How I built this great Kratky container
How I built this great Kratky container
Here's how I built this amazing container that you can use for Kratky style setups and small DWCs.
Step 1: Get everything you'll need.This includes:
- The container protein powder is stored in. It has a volume of 3 liters and is already colored black. Just ask your gym buddies if they can save up a few for you.
- A water level indicator. Mine is 18 cm long, and I bought it for two bucks in my local garden center.
- A drill, circular saw (3 inch diameter) and a drill tip that's the diameter of your water level indicator.
- Optional: a deburrer
- 3 inch Netcup + some LECA + a wick
Step 2: Drill the holes After drilling them, deburr the edges
Step 3: Fill it upFor the start, I place the netcup in a tray with diluted nutrient solution. When the seedling has reached a height of a few centimetres, I place it into the container. In the beginning, I recommend an EC of 1 mS, and the water level should reach the bottom of the netcup.
Here's how it looked like after a few weeks:
And here's how it looks now:
Step 4: Cover it (optional)Since the container is black, it can get pretty hot in full sun. Oh, and it also looks bad. You can wrap some fabric around it, or crochet a "sock" for it, which I will do soon.
The great thing about this container is that the indicator has its optimum on 1/3 fullness. That way, you don't have to worry about the reservoir running dry or having it filled up too high, suffocating the roots.