No Hydroton, No Rockwool: Pepper Plants in a Glass Jar Kratky Setup

#hydroponics #kratky #diygardening Only two pepper plants were left in my seed tray after transplanting the rest into a cocopeat-based hydroponic system — so instead of doing the same thing again, I decided to try something different: a simple, low-cost Kratky hydroponic setup built using repurposed glass cheese jars. In this video, I carefully remove the last two pepper plants from the seed tray and rinse them in water with a small amount of hydrogen peroxide as part of the transplanting process, then wash off most of the cocopeat from the roots (a few tiny pieces left behind aren't a problem). From there, I set up two clean glass jars — the kind that originally held Almaria cheese — and show why you don't need to spend money on expensive containers for a DIY setup like this. Here's what the video covers, step by step: 🌱 Removing and cleaning the pepper plant roots 🌱 Preparing repurposed glass jars as Kratky containers 🌱 Wrapping the jars in aluminium foil to block light and reduce algae growth 🌱 Cutting hard sponge to fit and support the plant inside a 3-inch net pot 🌱 Positioning the roots so part of the root system reaches the nutrient solution 🌱 Showing the developing root system 🌱 Moving the plants from grow lights into the greenhouse for natural sunlight No expensive growing media needed. I deliberately skipped Hydroton, LECA, clay pebbles, and Rockwool for this setup — not because they're bad, but to show that you can experiment with hydroponics using simple, inexpensive materials like hard sponge and recycled jars. This is one of several methods I use, not a replacement for commercial media in every setup. This is a Kratky-style setup, where the roots have access to nutrient-rich water while an air gap naturally develops as the water level drops. Once these plants move to the greenhouse, they'll transition into my DWC + Kratky hybrid system — combining a passive Kratky reservoir with active aeration for the next growth stage. For more please visit www.pakistanhydroponics.com or WhatsApp 92321-3899714. Would you try growing peppers in a simple glass-jar Kratky system like this? Let me know in the comments, and if you have questions about any step, ask below — happy to walk through it further. If you enjoy low-cost hydroponics, DIY growing methods, and pepper cultivation, subscribe for more videos on hydroponic gardening, greenhouse growing, and budget-friendly setups.