The Kratky Method: Passive Hydroponics

The Idea

The Kratky method is a still-water system: a plant sits in a net pot above a reservoir, roots drinking the solution while an air gap forms as the level drops. No pump, no timer, no power.

How to Do It

1. Fill a dark container with nutrient solution.
2. Set the plant (in a net pot with medium) so roots touch the solution and the stem stays dry.
3. Leave a gap between the water line and the lid so roots get air.
4. Top up only if the level drops too far before harvest.

Best For

Lettuce, basil, and other fast leafy crops that finish before the reservoir runs dry.

Kratky is the easiest entry to hydroponics. Log checks with the care schedule tool.