Bare-root plants are the better value and the cleaner choice for hydroponics. Plugs cost more but establish faster. Either will grow well in a Kratky container if you handle it properly on day one.
Bare-Root Plants
A bare-root strawberry is a dormant crown with a bundle of roots and no soil. They are sold in bunches, mostly in late winter and spring.
- For: inexpensive, no soil to wash off, wide choice of named varieties.
- Against: seasonal, and they look dead on arrival. They take a week or two to leaf out.
Soak the roots in plain water for an hour or so before planting, trim any that are broken or very long, and plant promptly. Do not let them dry out.
Plugs
A plug is a young, actively growing plant in a small block of medium.
- For: already in leaf, so it settles in quickly and fruits sooner.
- Against: costs more per plant, fewer varieties, and soil-based plugs need their roots rinsed.
What About Nursery Pots?
A potted plant from a garden center works too, but every trace of soil has to be washed from the roots first. Soil left in a Kratky container clouds the solution and invites rot.
Which to Buy
If you are planting several containers in spring, buy bare-root. If you want one or two plants fruiting as soon as possible, or it is the wrong season for bare-root stock, buy plugs.
Related guide: Strawberry plants for Kratky growing.
