The Kratky method

Non-circulating passive hydroponics, described by B. A. Kratky at the University of Hawaiʻi. The reservoir is filled once; as the plant drinks, the falling water level exposes air roots. No pumps, no electricity, no moving parts — nothing to fail while you’re away.

In a resilience-tiered garden this is the baseline: the system that keeps producing when the power, the sensors and the automation have all given up. Start every crop here before deciding it needs anything more.

Start here — 6 curated links

A suspended net-pot, non-circulating hydroponic method Paper ctahr.hawaii.edu

Kratky's original paper. Short, readable, and still the definitive description — read this before any video.
Kratky mason jars to 60L totes — full walkthrough Video youtube.com/@hoocho

The best practical build series, with Australian materials and costs. Covers scaling without adding pumps.
Non-circulating hydroponics for leafy crops Extension guide edis.ifas.ufl.edu

The rigorous written version — spacing, nutrient concentrations and yield data from replicated trials.
Why Kratky fails for fruiting crops (and when it doesn't) Video youtube.com

Honest treatment of the method's real limits — reservoir depletion versus tomato-scale water demand.
Kratky troubleshooting megathread Community reddit.com/r/hydro

Photo-diagnosed failures — algae, root rot, stalled seedlings. Search it before asking anywhere.
Masterblend 4-18-38 mixing calculator Tool scienceinhydroponics.com

The standard cheap nutrient recipe for Kratky greens, with per-litre mixing amounts.

entry added 2026-06-08 · links last verified 2026-06-28 · 6 links