I'm not expert but I think adding a little at a time from the start would work better than adding it all at once at the end. Not sure if that suits your application though.

Can anyone confirm that this technique does or does not work? Thanks!

My research says Kratkey is for 30 day plants. Once the roots become air roots, topping off water will actually drown the plants. I've read/watched that theory in multiple places.

My thinking was that if you added no more than what was taken up that the roots wouldn't have had time to become air roots. For example if 10 ml of water were taken up on day 1 then on day 2 you could add 7ml and be ok. This is just my crackpot hypothesis, it's not even a theory.

I think chuckwagon suggests 60 day plants for kratky at which point the other methods are better suited.

Have you guys seen any of Khang Starr's videos on YouTube? It appears that he grows hot peppers from seedling to fruiting stage using the Kratky method, and I'm pretty sure he tops up his reservoir (they're usually no bigger than a gallon). Can someone explain how this is possible? He years fantastic growth on his peppers, by the way.

I watched Khang's series on hydroponic Carolina Reapers. He doesn't talk about replenishing water until the very last (#9) video. He said he refills the container 3-4 times, then does a water change.

He also said he added aeration.

So not really Kratky, not really DWC. But incredible looking pepper plants! And this was over the course of many months and many prunings. He's doing something right.

That's weird, because when he shows the interior of his grow tent, I don't see any airlines running to his peppers. I can't watch the video right now, else I'd check for myself, but are you sure he didn't just mean that he added aeration at some point down the line of growing his peppers? Also, he has a video on using the Kratky method in very small cups to grow dinosaur kale, and he indicates that they will need to be and should be refilled when the water runs out. His only note is that when refilling, he leaves a gap between the bottom of the net cup and the water line to allow air circulation to the roots. I'm curious to see what your thoughts are on this. Thanks!

Yes, he said he added aeration later after the roots turned brownish.

I was talking to the guy at the Hydroponic store, and he said he uses the kratky method (which I am experimenting with) to grow alot of kale, and he adds to the hydrop. mixture to keep it going longer. So I'm going to try it. He said as long as you leave some aeration for the roots, it works fine.

Interesting. I'll probably give it a shot and I'll post back here for follow-up. I encourage anyone else who tries this to do the same!

I just picked up a grow light from Lowe's that I can mount under the kitchen cabinet.
I'm going to grow some kale and lettuce Kratky style and see how it goes.

Yes khang Starr has awesome results and you didn't see any air because he was not using it in the beginning. However he started using it in the last videos hydroponic superhots Krakthy #2. Even before the air it's hard to believe the size of his pepper plants in this "temporary" set up. He is making the krakthy method look not so temporary.

I wonder how it would work topping off with really well-aerated water?

I just met with a hydro shop person whom said that if you don’t aerate then let solution go to a comfortable low point, then take roots and wash out real good.

Refill solution to half way point do to air roots building within bucket but not past half way.

otherwise, use air stone-aerating method is best to allow constant refill.

im about to try the root wash method of it.

Won't the plant outgrow the 2 inch cups?

The 2" cup just holds the plant in place and gives the roots a place to get started. The rest of the root mass is in the container.