Water retaining crystals / gel

  • 4 Replies
  • 2700 Views
*

Lardman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Worcestershire
  • 9244
Water retaining crystals / gel
« on: April 29, 2014, 15:22 »
Nearly time to put the things out in the greenhouse  :D I plan to use 10" pots with MP in them. Are these water retaining crystals worth it ? I wouldn't bother with the peppers, but I'm wondering if the toms and the cukes would see the benefit especially seeing how quickly the MP seems to be drying out this year.

*

New shoot

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Reading
  • 18325
Re: Water retaining crystals / gel
« Reply #1 on: April 29, 2014, 18:42 »
I usually chuck them in my greenhouse pots.  They do help if you have a long day at work and get back too late or too tired to water.  They hold water in the compost until the next morning until you can get out there :)

Rehydrate them before you mix into the compost.  They swell up a lot and you can end up with compost errupting out of the pot if you are not careful  ;)

*

mjpalin

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Location: Tadley
  • 695
  • MJ - also known as Michelle!
    • Starmaker - my other "hobby"
Re: Water retaining crystals / gel
« Reply #2 on: April 29, 2014, 19:35 »
I use them too in the greenhouse. Definitely helps if you can't make it to the plot for a day.
Link to my first attempt at a diary: http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=113513.0

Comments & suggestions on my diary welcome here: http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=113518.0

Spend ytd: £293.44 (setting up plot 29 has been expensive) Harvest ytd: £163.93 (as at 8/8)

*

Springlands

  • Guest
Re: Water retaining crystals / gel
« Reply #3 on: April 29, 2014, 19:41 »
I usually chuck them in my greenhouse pots.  They do help if you have a long day at work and get back too late or too tired to water.  They hold water in the compost until the next morning until you can get out there :)

Rehydrate them before you mix into the compost.  They swell up a lot and you can end up with compost errupting out of the pot if you are not careful  ;)

That happened to me the first time that I used them - I had compost every where.  :lol:

*

Lardman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Worcestershire
  • 9244
Re: Water retaining crystals / gel
« Reply #4 on: April 29, 2014, 20:57 »
Cheers all I'll give them a go then, wish Id put some in my strawberry tower  :(

They swell up a lot and you can end up with compost errupting out of the pot if you are not careful  ;)

Noted  ::)



 

Page created in 0.123 seconds with 37 queries.

Powered by SMFPacks Social Login Mod
Powered by SMFPacks SEO Pro Mod |