This creates an ever-increasing air zone in the reservoir that meets the growing oxygen need of the roots. In the Kratky Method, the reservoir isn’t completely filled with nutrient water, but instead, a gap is provided between the top of the roots and the surface of the nutrient solution, meaning the root is not completely immersed in the water and a small part of the root is exposed to air.Īs plants grow, they reduce the water level in the reservoir as they take in more water. The Kratky Method is the simplest form of DWC and a completely passive growing method because this system works without any pumps, electricity, or wicks. The Kratky Method is a simple, hands-off form of DWC that often uses mason jars.
You need to transplant germinated plants into DWC systems, you can’t sprout seeds directly.ĭeep Water Culture systems have their own variations. In small systems, it may be easy to over or under calibrate. Water temperature can increase due to the continuous running of the air pump and be difficult to maintain. 
If a plant develops a disease, it can spread to other plants easily if they share a connected or common reservoir. The pH, nutrient content, and water level may fluctuate wildly in small systems. A pump or power failure could make the water run out of oxygen and can be harmful to plants. Requires less nutrient mix compared to other systems. The pH, Electrical Conductivity(EC), water temperature won’t fluctuate in a large DWC system as much as in an NFT system, due to the relatively large size of reservoir of nutrient water available for each plant. Accelerated growth and a larger yield due to better uptake of nutrients and oxygen. ( Public Domain Pictures) Advantages of DWC Air stones help diffuse oxygen throughout your DWC system. You can easily find air stones and pumps in pet and aquarium stores. This establishes a uniform supply of oxygen throughout the solution. Otherwise, the roots may suffocate and drown in the water, which can kill the plant.Īir pumps pump in air (duh) which is then diffused throughout the water through air stones. Oxygen in the water quickly depletes as plant roots take in oxygen, and it needs to be replenished constantly. That’s where air pumps and air stones come in. You may fear that the plants may die if their roots are continuously exposed to water. 
The solution provides the roots with the necessary nutrients, water, and oxygen. Seedlings are placed in the net pots, whose roots stay submerged in the nutrient-rich water. Net pots often are filled with some growing media like Hydroton or Rockwool to hold the base of the plant. A lid that covers the reservoir contains holes to hold net pots. The water is oxygenated with air pumps through the use of air stones. A reservoir contains water with all essential nutrients dissolved in solution. How do DWC systems work and what are the advantages? The method is called “deep” water culture because often the water in the reservoir must be at least 10 inches deep. Instead, roots are suspended in the water 24/7. Unlike other systems of hydroponics, the nutrient solution is not made available to the roots at regular intervals. Deep Water Culture (DWC), also known as Direct Water Culture or a raft/pond/float system, is a method of hydroponics in which roots of plants remain submerged in an oxygenated solution of nutrient-rich water.
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