KRATKY outperforms...and some updates 

It's polite to look at the person you are talking to.

i only come here for the stares.

Maybe do everything the same again except switch lids? The Kratky one also may be able to get more airflow with the extra net cup holes in the lid? No clue just spit balling.

I'm also experimenting with Kratky with good success. Just a thought on the lettuce size discrepancy. The airstone is agitating the water and disrupting the root growth. Roots like a nice quiet environment (like myself actually). Move the airstone behind a baffle so the water turbulence is less and see if that works. Just a guess.

I don’t mind the eye contact either. Shows you’re really trying to connect with your audience. Genuine, honest.

I managed to stumbled on your channel and this is exactly what I was looking for. Keep the videos coming man!

I think the way you are doing it is just fine. I think you have a excellent presentation style. When someone is talking to me I prefer they look me in the eyes, then you know they are paying attention and not distracted! You’re doing just fine! 😁

frankly, I think you do stare into the camera and personally, I find it unique and I think it gives you some style points.

Thumbs up given! The things we wives do!!

You need soft re-circulation and the airstone in a separate reservoir. That way the water is oxygenated, but still not frothing so bad its disturbing the roots.

Love your videos, great explanations. I like how you staring camera - cant stop keep eye contact 😎

In the DWC system, place the air stone in a corner of your container. That aerates the water with less disturbance of the roots and circulates the water in a less disruptive manner.

It's possible the roots are being too disturbed by the bubble flow. It's buffeting the roots and possibly damaging tender new shoots from the movement. Maybe turn it down or have it so that the bubbles are not buffeting the roots?

I enjoy the starring, much more personal! Really enjoying your humour and how you explain the reasons behind what is happening

STARE ON brother! ❤️ 🌱 Love your videos.

Merci from Montreal, Canada.

Never thought you stared.......

Your right mate ,your blinking fine

I just found your channel and immediately subscribed. Love the "stare-not-stare" and something about you reminds me of Ryan Reynolds. Maybe it's the voice and humour. Looking forward to more!

You are really awesome professor

That is too cute to worry what others think, hey you are giving people s valuable seminar on a necessary skill so you tell your story with your whole face! On lettuces, I think the lid leaked light and thus roots were unhappy. Thx for your dedication to grow!

I say it's your show your in charge chief. I diddnt notice thankyou for this free content you provide me ! GREAT work

Next time Siskel and Ebert make personal comments about your videos, asked them to post a link to the content they produced. I am sure it’s all riveting stuff. I think you have one of the best hydroponic channels out there. The video and sound quality are excellent. You speak clearly and the content is to the point. Then you add a little humor to the subject. If you are not a school teacher you should be. Keep creating content and ignore the trolls.

if you are talking to an audience on camera, where else are you going to look?

Stare like you want, it’s about knowledge!

Im in West Central Florida experimenting with outdoor kratky tubs and buckets. So far anything I've done kratky, has exploded. Lettuce, beans, peas, cukes, zucchini, etc. The heat and the intensity of the sunlight has been a bit rough on them but overall Im quite impressed. Im finding that if I change the nutrients, even once, it adversely affects the plants. I set up in 17 -25 gallon gallon totes with cages covered in Agrobon and just let it go. Cut and come again with everything.

I think your just great just the way you are. Keep up the good work.

If I had to guess I'd say the bubbles push the roots a little and it stresses the plant out. Maybe they prevent the roots from hardening too somehow.

Khang Starr got very similar results in the same experiment. I expected the eir system to outperform aa well.

I like it. I mean, I like how you don't crack a smile while complimenting yourself, or while staring. It's a humour I understand as a German. I would tell you this also while staring and certainly not cracking a smile.

This is actually the first video I've seen on your channel and I thought it was really well put together. I'm actually going to put together a Kratky type hydroponics system together this week in my greenhouse and see how well that goes. Also, I think the stare is good for your videos. It makes it appear like your talking to the audience. I personally don't like it when a person in a video is looking all over the place and trying to talk to their virtual audience at the same time. As for the background set up, I really liked it. It looks professional, and your camera focus on you with a blurred background really adds to the look. Just barely subscribed and can't wait to see all your past and future projects!

