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Post by clumsythumbs on Jan 13, 2021 9:10:56 GMT -5
So there are a few hydro stores in my area. One is literally right down the street. I recently came across another tucked behind a self-storage that had great reviews, especially noting the knowledge base of the owner. I order most of my stuff on Amazon, but recently (with COVID and other events) have been wanting to spend money more locally...so long as the prices are not exorbitant.
The store down the street has decent prices; the owner is very nice, but does not give extensive answers to questions. His specialty, I think, lies in "other" domains of growing. I had asked him a few tips/ideas on DIY set-ups and lights and he more or less directed me to the internet as a great resource (ok...but I wanted a human to talk to who is knowledgeable). Anyhow, last night went to the store I just discovered. First off, the guy was very nice and friendly, but...
Where to start. The store itself was very sparse, with a large back area...I knew I likely was not gonna help the help I wanted. However, numerous online reviews noted that he has helped them with their veggie gardens for years. So...I told him briefly of my set-up and said I had some question about a few things. He said he had never heard of Kratky, thought DWC was not effective and more or less told me if I was going to do something DIY NFT of Ebb and Flow are the only things worth my time. I said I was under the impression those were a bit more difficult and complicated to set-up and monitor and wanted something easy as a first foray...and proceeded to explain Kratky; mentioned here that many people do it successfully. He and the other worker kept insisting there is no way a passive system could work and kept asking about oxygen, how do nutrients circulate. And said if I wanted to do it, so be it, but I am asking for all sorts of rot and infestation. Again, he was nice, but dismissive. I am not even really sure what info I needed him to tell me per se, but thought maybe he would have some ideas and tips about systems. He did not.
While the internet is an invaluable resource, I do wish there were more local folks to engage with and learn from. However, I know hydro stores by and large are set-up to cater to the other crowd. Oh well...I tried!
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Shawn
Administrator
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Post by Shawn on Jan 13, 2021 9:35:33 GMT -5
That is all you can do... try. Some people just want to stick to what they know.
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Jay
AGA Harvest
Hold on, I gotta' try this seed...
Posts: 264
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Post by Jay on Jan 13, 2021 10:06:10 GMT -5
It's also a bit about scale. Kratky at scale might be a nightmare.
Most hydroponic folks seem to want scale with predictable yields. In my Kratky experience, yields are all over the place.
Now, that being said, my Kratky isn't very well managed. I usually do greens in the spring in Kratky outside so I don't moderate temperatures, I get dilution of my nutes from rain leakage, etc. But I do get good greens. I followed a University of Florida guide for my lettuce, 5 gallon bucket, four pods, water, nutes and I don't touch it again until I'm harvesting or tossing rotted stuff.
Also, not much money for them to make in Kratky, no pumps, no special tanks, nothing more than (maybe) testing equipment.
This sounds negative... I'm very pro-Kratky, just reasons the pure hydro guys might frown upon it.
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Post by clumsythumbs on Jan 13, 2021 10:29:12 GMT -5
It's also a bit about scale. Kratky at scale might be a nightmare. Most hydroponic folks seem to want scale with predictable yields. In my Kratky experience, yields are all over the place. Now, that being said, my Kratky isn't very well managed. I usually do greens in the spring in Kratky outside so I don't moderate temperatures, I get dilution of my nutes from rain leakage, etc. But I do get good greens. I followed a University of Florida guide for my lettuce, 5 gallon bucket, four pods, water, nutes and I don't touch it again until I'm harvesting or tossing rotted stuff. Also, not much money for them to make in Kratky, no pumps, no special tanks, nothing more than (maybe) testing equipment. This sounds negative... I'm very pro-Kratky, just reasons the pure hydro guys might frown upon it. No that makes perfect sense. You make a perfect point about the sales/scale versus hobbyist. I guess for someone who claims 40 years of experience in hydroponics, I was a bit surprised he had never heard of Kratky and was somewhat dismissive of DC. I was also a bit put off when you talk nutrient ratios when they just tell you to go online/to the manufacturers site. More and more I guess I am learning to learn from my own success and failures rather than glean info from other places. Except for here, of course! Everyone here is super invested in helping each other learn and grow (in many ways). I just wish those who ran businesses were a bit more willing to engage.  As an additional side note: All the reviews online talk of the wide selection and great prices. He had next to no selection; makes me suspect friends post positive reviews to make his business look less like what he is actually doing lol. |
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campingcorgis
AGA Farmer
🌴 I wet my plants. :-) 🌴
Posts: 3,113
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Post by campingcorgis on Jan 13, 2021 11:09:19 GMT -5
<<So there are a few hydro stores in my area.>> <<While the internet is an invaluable resource, I do wish there were more local folks to engage with and learn from. However, I know hydro stores by and large are set-up to cater to the other crowd. Oh well...I tried!>> I had a similar experience, a few weeks back. One of the guys there was deep in conversation with a customer, but the kind of customer that grows that other stuff. The other guy came to help hubby and I as we walked the aisles, when I explained what I was looking for and then hubby jumped in to explain that we are growing food-type stuff, one could see him physically deflate. He said he didn't know and clearly wanted to get back behind the counter. We're not worth his time? Sigh. I'm looking forward to spring when our Home Garden stores re-open, (they typically close for winter) because I think I might find more help there! Or at least folks willing to chat about growing herbs and veggies.  |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2021 14:21:54 GMT -5
This kind of thing is why I am VERY grateful for this forum. Not quiet the same as the live human, face-to-face contact you were looking for, but the breath of knowledge the folks on here has is very satisfying.
I bet there are similar forums for growing veggies in the kinds of hydroponic set ups you're interested in.
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campingcorgis
AGA Farmer
🌴 I wet my plants. :-) 🌴
Posts: 3,113
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Post by campingcorgis on Jan 13, 2021 14:37:27 GMT -5
This kind of thing is why I am VERY grateful for this forum. Not quiet the same as the live human, face-to-face contact you were looking for, but the breath of knowledge the folks on here has is very satisfying. I bet there are similar forums for growing veggies in the kinds of hydroponic set ups you're interested in. Oh, dear! I too am very grateful for this forum! Didn't mean to imply anything else! I just thought I would try to support some local stores, instead of just "clicking"...LOL. I get all I need in the way of help with AGA! |
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Post by clumsythumbs on Jan 13, 2021 14:51:49 GMT -5
This kind of thing is why I am VERY grateful for this forum. Not quiet the same as the live human, face-to-face contact you were looking for, but the breath of knowledge the folks on here has is very satisfying. I bet there are similar forums for growing veggies in the kinds of hydroponic set ups you're interested in. Oh, dear! I too am very grateful for this forum! Didn't mean to imply anything else! I just thought I would try to support some local stores, instead of just "clicking"...LOL. I get all I need in the way of help with AGA!  I am too! My (implied) message was "thank god for here!" There are a lot of websites, that give instructions or info, but maybe it is my limited brain...but I always feel I am missing some crucial piece of info. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2021 16:02:49 GMT -5
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Sher
AGA Farmer
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Post by Sher on Jan 13, 2021 16:06:13 GMT -5
I agree that this place is a treasure. I have learned so much here that I hadn't been able to ferret out on Youtube.
Yes, scale is the major limiting factor in Kratky. It is a pain to monitor nutrients in several small containers. Larger containers with several plants would be easier to monitor. But you don't get nearly the plant density you can get in NFT and other rail systems.
But mainly, there is no money to be made in Kratky except for nutrients and supplements.
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