Want the simplest form of hydroponic gardening for your home? Here we are going to show you how to make a mason jar hydroponic.
This passive hydroponics gardening is called the Kratky method. The Kratky Method is the easiest and time-saving way. You can also call it a deep water culture method without using a pump or electrical machinery.
This method works in a straightforward way to provide crops the required growing conditions.
All you need to do is just follow our step-by-step process and build your own mason jar hydroponic system.
How To Make A Mason Jar Hydroponics?
Keeping in mind the Kratky method’s simplicity, let’s read some steps on how to make a mason jar hydroponic via this method. It’s an excellent way for beginners to learn better about the Kratky process.
Step 1: Collect the materials
Go and collect all the materials first you need for the mason jar hydroponics system. For this purpose, you will need materials such as three-inch net pots, mason jars, hydroponic nutrient solution, Rockwool cubes, hydroton pebbles, tin foil, and seeds.
Step 2: Begin the germination process of seeds as usual
The next step is to let your seeds germinate for about two weeks before placing them straight into the mason jar hydroponics. Then, you can soak the Rockwool cubes in water, which can also be placed in a container filled halfway with water.
After all of this done, start by planting two seeds in every Rockwool cube.
Step 3: Transfer into mason jars
After completing the germination process, the roots of hydroponic plants will sprout from the bottom of Rockwool cubes. It’s the stage when you can transfer them straight into the mason jars after washing them thoroughly.
Place them in mason jars along with the hydroponic nutrients solution. Put the three-inch net pots in the jar and screw the top of the metal to secure the net in place. Fill the 1/4th of the jar with water and mix the hydroponic nutrient solution.
Step 4: Set the plants
Take the sprouted seeds and put them in the net while pulling their roots through it and dangling in the water. Now, you can add hydroton pebbles and fill the net cup with it. Here’s the use of tin foil that comes in when you wrap the jar to avoid any light contact.
After you are done with all this, place the plants in a sunny pot. Remember to water them properly once a week. In the last, enjoy the harvesting of the mason jar hydroponic system.
Material You Need To Make It
Even though you have been introduced to certain materials required for creating a mason jar hydroponics system, still a brief introduction to these materials, along with other essentials, is pending.
So, let’s study the things required in brief as follows.
1. Mason Jars
As you already know, mason jars are available in different specs and characteristics; not every pot is ideal for growing hydroponics. What you need to look for are wide mouth mason jars that fulfill the need very strategically.
You can use mason jars in the range of 500ml to 1 pint. However, the size can vary depending upon the type of hydroponic plant you want to grow within. To start with, the 500ml Mason jar is the best.
Simultaneously, the wide-mouth mason jars are beneficial as they are super easy to clean and maintain. And another advantage is that you can easily fit net cups within them. However, you can remove the lids for easy usage and save time & effort.
2. Net Cups/Net Pots
Net pots are commonly used in hydroponic gardening to allow the nutrients to flow freely among plants’ roots. The net pots are readily available online and can be bought in bulk. Also, they help better to hold the neoprene inserts and roots of plants.
While buying the net cups, you must look for factors such as size and durability. They must be tough enough to withstand the hot cleaning procedure as well. Check for if the growing medium in the net pots is breaking down easily or not.
3. Neoprene Inserts
Neoprene Inserts/Neoprene Discs/Neoprene Collars are made to easily fit inside the net pots and support hydroponic plants’ real growth. Even most of the growers prefer neoprene inserts over plastic discs due to placing the stem into the slit of the insert.
They are generally suspended below the top tray above from which a nutrient solution and mist of water is sprayed continuously. It is useful if you are using neoprene inserts with your 3-inches net cups.
So, before you know how to make a mason jar hydroponic, make sure you are available with these mentioned materials at priority. With the closing of the intro of neoprene inserts, you have your Mason jar hydroponic setup ready.
4. Growing Medium & Light considerations
After the setup is ready, it’s time to step up a bit and prefer using an ideal growing medium that well suits your hydroponic plants’ needs. For this purpose, you must use grow mediums with high CEC, such as coconut fiber.
Other popular growing media for hydroponics setup are perlite, expanded clay aggregate, and Rockwool. However, cotton fiber and Rockwool are mostly used for the setup.
On the same note, you must not forget light considerations as they are equally important. Even though some plants will do well in window light, still light consideration is essential for off-hours.
You can go for an artificial hydroponic lighting system while considering the light requirements for specific plants.
5. Other Considerations
If you plan to grow the system using Mason jar hydroponics, think of investing in a set of mason jars. Also, make sure to keep them similar as it will help you better manage the things.
Growing hydroponics in lots of jars also needs to have a rack for better organization.
Different Crops That You Can Grow
Let’s look at the basics of how you can grow different veggies and leaves in a mason.
1. French Beans
The French Beans are said to be germinated when you see the flowers popping out of them. Some seeds will get pollinated, some will grow to the full size, and other seeds will fall off. So, it’s a kind of natural process with the seeds.
However, some leaves look yellow in the sun, but they must be green in color due to proper hydroponic growth.
2. Basil Leaves
After you set up mason jar hydroponic for basil leaves, they will look a bit deep green and giant in the overall structure. While growing, the basil in pots will give you yellowish leaves.
3. Chilies And Peppers
You can grow a variety of peppers or chilies in usually large mason jars or glass jars. Take black polythene to wrap them throughout. You can also paint the top curved part of the mason jar in black color.
Ensure you get the right PH or nutrient concentration without providing too much water that will ruin the crop.
4. Chards
The next hydroponic crop you may have grown is chard. It comes with pretty healthy-looking and white fluffy absorbing roots at the bottom. Make sure not to use any dark container when chard is used to make a mason jar hydroponic system.
Also, remember not to provide them with too much light as it can badly cause the plant’s algae growth. It’s better if you skip this crop, or you have to maintain it very carefully to get it done.
Useful Tips
The last step covers the conclusions or essential lessons you must know before growing mason jar hydroponics crops.
- You are required to cover the roots of hydroponic plants that you are growing via the Kratky method. It should be done to prevent algae growth and allow the nutrient solution to be adequately distributed.
- Don’t go for using tissue paper or cotton wool while the seedlings sprout a bit. You can let them grow bigger to transfer straight into the growing media.
- The next important lesson on how to make a mason jar hydroponic is to use the Kratky method mainly for non-fruiting vegetables.
Some Frequently Asked Questions
Final Words
So, this is how to make a Mason jar hydroponics in detail. Hopefully, you get used to this cheap system of growing hydroponics as the steps are not that difficult to consider for a beginner.
Just make sure to use reliable products while also keeping in mind the specific hydroponic plant’s environmental requirements.