What you REALLY need is black nitrile gloves to be a real youtuber! Just started my first Kratky box and ran across your channel. Great comparison and impressive assessment of the burnt top! Thanks.

Ive done this experiment 3 times and my conclusions are the air stone agitation rip and damages the smaller roots that absorb the majority of. The water thats why when I cchanged my res I would find bits of root. If you separate the bubbles from the root chamber it actually works better than kratky at least. With cannabis. I will be doing lettuce and cabbage next

if you didnt figure it out yet, it was not enough water for the oxygenated tray. the oxygen lets you fill it almost to the top. the left one has to have lower level of water to deliver the oxygen through the rest of plant. in the end, less was delivered to the plants on the right

I have seen many video’s comparing Kratki non air stone as per the original method, also identical system using air stone. The consensus seem to be no significant improvement with using additional air stone. My own trials over the years bears this out. Lettuce tip burn as shown indicates light too close, if it was chemical induced then it should appear on many more leaf tips, not just the tallest. Strong nutrients are generally detrimental than weaker solutions. It is amazing how many plants thrive very well on weaker solutions, some need nitrogen with a mere trace of the other chemicals, at the correct pH range in all cases. Incorrect pH can prevent the plant from absorbing the chemicals they really need. In hot weather they only need topping up with correct pH water, lost through transpiration-many commercial growers alternate between plain water for several days to reduce the chemical concentration due to water loss 8:10 8:10 8:10 in transpiration-easily checked with a pH meter. I started hydroponics in the 1960’s when one had to obtain and make the chemical ingredients, no plastic containers/tubing and all the easy stuff we now have. You will kill a plant so easily with a too strong chemical nutrients mix, but rarely kill just on water for quite a while. From a med lab scientist who has access to chemicals and test equipment since the 60’s., a big poly house and has experimented with a wide range of plants and growing methods. Best using black containers and lids, algae grows easily with minimal light through a translucent lid. Greetings from Tasmania Australia 👍😁🇦🇺🦘

Informative and hilarious, great job on those vids 🥸😃

Airstone drops the temperature of the reservoir which may impede growth in some situations

Love the channel, love the comparisons, love the commenters (for the most part). Staring is fine for a few minutes, but over 5min straight can seem a little intense. Keep up the good work and I'm looking forward to less air to that airstone :)

There is another video on RU-vid (they have more than one?!) by Khang Starr in which he did a 1 vs 1 DWC vs. Kratky w/Lettuce. He found his Kratky lettuce outgrew the DWC. Not definitive by any means but an interesting video. As far as transpiration and the like, i've been reading about and following VPD charts. Cost me $40 for a humidifier but i think it's money well spent. Worth reading up on if you haven't already. Also like to thank you for uploading and sharing your experiences. You have helped me learn and expand my Hydro knowledge. Hope you keep posting. Looking forward to the pi video. Been looking for something new to do with mine other than Mario Bros.

I believe one major factor, possible minor as well. The minor is that the DWC has a lighter(i.e. more light transmitting) lid, which might encourage the beginnings of algae competition(even if unseen at the moment), which will potentially compete for nutes & possibly alter pH. The bigger factor is more air exchange from the unoccupied Kratky spots; compounding that could also be an elevation of H2O temp which reduces DO%. Whether the pump itself is in the water, &/or pumping a bunch of warmer air through it; both are subtle yet common mistakes, especially in smaller containers which are more susceptible to environmental swings much more than a recirculated larger(& therefore cooler) nutrient solution. pH is more stable(generally) in larger capacities as well. You should have a pH meter already(NOT strips; accuracy is too loose), and a cheap floating fish tank thermometer is good to monitor temps. Temp can also contribute to wandering pH as well. Hope that helps!✌️🤙🖖😎

you gave more love to the kraftky system, simple, they feel it

Airpumps have an impact on the PH value. That's why you saw different results.

This my first video I've watched from your channel. Didn't even notice about the staring issue, lol. Looks pretty normal to me?

