[mike0001]

bought some chilli plants from Aldi

they sit in a mini plastic greenhouse, 6 plants with a glue like substance at moment about 2cm deep
anyone tell me what this substance is ?

[Auntiemogs]

Water retaining gel.  I buy the fine stuff (or whizz up the coarse stuff) and re-use them.  They're great for starting off lettuces. 

[mike0001]

thank you

just had a look at some on amazon ... is it purely then so you don't have to water as much

[Auntiemogs]

Yes, it holds on to the water and is very useful for mixing into soil/compost in pots and hanging baskets, which do dry out fairly quickly in warm weather.
It's fairly cheap to buy if you have a pound shop near you or stock up when it's on offer. 

[sunshineband]

The aldi little greenhouse modules work really well for germinating anything you can plant one seed at a time, especially if you only need six plants at a time

They last for years too if you store the tops away from sunlight

[Ema]

is thi the same stuff as the balls that you put I vases?

I have 3 packs and hate cut flowers...

[Auntiemogs]

Mmm...not sure but if you pop a bit in some water and it swells up and feels like jelly then probably. :-)

[mike0001]

if it helps Ema this is what mine looks like