water crystals

New and happy topic. I use these water crystals that absorb 2-300 times their weight in water. Use them in containers, flower boxes, flower beds. As the soil looses water, it pulls the water fronm the crystals lessening the times between watering.

Yes, and if there are unusually heavy and/or frequent rains, the crystals hold water and won't let the soil in beds dry out so the plant roots can get some oxygen, and that creates problems. These would also invite problems for succulents, which need a good watering now and then followed by a rapid drying of the soil. For some plants, under some conditions, they may have some benefits. To use them carte blanche is not in Mother Nature's plan.

Well, like anything you have to know what your plants watering requirments are. Then you can dtermine if it's a product that will work for you or not. I have not found One downfall to these crystals other than finding a supplier with good prices.Also, these crystals don't flood the beds with water it's a capillary system at work here.

kitten - watch the co-op forum for the crystals.

These Crystals are really popular here in UK, they are used ONLY in hanging baskets/ or larger summer containers though, this is because these dry out faster and for a lot of people, they are difficult to reach with the hose/water wand, they are either too expesive here or unsuitable for the flower beds, but maybe thats because we very rarely have water shortages, unlike some states in USA. Each to there own I always say. good luck. WeeNel.

I'll hijack this thread a little. We are going on vacation next week and be gone for ten days. Due to my improper planning we have newly planted flowers in the beds. Will these water crystals provide water to our new plants while we are gone? I am reluctant to impose on friends or family to drive six miles out into the country to water our plants while I am off having a good time.

At Menard's I saw a product in a plastic bag. According to directions pin holes are poked in the bag and the bag laid near the plants on top of the ground. It's supposed to be good for thirty days. Anyone have experience with this type of product?

I'm open to any ideas that "should" work.

Gary

Unless your weather's really cool and your plants are in the shade I doubt that the water crystals will last for 10 days without needing to be watered, especially since the plants are newly planted and have higher water needs. I've seen things similar to what you saw at Menards, it's basically a big giant blob of the same stuff that the water crystals are made of. In a container I could see that maybe lasting, but in a garden bed I'm not sure, there's so much more soil to suck the water out of it (and I've never used something like that, so I'm not sure if it even works the way it's supposed to in the first place). I really think your best bet is to have someone come out every couple days and check on things, that way if the crystals and the blob of stuff aren't working, they can add some supplemental water.

gk1153, would you be willing to to go water plants for any of your friends or family if they were in the same situation?
As a gardener I am sure you would. If you watered well before you left you could schedule someone to come out on say day 3, 5 and 7. If 3 people each took 1 of the days it would not be such an imposition. You could then thank them with a little gift or a dinner party (BBQ?) to show your appreciation.

Why is it that we would jump at the chance to help someone but are reluctant to ask for help ourselves. At least that is the way I am.

I had one of those watering bags, only mine is a roll, given to me but have not used it yet. It is only meant to be used in a container. For outdoor planting I think it would take many, many, bags to be of any use

Depending on how big your beds are and how far away from your spigot they are, you could invest in a hose timer so your flowers will be automatically sprinkled at set times....it's what I use when I go on vacation in the summer so I don't have to bother the neighbors with watering, even though they are very nice and would be happy to do it!

This message was edited Aug 19, 2008 9:15 AM

Another suggestion for while you're on vacation would be, if you don't have a whole bunch of new plants, rig up some shade to cut down on how much sun will be hitting them. This would at least slow down the process of water evaporation from your soil. I'm sure you have them well mulched too?

Thank you for allowing me to borrow this thread and thanks for your input. Surreybrit, I have no idea why we are disappointed at someone for not asking our help when needed but we do the same thing. I'll call my niece to see if she will come out.

I've purchased 19 plants recently and last week a friend gave me 20 starts of Four O'clocks. The 4 o'clocks and five plants are in place already. So far only two need to have water carried to them. The rest can be reached with 100' of garden hose. When the rest arrive, by the weekend, I'll set them in a bed I'm working on and place mulch around them while still in pots. They will all be reachable by water hose. I'll plant them where I want them when I get back.

The impression I got on the use of water crystals was in a container. The package read they could be used outside in a bed but additional water may be needed. As ecrane mentioned I could probably count on them for 10 days but I would need 20 of them.

Gary