Growing Cucumbers in Plastic Water Bottles
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- Опубликовано: 11 апр 2020
- A simple hydroponic method for growing cucumbers is described.
Cucumbers are grown in plastic water bottles filled with growing medium. The bottles rest on the floor of a growing tank and are sub-irrigated with a 1.5-inch depth of nutrient solution which is maintained with a home-made float valve • A Yogurt Container Flo...
Electricity and/or pumps are not needed for this growing method. Preparation of the nutrient solution is described. 
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You remind me of Mr. Rogers, so kind and friendly. With you in our schools, there will be no famine nor wars. Thank you for your special spirit Dr. Kratky.
Aloha, Dr. Kratky. It's always a pleasure to see what you're growing and to learn from your storehouse of knowledge.
Very cool. I’m new to hydro gardening. I just started with 5 gallon buckets and testing with pepper plants I grew from seed.,I’m excited to see how the plants will take to the water and nutrient solution. Thanks Dr. Kratky!
Seems to control the root growth from getting too prolific... Thanks Dr. for sharing! Your float valves are pure genius!
Binge watching your videos, Dr. Kratky. You infuse so much fun into your presentation, I am sure your student love you!! Thanks for all that you do to help us grow vegetables successfully even in small spaces and apartments!
It would be interesting to see what happens if you simply drop cuttings right through the hole in the polystyrene. Thanks.
It will KRATKY!
That's a great idea, Jeb - as long as there is a screen under the polystyrene to support the plant. In fact, I might just try it!
Oh hey Jeb!
Jeb ... Stop missing with the master ... We all know you are crazy... You don't have to proof that.but I like you.
You all need to see my never ending kratky design. Sewerponics is the future
Fantastic! Thanks for this video! Aloha from Brazil!
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO! MUCH
Thanks that answered some of my questions I had regarding nutrient tank. I guess same can be applied to plants like tomato where we need to vary EC along plant growth phases ?
It's great to hear from you Dr. You're savior on Mt. Zion : )
Mike sent me 😁 keep on growing!
What a great method, first time I hear about it. It is practical simple and hassle-free.
Came to your channel through Mike VanDuzee video.
Thank you both, this method need to be spread around.
God bless you.
Can Kratky method be used to grow passion fruit or the other fruit trees? I would increase the ratio of Master Blend to calcium nitrate during different growth period to increase p-k and reduce n.
Would this work if I set it up in the Tucson desert? I tried to garden here recently with not a lot of success but spending a LOT of time and money and no veggies or greens...
Amazing! Did not know kratky is possible with the bottles. How high does the water level in the tank get (with support of the auto fill valve) ? I'm thinking peppers might be good also with the method.
Hello there, love your videos. I figured why not try some hydroponics while stuck at home with the kids, so we’ll begin with lettuce in some bottles. In Australia the only nutrient I can find has a part A NPK of 10:2:24. It also comes with a part B that contains 18% calcium and 15% nitrogen. To grow lettuce in a bottle would you have some tips for mixing this part A and part B? I intend to use some 2L juice containers.
my EC meter unit is micros/cm. I tried to convert 2 s/m to micro sec/cm, and the number is absurd. what is the equivalent of 2 s/m to ppm? my meter also measure ppm. Thank you!
Hello Dr. Mike send me here. Keep on growing.
Excellent demonstration, and very useful to know. Since most garden centers sell plants in small pots of potting mix, it would be simple to adapt this method to allow bring home plants and placing those into the tank without removing the pot in which those were grown.
Do you have any data on the total water consumption over the course of this trial? Thank you for the videos and research you do!!
Generally, in the Hilo area, about 4 gallons of water are needed to produce a pound of cucumbers, but I didn't measure the total weight produced.
That is a good idea, Matt!
@@growkratky5558 With regular growing mix (aka potting soil) wouldn't the soil become anaerobic if left in a water/fertilizer solution?
@@LK-3000 This works as long as there is a moist air zone. If the whole bottle was submerged, then the plant would drown.
Great video
I am from south part of India where summer temperature is 45 degrees C.
