Welcome to My Kitchen Gardener! In this very first post, we’ll walk you through setting up a simple, low-cost hydroponic garden using a mason jar. By the end, you’ll have fresh greens growing on your windowsill in under an hour.

Why Start with Mason Jar Hydroponics?

Mason jar hydroponics is perfect for beginners because:

• Minimal investment: You only need a jar and a few inexpensive supplies.
• No soil mess: Clean, controlled environment—ideal for indoors.
• Fast results: You can see roots develop in days and harvest microgreens in a week.

What You’ll Need

• 1 quart-size mason jar (with metal lid and band)
• 1 net pot (2″ diameter) to fit the lid hole
• Hydroponic clay pebbles (lightweight aggregate)
• Liquid hydroponic nutrient solution
• pH test strips or a digital pH meter + pH down solution
• Seedlings or seeds (lettuce, basil, microgreens)
• Optional: small LED grow light on a timer

Step-by-Step Setup

1. Prep the Jar:
   • Wash and sterilize your mason jar and lid.
   • Drill or punch a hole in the lid just big enough for your net pot.
2. Mix Nutrient Solution:
   • Fill the jar with clean water, leaving ~1″ of headspace.
   • Add nutrient concentrate per label instructions.
   • Check pH and adjust to between 5.8 and 6.2.
3. Assemble the Net Pot:
   • Pour clay pebbles into the net pot.
   • Gently nestle your seedling or seeds in the pebbles.
4. Combine & Position:
   • Place the net pot into the drilled lid so roots touch the water.
   • Secure the lid and set the jar on a bright windowsill (south-facing if possible).
   • If using an LED light, mount it ~6″ above and run 14 hrs on / 10 hrs off.
5. Maintenance:
   • Top up with plain water weekly to maintain level.
   • Replace full solution every 2–3 weeks.
   • Rinse pebbles and jar between plant cycles to prevent algae.

What to Expect

Within 3–5 days: You’ll see new roots growing through the net pot.
Within 7–10 days: Microgreens will be ready to snip and enjoy.
Within 2–3 weeks: Leafy greens like lettuce or basil will be harvest-sized.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Algae forming? Wrap the jar in kraft paper or use a dark-colored sleeve to block light below the lid.
• pH drifting? Test every 5–7 days and adjust back to 6.0 as needed.
• Roots overcrowded? Upgrade to a larger jar or switch to two jars in parallel.

Next Steps & Resources

Ready for more? Check out these follow-up posts:

• Building a 3-Jar Tower Garden
• Top 5 Herbs for Your First Hydroponic Jar
• Recipes & Meal Ideas from Your Fresh Harvest

Have questions or want to share your progress? Leave a comment below or tag us on Instagram @MyKitchenGardener with #JarGarden!