DIY Kratky Kit or Boxed Kit? Choosing Your First Setup

A DIY Kratky kit and a boxed kit grow plants the same way: a light-proof container, a net pot held above nutrient solution, and an air gap that opens as the plant drinks. The difference is everything around that: which parts you gather, how much work setup takes, and how finished the result looks. This post compares the two so you can choose a starting point. Prices are covered separately in Kratky kit cost.

What both need

Whichever route you take, the working parts are the same: an opaque reservoir, a lid that holds a net pot, grow media such as rockwool and clay pebbles, a complete hydroponic nutrient, and a way to test pH. Neither needs a pump. The Kratky supplies checklist explains each item.

Where a DIY kit wins

• Size to the plant. A quart jar suits one herb; a storage tote suits several lettuces. A boxed kit's reservoir is fixed.
• Reuse what you have. Food-safe containers you already own become reservoirs. The Kratky containers guide lists which plastics are suitable.
• Learn how it works. Building one shows you why each part is there, which makes problems easier to fix later.
• Grow in stages. Start with one container and add more as you go.

Where a boxed kit wins

• Nothing to source. Net pots fit the lid, the reservoir already blocks light, and the nutrient is in the box.
• Quick to start. Most of setup is mixing the solution and planting.
• Neater on a counter. Matched parts look finished, which matters in a kitchen or as a gift. See the Kratky kit gift guide.
• Instructions included. Useful for a first crop or for children. See Kratky kit for kids.

The guide on how to choose a Kratky kit covers what to look for in a boxed kit.

Common DIY mistakes

• A clear container left uncovered. Light reaches the solution and algae grows. See algae in a Kratky kit.
• A container that is not food-safe. Use food-grade plastic or glass for anything that holds solution for weeks.
• A net pot that tips or sinks. The rim must rest firmly on the lid so the fill height stays right.
• Filling too high. The solution should just reach the bottom of the net pot. The Kratky kit setup guide covers the first fill.
• Refilling to the top. It floods the air roots. See the Kratky air gap.

A mason jar DIY kit in short

The simplest DIY Kratky kit is one wide-mouth mason jar:

1. Wrap the jar to block light, leaving a narrow strip you can uncover to check the level.
2. Hang a 3-inch net pot in the wide-mouth band, or cut a hole in a plastic lid to hold it.
3. Mix the nutrient in a separate jug and check its pH.
4. Fill until the solution just touches the bottom of the net pot.
5. Plant a seedling in rockwool with clay pebbles around it, set it on a bright windowsill or under a grow light, and leave it.

Basil, mint, parsley, chives and loose-leaf lettuce all suit a quart or half-gallon jar.

Go deeper: step-by-step jar builds, lids and crops are covered at Kratky Mason Jars, our sister site on growing herbs and greens in mason jars with the Kratky method.

Which should you start with?

• Choose DIY if you like making things, want to size the container to the plant, or already have suitable containers.
• Choose a boxed kit if you want to plant today, are buying a gift, or are growing with children.
• Either way, the plants grow the same, so many people start with one and add the other later.

Frequently asked questions