Polymer Crystals

I spent the entire day yesterday repotting all the plants in my sunroom. It had been 3 years or more since some of them had been repotted and I wanted to add some moisture crystals so they would not dry out so quickly. Of course I could not find my bag of crystals, the ones that I use to make my airfresheners, to put in the soil. I didn't want to go out and buy the expensive crystals that they sale at the garden centers. I then remember that I had seen some adult diapers at the local thrift store and went and bought them. Diapers contain the same crystals, so I used the inside part of the diapers in the soil.
I started to think about my raised vegetable garden beds that I will be revamping this spring. I wondered if I could improve it by using the moisture crystals. We usually get dry spells and spells with lots of rain. I don't want to drown my plants during the rainy times. Have you used the moisture crystals in your outside gardening? If so, your feedback and opinions would be greatly appreciated.

I garden organically and I would be hesitant to use them. We use expanded shale and work it into the soil to help with drainage. Lots of compost in the soil and a thick layer of mulch helps to retain moisture for me. We also have soaker hoses that we put under the mulch and use those to water.

I have used moisture crystals for many years. I add them to potting mix in tubs for vegetables and to the ground for my other plants. They really help. They are a great invention.

And I also have many tubs for dwarf conifers, sedums, blueberries, achilleas, coneflowers, etc. They all get moisture crystals.

Thanks carolmo this helps me in deciding to use them.