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Post by lynnee on Feb 12, 2022 19:30:55 GMT -5
Quite a while ago, I transferred the lavender pod out of the 11/21 GAL, because the marigolds, zinnias, etc. were too much competition. It's been transferred to various AGs, most recently to a new Harvest (all by itself). Rather than keep the Harvest tied up, I transferred it to a Kratky today. The roots don't look fabulously healthy, but there's quite a bit of white. I started it off with 4ml AG nutrients in a quart jar filled to within an inch of the top with distilled water. Maybe it could use a little more water? I found some wide-mouth mason jar inserts on Amazon that hold AG pods perfectly. smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B093C8GMLP/Probably this plant won't go places, but I'm kind of excited about my first Kratky project. (Growing an avocado from seed in grade school doesn't really count.)   |
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Sher
AGA Farmer
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Post by Sher on Feb 12, 2022 19:36:53 GMT -5
Growing an avocado from seed in grade school is a big deal! 
I am excited about your Kratky lavender. I hope it will thrive and be healthy! dTYNMm
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Post by lynnee on Feb 12, 2022 23:05:37 GMT -5
Never content to leave well enough alone, I added a little more water.   |
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Sher
AGA Farmer
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Post by Sher on Feb 12, 2022 23:09:34 GMT -5
That might not leave enough room for the air roots to breathe, lynnee.
Fingers crossed for you!  |
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Post by lynnee on Feb 12, 2022 23:25:17 GMT -5
That might not leave enough room for the air roots to breathe, lynnee. Fingers crossed for you! You think I should take out some of the water, then? I know that you're experienced with Kratky. Are the "air roots" the short ones at the top of the sponge?  |
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Sher
AGA Farmer
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Post by Sher on Feb 13, 2022 0:02:10 GMT -5
Yes, lynnee , I would pour out some of the water.
Since you just switched the lavender to Kratky, it may not have grown air roots yet. But they need air to develop.
When they do start to develop, they will be delicate and feathery.
P.S. I think I see some in your picture, and that area is covered with water.
Dr. Kratky said when refilling a reservoir, to always leave 2-1/2 - 3" below the basket. I think 2-1/2" would be fine for yours.
If those roots die, the plant should still be able to produce new ones at this stage.
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Post by lynnee on Feb 13, 2022 0:24:17 GMT -5
OK, thanks sher! Used my turkey baster to remove a couple of ounces of water. The water level is now just a tad higher than in the first photo. Obviously I need to read some more of the forum materials on Kratky method. It does seem like a great way to save a healthy plant or two from a failed or terminated garden. |
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Sher
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Post by Sher on Feb 13, 2022 0:25:45 GMT -5
lynnee, I am double posting, but I just wanted to clarify that you do not need to leave 2-1/2" at this point. That is for when it starts getting low and you refill it with fresh nutes.
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Post by lynnee on Feb 13, 2022 0:49:28 GMT -5
lynnee , I am double posting, but I just wanted to clarify that you do not need to leave 2-1/2" at this point. That is for when it starts getting low and you refill it with fresh nutes. The plant has been in an AG for quite a while, so it has a lot of short roots at the top. This is the re-adjusted level, with about 4 ounces of water removed. It's down a little more than 2" from the top of the basket--just above where the long roots start. It's also fairly close to the level in the first photo. (Sorry about the less-than-optimal camera focus.) This plant smells so good, I've gotten kind of attached to it!   |
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Sher
AGA Farmer
Posts: 7,025
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Post by Sher on Feb 13, 2022 11:29:15 GMT -5
That looks like a much healthier water level, lynnee.  |
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Shawn
Administrator
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Post by Shawn on Feb 13, 2022 11:48:26 GMT -5
I am following
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Post by lynnee on Feb 16, 2022 16:43:06 GMT -5
The lavender is doing fine, and has developed a new blossom (at right, out of picture frame, sorry)! The roots look better (whiter) than when the plant came out of the AG. I hope that the water doesn't develop algae from all the times that I've pulled the jar out of the cover!  Is there a rule of thumb for how long you should wait before draining and refilling the jar (with nute solution)? Residue is beginning to collect at the bottom of the jar.  |
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Sher
AGA Farmer
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Post by Sher on Feb 16, 2022 18:09:11 GMT -5
There isn't any hard and fast rule for small Kratky setups like that.