Maybe black colored is more humid because it absorbs heat than the white that reflects light

Be careful with the water level. The roots at the top need air.

I like the stares - feels like you're talking to US, not just looking around the space.

The staring is reminiscent of Abed from "Community".

That burning at the top of the leaves looks more like light burn to me. Seems you have the lights a bit too close to the top of the plants. Try raising the lights an inch or two. Even though the Kratky method may look like it's winning, you have to also pay attention to the color of the roots. The roots of the Kratky look a bit more darker than those of the air stone. That means that root rot could be just around the corner if not taken care of. The roots of the air stone look much whiter and healthier. Also, I read a comment that you are giving your plants 14-16 hours of light? That seems a bit too long, which may also contribute to the top burning of the leaves. Bottom line, try raising your lights and giving them less hours of light and see if that helps with the top burning of the leaves.

I have no experience with this and as a matter of fact I just started my Kratky garden, with a tiny basil sprout in a wine bottle that my HB has finally mastered cutting for me. (Lot's of wine was drank to ensure his success) I'm just wondering if that air stone was on 24/7? If so what if you had it on a timer to maybe bubble a few times a day. Just a thought.

You don't have enough water in the airstone bucket. Dwc plants get the oxygen from the water, if you keep your water level consistant with the airstone you will get better results. Kratky gets from the air as you know but your playing in the middle, oxygenated water and air roots equal too much o2.

At least you have a basement to live in during the current end times.

kratky will always perform better up to a point. the reason is that airstones disturb and damage the roots. you should try alternative aeration methods, like a waterfall.

airstones are too big - take the flat disk ones with smaller bubbles. also - ec, and ph in there? what nutes, chelated? so many reasons in this case. id bet on airstones and higher ec due to evaporation. you can see a burn on the right one. you also had way less water in the dwc grow than in kratky, so it looks like you didnt refill?

I think without air stone the roots have o grow more o compensate to create more air roots making them stronger

Black lid equals a little bit warmer.

Hahaha, loved the intro. I don't mind the staring, but I can understand how some people might think of it as too "intense".

By the way. Staring is good. It's mesmerizing. Love your videos. Love your videos. Love your videos. Love you videos. ad infinitum. Because I am mesmerized by them.

either duds or maybe the left had more holes in the lid than the other..the one on the right has 2..

I love that music in the intro. I need that music. Anyone know who/what/where...? Artist? Song title? And I love your videos -- I'm on a binge here! 😆😅

Fucking hysterical. Hope your still making videos 😂

Yeah I like being talked to when your looking at me lolas well as the color of the tote may have effected the root zone. Light may have still gotten through light gray tote. - in future switch the two around run kracky in the lighter tub and see what happens my guess is that the dwc will perform better. But kracky is so nice for leafy greens. Fruiting plants I'm not so sure

I’m not 100% sure but the theory behind the kratky method is that you don’t refill the water because the plant will develop air roots to get oxygen from the air while the deep water culture method uses an air stone so the plant can get oxygen from the water. But because you used an air stone and didn’t fill refill the solution then the plant was both getting oxygen from the water and developing air roots. I would have thought this would result in more oxygen and therefore a healthier plant but maybe it doesn’t?

I think it is the turbulence from the air stone damages the finer roots that do most of the nutrient uptake. logically, a plant in dirt doesn't have its roots disturbed so it makes having fine root structures beneficial for surface area possible. it's like root shock from transplant.

You’re doing a great job and entertaining too

Its best to look at the ground when trying to cummunicate ones point xD

Keep staring into the camera. I keep staring into the screen and the RU-vid thingy seems to work well like that. Oh, a "like" for your wife too. Where would we be without our wives.

I grew Egyptian cotton in my garden one year!

Re: your staring. Solution: sunglasses.

I think it would be odd not to look into the camera lol.

it looks like YOUR PLASTIC CONTAINERS ARE NOT THE SAME, try again with two of the same containers

I know this is older but I think you should look into the camera. It’s annoying when people are looking at the monitor and not the camera

I want to grow a shirt!👕 Lol... seriously though, I'm looking forward to that cotton video. I'm thinking that you can grow anything but root vegetables with the Kratky method. 👁👁 I stare because people are entertaining and baffling.

