A rising pH is normal in a Kratky container. The plant itself pushes it up as it feeds, and hard water and algae add to the effect. The fix is regular testing, small corrections and a full change of solution when it will not hold. Cause 1: The Plant Is Feeding Most of...
Most growers run strawberries at an EC of about 1.0 to 1.5 mS/cm, lower for young plants. Strawberries are sensitive to salt, so it is safer to be a little weak than a little strong. What EC Measures EC stands for electrical conductivity. Dissolved nutrient salts...
The widely used Masterblend recipe combines three dry ingredients in a 2:2:1 ratio by weight. For strawberries, mix it weaker than the standard recipe. Always check the instructions on the bags you buy, since they are the final word. The Three Parts Masterblend...
A lidded storage tote is the easiest way to grow several strawberry plants in one Kratky container. It holds plenty of solution, the lid is simple to cut and the whole thing can be built in under an hour. What to Buy An opaque tote with a firm lid, somewhere between...
Two plants is the comfortable number for a 5-gallon bucket in a Kratky setup. Three or four will fit in the lid, but you will be topping up constantly once they fruit. Why Two Two things limit the number: lid space and solution volume. A standard bucket lid is about a...
Yes, but use at least a half-gallon jar, cover it to block light and expect to top it up often. A quart jar is too small to carry a fruiting strawberry plant for long. Why Jar Size Matters A fruiting strawberry plant drinks a lot. In a quart jar that can mean the...
A strawberry plant can be moved from soil to a Kratky container, but the roots have to be completely clean first and the plant will sulk for a week or two afterward. Why the Soil Has to Go Soil carries organic matter and microbes that a still container of nutrient...
Set the plant so the base of the crown sits level with the top of the growing medium: roots below, crown above. Too deep and the crown rots. Too shallow and the top roots dry out. Finding the Crown The crown is the short, thick, woody stem between the roots and the...
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...
