check out Ditch the Flock here on CZcams
Have you tried compost tea kratky method?
Per videos I've watched on other channels, plants grown hydroponically don't do anywhere near as well when fed compost tea or other fertilizers designed for soil. They need microorganisms living in the soil to help break these down to release the nutrients into an easy to consume form for them. Hydroponic fertilizers are in the right form already.
@@chronos401 to add to your answer, you’d also be adding “decomposing matter” into the static water, turning it into stagnant water. A counter intuitive thing to do.