What is maximum temperature for nutrient?
How to compensate for water loss by evaporation which may result increase in EC
Growing KING🗣
Hi Dr. Kratky! You mentioned 1 lb/gal Chem Gro as solution A, but later when you only used 600 ml and pour it in rhe main tank but did not specify the volume of water in the tank. How much is the dillution ratio? Thanks for your very helpful videos!
I wanted to know the same thing. Possibly, he adds enough that his EC -meter readings ,are where he wants them
I love growing things this way because I get to see the otherwise invisible root mass. Everyone is always really surprised to see that whole half of the plant! Question: are there plants that do NOT grow well under these noncirculating methods?
Well, I wouldn't grow perennial crops as system (tank, tubing, etc.) might break down over time and low value crops as corn and wheat which wouldn't make financial sense.
Can you add bacillus thuringiensis Israelensis for the mosquito larvae?
Is there anything preventing mold/bacteria from growing in the tanks? If it was mentioned I glossed over it.
Nothing has been added for mold/bacteria control. Usually this is not a problem with chemical/mineral fertilizer as the one used here, but it can be a big issue with organic fertilizers
Thanks for the tips! One question, do you think the nutrients shown on this video can work also with Perilla Frutescens? Thank you!
I don't know, but it is worth a try - start out at an EC of 1.5 mS and adjust if needed.
Thank you for the advice!! I’m going a try
Similar to the rain gutter grow system ☺
Cool setup 👍 check into a foredom or dremel type flex shaft drill or attachment with a foot pedal I've found it faster, safer, and more comfortable for drilling lots of drain holes in plastics, the variety of bits makes it handy I use the cutting disks often and the round burr bits for holes, some little quick jobs like the bottles an extra large nail heated on the stove works, just ventilate good ✌🌱🌻
Thanks for sharing a great suggestion.
Soldering gun in ventilated area.
This is quite a yield. How many bottles did you start with?
I seem to recall that there were 4 bottles.
Brilliant video! Thank you.I found it inspirational,to hear of your procrastination and your general vibe, of actually wanting the stuff to grow,without you having to do much. Most hydroponics videos are by ultra-keen, almost fanatical gardeners/presenters,who obviously relish every moment,of tending to their set-up and the more tinkering the better. This makes me think, "Hey! I could,actually,really,do that." ( might need to move to Hawaii first;you ain't growing 'cuces' over Christmas,where I live. He did have a LOT of cucumbers; hard to know how I would deal with that glut.)
Thank you for the kind comments!
It's difficult to grow cucumbers on Kauai, because they get "stung." Is that not a problem on Big Island?
Yes, it can be a problem. These cucumbers were grown in an open-sided rainshelter and were not stung.
What about the PH level? I use "kristalon brown" + epsom salt + calcium nitrate in ratio 2 - 2 -1 , and the PH level after mix in final solution is around 3.8 - 4. 0. I dont see anything about PH on your videos.
Tnx.
Yes, pH 4.0 is too low. Consider filling a sock with dolomite and hang it in the tank until pH gets to around 6.0 and then remove it.
@@growkratky5558 Will dolomite affect the calcium / magnesium ratio in the nutrient solution? Should I reduce the amount of magnesium / calcium added in the nutrient recipe? Or, is it safe to use instead of dolomite, baking soda?
Thank you.
Can Kratky method work for passion fruit or the other fruit trees by using large container? It seems to me that the ratio of Master Blend to calcium nitrate needs to be adjusted during different growing period.
I am very,very far from an authority on these matters,but I imagine you would have real problems just keeping the tree upright. From watching a number of videos on this method,it appears that it works best for really quick harvest plants,like lettuce, less well for tomatoes and unsuitable for long lifetime plants. The volume of nutrient solution over a year (a decade?) would be colossal. If you try it,then I hope I'm wrong. (Let us know.)
This man is so advanced he playing with his food
6:28 - eight? I count at least thirteen! :)
hahaha everywhere cucomber lol
Ml Hydro Haven sent me.
Y not use a funnel
A funnel would help :)
USE A FUNNEL!!!!