Thanks to the lovely wife for making you look so sharp.n..AS I'm staring at you...staring at me 😆

Kraky works the best . No pump or air . I know !!!

The only way dwc beats kratky is if it's done right your air pump first of needs to provide the right amount of air to water ratio also most importantly the water needs to be at the appropriate temperature otherwise the oxygen provided from the airstone won't be dissolved into the water in comparison to the kratky doesn't rely on a pump therefore water temperature isn't as important

Extra air holes means airflow for Left System

You have to keep the water level the same at all times when using an air pump.

It’s clearly that he is using too strong of a air pump. Which leads to the water being agetated too much and damaging the roots.

Do you stare? Are you familiar with the television program Dexter? (note: that's without the laboratory) Regardless, your vids are the best! Consistently informative. You should be nominated for emperor of the interwebz

Maybe the unused holes in the Kratky lid made a difference? That really seems to be the only other difference. Damn I just used "difference" in two consecutive sentences.

i hv watch some video about dwc, aerator can make ph is easily change

Always thought a speaker needed to look at the audience? And since you can only look at the audience through the camera it resembles a stare. Some people cannot discern semblance from reality.

Maybe more grown due to more air - the one with more growth has more holes in lid... the other does not have any holes... less air flow.

Kratkey rules. Thanks

Maybe : 1. pH 2. Water temp 3. Dust from air pump

Maybe the aeration was disturbing the roots ?

The color of lid makes a huge difference. If the lid is letting in light it is pruning your roots. Why can't anyone ever do this shit correctly. You can't say it's the same, same, same, same, and yet it's obviously not the same.

i would like to ask how many hours you keep the lights on , off during daily ?! please :)

what are you going to do with the cotton? is this the start of another you tube channel,..knitting maybe? The air stone experiment was really interesting. I did not expect those results.

bro why it outperfoms almost in all videos is simply cause most of the roots are in AIR... so breathing well.. and the temperature of water can be much higher because most roots in KRATY are NOT in water.. so if some of it is in 40C it still doesnt matter cause most of the roots are outside of the water anyway...

my results are always the opposite. hmmm.

Kratky relies on air roots for oxygen. Adding an airstone is more like deep water culture. Now you are getting oxygen from air roots and from the nutrient solution. Sounds like it would be a good thing, but apparently not. Your roots are confused I guess.

It's your eyebrows dude. This is the first time I've ever seen any of your videos because I have been cramming Horticulture into my skull for the last year in this pandemic. And I'm trying to decide do I grow a few lettuce plants indoors before our final freeze here in Massachusetts It's your eyebrows, for some reason they make you look like you're staring at the camera

Hi There, I guess you are living in somewhere cool/cold. The slow growth from the DWC is caused by air stone dramatically cools the water down compare to the Kratky. Install a temperature heater (the one that used for fish tanks, approx $20) and set it to 65F and you will see the difference. Link of a heater: amzn.to/3bMQxoZ

staring is the act of direct eye contact idea and if you weren't making direct eye contact when talking in real life its indication of lieing on insecure of topic talking about. so carry over of real life in a way. and shows you not reading a scripted talk. and yes air movement is key for respiration to imitate nature , i run a small computer fans in my grow area help helps break up the stagnant air barrier are surface of leaf for o2 / co2 exchange 2 x4 foot grow cabinet i use 4 of the 4 inch 5volt computer fans 1600 rpm 80cfm volume to move air around and found it made huge difference in growth

How else am I going to get someone to stare deep into my eyes.

May I please have some tips for hydro tomatoes?

Did you monitor the pH from both containers? Usually bubbling air will drastically raise the pH so I assume that the aerated system resulted in a much higher pH which wasn't optimal for the roots.

Hypothesis: the kratky got more air due the exposed roots

Are you topping off the dwc? It seems to be as low as kratky has gotten.