watering

Hi! Was just on another site and they recommended putting polymer crystals in potting soil.
This would help with the watering...

The trouble with those water-absorbing polymer crystals especially with seedlings is most people tend to overwater them rather than under-water, and the water absorbing crystals make it even easier to overwater.

OOOOHHHHHH!!

yep total agree with ecrane. They are nto the best thign for new seedlings mayeb for bigger plants but not yoru tiny precious babies

I'm not even a big fan of them for bigger plants--there are more people out there who kill their plants by watering them too much than too little. The one time they can be useful is if you live in a climate with really hot summers and you have containers growing in full sun, then they can help keep you from having to water multiple times a day but otherwise I personally wouldn't use them.

What a mess!!
Yes I did put those crystals in cups and used too much on some...had to take them out as they expanded....will not do this again!!!

Superabsorbent polymers in containers and hanging baskets have their uses. However, while your plants' roots will grow through the polymer and use it as a reservoir, the polymer will not give up moisture to the surrounding growing media. Also, the absorptive qualities of the polymer are greater than the surrounding media, so it competes with the media for available water, and doesn't easily give it up. You need to maintain a regular watering schedule to help your growing media remain healthy. Without moisture, the media begins to compact, which retards air flow, which is just as important to your plants' roots as watering. Therefore, remember that the polymer will help your plants, but doesn't necessarily benefit your entire container. Use it judiciously, and it'll make gardening easier.

I wouldn't use them in a medium for seedlings for the reasons mentioned above and I don't think they promote root establishment which is want I want my perennial seedlings to do. I do use the crystals in large containers in full sun for cannas and dahlias. We've been in drought and I'm really trying to establish a water-wise garden. The crystals have helped reduce my container watering to 1/3 of what is was.

Does anyone have experience using the polymer for shipping of bare root seedlings? Like dusting the roots of it in polymer and putting it in a wet paper towel for long shippments overseas?

Erik,
I had someone ship me bareroot plants with using moisture crystals at the roots in a wet paper towel and then plastic wrap. They arrived unbelievably happy. They were in bud and ready to bloom. I was nervous b/c planting a perennial ready to flower in the middle of summer just seems like a recipe for disaster. But, they bloomed two days after I planted them, and they never even seemed like they wilted. Not sure how that would translate to seedlings shipped overseas, but it might give them a better chance of surviving.

I don't know that shipping bare root seedlings overseas is going to be very successful regardless of how you do it. How big are your plants? If they're truly seedlings I would probably wait until they're larger before you attempt shipping them anywhere.

ecrane3. We have shipped many xbutyagrus / mule palm seedlings overseas from 6 inch one leaf to 3 leaf established roots. This is when it is most optimal for this palm to be bare rooted with least amount of shock. However we had a order get held in Rome and the plants were in bad shaped when arrived. We have just recently sent out seedlings using the polymer gel and it seems to be doing well for holding the moisture in there for extended periods at customs. I could see the downfalls of using it in your soil though.