Specialty Gardening: water retaining crystals, 0 by FertiSorb

FertiSorb wrote:
No, the plant's roots grow through the polymer granules and extract moisture, so your plants benefit. However, the polymer has much greater absorptive qualities than your media. Therefore, it will absorb water to its point of saturation before the media is "allowed" to have its share. Having absorbed to capacity, the polymer is very reluctant to give water back to the media. You could end up with the ironic circumstance of the polymer absorbing to its full capacity while the media dries up completely. That may be overstating the case somewhat, but I've seen it happen. Polymer granules are well suited to providing moisture to plant roots, but your media needs hydration on a regular basis, and that hydration does not come from the polymer. I'm not saying not to use them, but be judicious in your watering. I use the polymer as a highly efficient delivery system for nutrient, and treat the water retention qualities as a "Lucky Strike Extra".