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I’d like to have leafy greens year-round.

All of this started from the thought, 'I want to harvest leafy greens year-round,' because in my small balcony garden, the harvest window is only summer to early fall, which is too short for all the effort.

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Find supplies needed for a small Kratky hydroponics setup.

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Supplies to be minimum.

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Kratky hydroponics system supplies kit.

1. Net cups

This one has positive reviews for its sturdiness, and the rim is wide enough to sit securely on the jar. A little bit pricier than others, but it seems worth it.

AC Infinity Net Cups 3-inch. $22.99 for 25 net cups.
Amazon Canada

2. LECA (Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate)

Reasonably priced 100% natural clay from a reliable local shop (ordered online).

Leca Pebbles (10-20 mm). $13.00 for 4 Litre.
Optimize Organics (Chilliwack, BC)

3. Hydroponic Nutrients

As a beginner, I wanted to try something “made for hydroponics” from a reputable company. It would also be great if I could adjust the NPK ratio. It’s pricey, but I’ll look for alternatives later, once the whole system is settled in.

General Hydroponics Flora Series is a three-part liquid hydroponic nutrient system. I decided to start with two of them, Gro and Micro.

General Hydroponics Flora Series. FloraGro $24.99 for 1 Quart. FloraMicro $26.99 for 1 Quart.
Amazon Canada

4. Wide-Mouth Jar

It should hold enough water, but not too big. I also need a wide-mouth jar since the net cup (7 cm opening) fits perfectly in it. Something I can repurpose later would be nice, too.

Bernardin Wide Mouth Mason Jars 750ml, 12 pack $29.99
Canadian Tire

5. Cover for the jar

I don’t want to “buy” the cover, so for now, I’ll just make one out of old t-shirts.

6. Grow Lights

I need full-spectrum lights with enough PPFD. The built-in timer feature doesn’t work the way I want, so I don’t need it. (The timer counts from the moment you press the button, so you’d have to press it at the exact start time you want every day. If the power cuts out, you’d need to reset it.) I’ll just use a smart outlet for the timer. For that to work, the power needs to be a rocker switch, not a push button.

SANSI LED Puck Light 10W (150-Watt Equivalent), Full Spectrum, 2-Head Hanging, Non-Dimmable $39.99 → $35.99
Amazon Canada
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  • I might need an EC meter later, but I’d like to try without it first.