One of the most valuable ways to recycle an old mason jar is to use it in hydroponic gardening. This is an inexpensive and straightforward approach to getting started with hydroponics, and who doesn’t love recycling?
Wide-mouth mason jars are an excellent choice for hydroponic gardening, and the best size is the 500 ml mason jar. We’ve also found the following sizes to be perfect for growing most plants: 24 oz (700 ml), 32 oz (950 ml), and 64 oz (1.9 liters). One significant benefit of these wide-mouth jars is that they are easy to clean and maintain.
Mason jar hydroponics, known as the Kratky method, has become a popular gardening trend.
But this involves more than combining a growing medium with some seeds and waiting for it to sprout.
This article will walk you through starting your affordable hydroponic garden with a mason jar and a few other things.
Can you do hydroponics in mason jars?
A hydroponic medium can be anything other than soil if it allows water to circulate.
All the nutrients the plants may need are mixed into the water that constantly circulates through the system.
Or in this case, it is taken out of the jar at regular intervals to ensure the plant gets all the nutrients it needs.
Mason jar hydroponic gardening is excellent for people with limited gardening space who still want to grow their own food because it requires less water and space than conventional gardening methods.
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What equipment do you need to grow plants using the Kratky method?
In addition to a Mason jar, you’ll need some other materials.
However, a mason jar hydroponics system requires only a minimal set of supplies to get started.
You can find these supplies at hydroponic supply stores or even online for a low price.
The following items are necessary:
(Choose either Rockwool or Clay Pebbles, not both):
Mason jars
- Mason jars come in a variety of sizes. The size of the Mason jar will be determined by the plant you intend on growing hydroponically.
Rockwool cubes
- Mason jar hydroponics is a method of growing plants directly in water. Therefore, choosing a medium that will provide the plant with structural integrity is crucial. The rockwool growing cubes give the plants all the support they need to grow big and strong.
- Made from molten rock spun into cotton candy-like fibers and then...
- Has a tremendous capacity for absorbing nutrient solution while retaining...
- Seedlings or cuttings started in the Grodan cubes can also be transplanted...
- Twin Canaries Chart included with every order!
Hydroponic nutrients
- Provide the plants with the nutrients they need by combining your nutrient solution with water. If you have questions on this, we go over using water-based nutrients instead of soil here.
Seeds
- Seeds for whichever plants you wish to cultivate in your Mason jars.
Net cups
- Each Mason jar will need its own net cup. The net cup will keep the rockwool and clay pebbles in place.
Clay pebbles
- Because of their high absorption rate, clay pebbles can collect and store water for later use. The pebbles will keep excess water from causing root damage.
- 20LBS Natural Expanded Clay Pebbles - It is lighter than ordinary soil, not...
- 6 - 18mm Clay Ball - The size of the pebbles is perfect for small to medium...
- Hydroponics Supplies - The clay pebbles porous structure provides excellent...
- Great Growth Media - Filter water quality, retain water and...
- Environment Protection - The clay pebbles is clean, tidy,dust free and no...
Paint
- You need to paint the outside of your mason jars. Dark paint helps prevent light from reaching the nutrient-rich water.
- Light getting into your jar could cause algae to grow, which can cause harm to your plants. So, we recommend spraying your bottle black before you start. Acrylic paint does a great job and looks great.
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Can I grow lettuce in a Mason jar?
Mason jars are great for growing lettuce and any other leafy green vegetables. This is especially true with leaf lettuce, which has shallow roots. That’s why making lettuce your first attempt using the mason jar method is highly recommended.
What plants grow well in a mason jar hydroponics system?
You can grow a wide variety of vegetables in mason jars, but if you want your garden to go from side dish to main dish, the suggestions below will get you off to a fantastic start.
Leaf lettuce
The versatility of leaf lettuce makes it an excellent addition to salads, sandwiches, and wraps, and it’s also relatively simple to cultivate in mason jars. Also, leaf lettuce is low-maintenance, so you won’t have to do much more than add nutrient-based water occasionally.
Garlic
If you want to cultivate garlic at home, you can do so in pint-sized mason jars. Since garlic cloves need to be buried to thrive, you’ll start by layering soil over the rocks, then planting the cloves. Since garlic is a winter crop, its jars should be kept in a cool, dark place and away from direct heat or a harsh grow light.
Parsley
Parsley is a fantastic garnish and a natural remedy for bad breath, making it an essential ingredient in many classic Italian dishes. It makes sense to plant it using the mason jar system because parsley thrives in enclosed spaces. You can either grow it from seed or transfer a seedling.
Green onions
Green onions are a great way to spice up your meals and can be grown or regrown quickly in a mason jar. You’ll need two mason jars: one to hold your onions and a little bit of water and the other to hold the nutrient-dense water.
While strawberries may be tough to grow in mason jars, our guide here could get you on the right path.
Does container size matter in hydroponics?
Common gardening practice involves adhering to a set of standards regarding using containers. Plants typically start in smaller containers and are transplanted when they outgrow their original containers.
When using hydroponics, however, the potting-up process is intended to maximize the plants’ growing space and stimulate growth. And the container’s size plays a massive role in this.
Small containers: Plants in small containers can withstand water-logging for extended periods. But eventually, the roots can decay from a lack of oxygen.
Large containers: Using huge containers with a wide mouth means some nutritional solution will evaporate before the plants can use it all. As a result, this may reduce the plant’s ability to absorb nutrients.
To sum up, the general development and health of the plants you’re growing can be significantly affected by the size of your net cups and the containers (The Mason Jar) you use.
The Advantages of a mason Jar growing system
- It’s straightforward and only needs a few pieces of equipment.
- The Kratky method takes up very little room.
- It’s ideal for those just starting with hydroponics.
- It can be used in all seasons and weather conditions.
The drawbacks of growing in mason jars
- The containers are too small for big plants.
- Unfortunately, there are better-growing mediums for plants that need to drain excess water.
How deep do hydroponic containers need to be?
When starting a hydroponic garden, the depth of your container (or mason jar in this instance) you’ll need is determined by the plant you intend to grow.
If you want to be sure of the correct container to get, you should do some research about the type of plant you’re cultivating.
For instance, the ideal net pot size for lettuce and other tiny leafy hydroponic vegetables is two inches.
A container size of 3 or 4 inches may be more appropriate for growing bigger than average plants.
On the other hand, Tomatoes are commonly grown in two-inch net pots; in contrast, four-inch net pots may be more suitable for larger tomato plants. Investing time and energy into finding a high-quality container now might save you a lot of trouble later.
Things to consider when choosing the right container outside of mason jars
If you want your plants to flourish, you must ensure they have enough room to grow and nutrients to thrive.
However, there are a few things to keep in mind while picking out a container size, such as:
Plants
- When shopping for a mason jar, it’s essential to remember what kind of plant you’re trying to grow.
Space
- The amount of space required varies with each hydroponic system. The space available for an indoor hydroponic system is far smaller than that required for an outdoor one. In addition, you’ll need to think about the minimum height requirement. To avoid having your plants outgrow their containers, pick jars that are a good fit for the area you wish to put them in.
Temperature
- The growing temperature of your plants is a significant factor in determining the container size you should choose. Smaller jars are easier to keep warm than bigger jars.
Hydroponic mason jar gardening
Growing plants hydroponically does not need to require a complicated or costly setup.
Using just a Mason jar, some counter space, and a few small leafy plants, you also can begin growing your food right in your home.
Kratky hydroponics is easy to learn and implement, allowing you to test the waters and see if hydroponic farming is for you.
And who knows, maybe hydroponics ends up being profitable for you!
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