![]() After cutting the holes, I like to paint the black lids with 2 coats of white paint to prevent them from getting too hot in the sun. You can cut 1 hole in the center of the lid, which works well for plants that get big and use the whole 5 gallons, or you can cut 3 holes into the lid for smaller plants. I do not recommend cutting the lids by hand, since the plastic is too thick to cut cleanly. This will cut a perfect circle in the plastic, and allow the net pots to sit flush without letting in any extra light. The best way to do this is with a drill and a 2-inch hole saw. I use 2-inch plastic net-pots to suspend the plants on top of the buckets, so we need to cut 2-inch holes in the lid. The plastic lid now needs to be modified to hold the plants. Let’s focus on using the 5-gallon bucket for now. If you are growing inside, it is a good idea to place your 3.5- or 5-gallon bucket inside another empty 5-gallon bucket, so if you ever have a leak you won’t ruin your flooring. These Brute cans are grey, but the plastic is so thick that no light can get in. Fruiting plants such as cucumbers and tomatoes use a lot of fluid, so I grow those in 32-gallon Rubbermaid Brute garbage cans. Basil uses a bit more fluid, so I grow 3 basil plants in a 5-gallon bucket. You could even use a small 1-gallon container for 1 lettuce plant. Lettuce will use about 1 gallon of fluid per plant, so I use a 3.5-gallon bucket for 3 lettuce plants. How big should the bucket be? That depends on what you want to grow. If you use a non-black bucket, be sure to wrap it completely in foil or even paint the outside to keep all the light out. The bucket does not necessarily have to be black, but most light-colored buckets will let in light, allowing algae to grow in the hydroponic fluid. Make sure the bucket is clean, and hasn’t been used for storing chemicals or paint. Avoid plastics marked #3, #6, or #7, since these are not safe for growing food. Other acceptable plastics are marked #1, #4, or #5. The best plastic to use is HDPE, marked with a #2 on the bottom. These can be found online or at any hydroponics store. I recommend starting with a brand-new black plastic bucket. To start with, you will need a container, such as a bucket. The Bucket 3.5 gallon (left) and 5-gallon (right) buckets, plus a plastic lid The plant will probably be ready for harvesting long before this point though. Eventually, the roots will grow all the way to the bottom of the bucket, and the hydroponic fluid will be entirely used up. Over time, the plant utilizes the hydroponic fluid and the leaves grow bigger, while the roots grow deeper into the bucket and the fluid level in the bucket drops. This is a simple method in which plants sit in a bucket of non-circulating hydroponic fluid (a blend of water and fertilizers). ![]() We will be focusing on a simpler method of growing called Bucket Hydroponics, also known as Kratky Hydroponics or the Kratky Method. If you’re a large-scale commercial grower, all this work and expense may be worth it, but for the casual home grower just looking to have some fresh lettuce and herbs on hand, there is a much easier way to go. Also, all those pumps and lights require lots of electricity, and the lights get really hot so you need to install ductwork for proper venting of the room and maybe an air conditioner. What do you think of when you hear the the word “hydroponics”? Many people think of elaborate growing systems, with pumps and tubing for fluid circulation and overhead lights to simulate sunlight. Introduction It doesn’t have to be this complicated.
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