Heirloom Planter | Passive hydroponic aluminium kratky pot
$34.99 - $74.99
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the heirloom planter | passive hydroponic growing, no soil and no pumps
the heirloom planter is about as easy as growing gets. It's a passive hydroponic pot, so your plant grows in water rather than soil, with no pumps and no power, you just top up the water now and then.
It's made from recyclable aluminium, comes in 2L and 10L sizes, and looks at home on a sunny windowsill or bench.
water it once a quarter, near enough
Because it grows in water, looking after it is simple: top up the reservoir when it runs low and add a little liquid nutrient. Hydroponics uses around 95% less water than growing in soil, so this is about as close to set-and-forget as gardening gets. As the water level drops, the roots above the waterline take in oxygen, which keeps your plant healthy.
no soil, just roots and water
There's no soil and no mess. Your plant starts in a small growing medium no bigger than a shot glass, and its roots grow down into the reservoir where water and nutrients are already waiting. The enclosed pot creates a warm, humid little microclimate that roots love.
faster, bigger harvests
Hydroponics outgrows soil just about every time. The nutrients are already dissolved in the water, so your plant doesn't waste energy hunting for food through the soil. That energy goes into growing instead, which means stronger, faster, bigger plants.
easy to start, and built to last
With so few moving parts, it's genuinely easy to get going. Around 6 hours of direct sun a day is enough for most herbs and leafy greens, and with 9 or more you can grow beans, tomatoes, even chillies. And when it eventually reaches the end of its life, the aluminium is fully recyclable.
Curious how it works? The Heirloom Planter uses the Kratky method, explained in our guide to types of hydroponic systems. See also what you can grow in a hydroponic garden.
It's so easy you can be growing in under 30 seconds.
- Put the rockwool cube in the silicone net cup (both provided in the 2L and 10L kits).
- Plant the seed of your choice in the rockwool.
- Insert the barbs of the net cup into the lid.
- Fill the planter with water almost to the very top.
- Add the plant nutrients provided.
- Pop the lid on the planter, and you're growing.
The heirloom planter uses a passive system, so there are no pumps or airstones to worry about. As the water level drops, the roots above the waterline absorb oxygen. For best results, wait until the water drops to around 10% of the pot's height before refilling to about half.
For step-by-step detail, see our digital heirloom planter manual.
What's included:
- heirloom planter and lid
- silicone net cup (food-safe and antibacterial)
- rockwool cube
- hydroponic nutrients (the amount depends on whether you choose the 2L or 10L planter)
- instructions
As your plant grows it uses up the water, and as the level falls the roots grow downward to chase it. The part of the root system left in the air above the water takes in oxygen, which keeps the plant healthy. Because the pot is enclosed, the warmth around it builds a high-humidity microclimate that's ideal for strong root and plant growth.
All of your plant's food comes from the nutrient solution included with the planter. Hydroponic nutrients hold every essential mineral a plant needs, already dissolved in the water, so your plant can take them up without spending energy searching the way it would in soil. The result is stronger, healthier growth.
good to know
questions about the Heirloom Planter
Quick answers before you buy. Still unsure? Our Sydney team is happy to help.
1 year warrantyIf anything goes wrong in the first year, we'll arrange a repair, replacement or refund.
see all FAQs
What warranty do gathera products come with?
How do plants grow in hydroponics without soil?
I kill every plant. Will I be able to keep a hydroponic garden alive?
Is food grown hydroponically safe to eat?
Does the Heirloom Planter need a pump or power?
Is the Heirloom Planter safe to use outdoors in direct sun?
Warranty & returns
We offer change of mind returns on all products, and a 1 year warranty on all electrical goods. We're also so confident in your success, that we have a 60 day seed guarantee, and will replace any seeds that don't grow free of charge!
Buying with Gathera gives you access to our community and all our range of special resources to help you grow:
- Access to our community page.
- Horticulture experts on hand to help you out.
- You're buying into an ecosystem – need to replace a pump, light, netcup or other component? We have replacements available so that you don't have to ditch your whole system when one small thing breaks..
- We sell the stuff you need to feed your gardens - nutrients, seeds, growth mediums.
- Comprehensive FAQs.