If residue is collecting, it wouldn't hurt to change the nutrients. It would probably keep the roots healthier.
Just my opinion. |
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Post by lynnee on Mar 28, 2022 20:40:49 GMT -5
The Kratky process still has me confused. When you refill the jars, is it okay to put water in as high as the point where the roots fan out like a skirt (arrows below)? The water level in the Kratkys was where the roots turn dark on both plants, though it started out higher.  The roots on the Kratky strawberry (left) aren't looking very good, even though the plant is producing a strawberry or two. The roots used to be gray. The sponge is completely dried out, and the plant seems to be trying to produce new white roots (circled area) to reach the water far below. Also, there was white stuff on the roots that I rinsed off. I added some hydrogen peroxide, though how much do you add to less than a pint of water? When looking at the lavender Kratky roots (right), which used to be white, I noticed white stuff floating at the bottom of the jar. Now I'm thinking that it was precipitated nutrients that I saw on the strawberry. Anyway, the lavender Kratky now has two bundles of roots that are reaching for the water. Would it be okay to submerge those roots (just above the arrow) when refilling? When you're growing a plant in a mason jar, the water gets used up quickly if you only refill the jar to 1/4 full! 
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Sher
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Post by Sher on Mar 28, 2022 22:06:54 GMT -5
lynnee, the roots look too dark. They should be white, or at least light.
Dr. Kratky says there should be a minimum of 2-1/2" of air below the basket. That's very difficult to maintain in a small jar (easier with a regular net cup), but doable if you have the time to dump and refill the container to that level pretty often.
It doesn't matter if the sponge is dry. The roots dangling in the water is what matters.
Khang Starr has an excellent video on growing peppers in tiny containers. His stay very healthy and produce well, but the plants are miniature due to the tiny reservoir. You might learn some tips and tricks from watching it. And he relies more on the air roots getting air from the sides of the basket.
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Post by lynnee on Mar 28, 2022 23:51:25 GMT -5
Sher, I'll look at the video for sure, and maybe I'll learn eventually! 
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Post by lynnee on Mar 29, 2022 11:05:02 GMT -5
Sher , after watching the video, I'm pretty sure that too many nutrients are burning the roots. The water levels have always been low enough to avoid drowning the plants. From now on, I will pre-mix a nutrient solution, like he does. Trying to add measured amounts of nutrients to a pint or less of water isn't working. The lavender should survive, the strawberry may not. 
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Sher
AGA Farmer
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Post by Sher on Mar 29, 2022 11:19:59 GMT -5
I run into that problem, too, lynnee , when mixing small amounts of nutrients.
I'm glad that you discovered a possible solution to the problem.  |
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Post by lynnee on Apr 16, 2022 16:00:56 GMT -5
It continues to amaze me, that you can grow almost anything in a Kratky setup! The banana peppers from my saved seeds are not only flowering, but setting fruit!  Today I moved these into a Bounty, because the jars need frequent refilling, which is hard to do with such large plants. The half-gallon jars were a good idea, but they don't fit well under the AG grow light. The AG grow light has a shaky stand that only has about 12" of growing space. I'll keep the current setup as a temporary space for any plants that I want to save when my gardens are full.   |
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Sher
AGA Farmer
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Post by Sher on Apr 16, 2022 20:10:53 GMT -5
You are doing what I did with my lights in Georgia. I had to put them on something to raise them higher. I also had enough closet space there that I could hang them.
(Then I had to put something underneath the plants to raise them!)
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