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Gardening in Oz

Water saving crystals

20 years ago

I am curious to know your opinions on these crystals. I personally do not think they deliver what they promise and I feel there has been a lot of very clever marketing in our dry times. I have read some articles regarding them and some quite noted people have stated similar opinions. I really think that a good mix of compost will be more beneficial than the crystals. They are not particularly cheap either. Any opinions? BTW I remember using a product many, many years ago which was basically the same thing. They were a dismal failure in the marketplace and soon disappeared. I don't know if it was because they didn't work or just didn't catch on. I wasn't impressed with them either.

Cheers,

Dee.

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Comments (5)

femmeradsy
20 years ago
There's a brief article on them in the current Burke's Backyard mag. Basically their verdict was that some of the early ones were basically rubbish but the more modern types probably can have a short term benefit, notably around young and new plants. But they also say that other things like sensible watering plans are more beneficial anyway.

And I agree with you that there's a lot of marketing hype!
Jane_23
20 years ago
I use water crystals whenever I plant trees/shrubs but I use about three times as much as what's recommended. I believe some stores carry a watering spike which is attached to the hose and pushed into the ground around the roots. Proteaceae may not like this treatment!
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Buford, When you hydrate this stuff, you put a couple of Tblsp. in a mason jar and add water, then add more water, then add more water and when it stops absorbing water, that's when you add it to the soil. Roots can tap into it. But it will never have more water in it than what it had when you totally hydrated the crystals. And you won't use this as a substitute for soil, just as maybe one or two percent of the total soil. When we get the heavy rains, as long as our soils drain (and I really hope this summer isn't going to mess up our drainage) the crystals are just there, and they don't seem to get stinky over time. I have had some in pots for quite a while (years) and when I've changed plants out, the crystals are as neutral smelling as the day they were added. (Remember I lived in New Orleans so I know the foetid smell of water that has been sitting in a swamp too long.)
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Amelie
20 years ago
I saw an item on TV where they were being used when planting out native plants - the claim was that they gave plants which would never get watered (unless it rained) a good start. I have started using them recently so too early to know if they work for me. Worth a try in an attempt to keep young plants alive in dry Brisbane.
Cheryl_West_Australi
20 years ago
I started using them when I started planting in Autumn and I know the Pansies that I usually have to hand water in-between showers have survived this year with no extra watering at all, except when I sprinkle some B & B and water it in. My sister also mentioned the other day that the plants she put in with water crystals have done much better than the ones that didn't have the crystals. I have no idea how long the crystals last though, they may be a short term thing.
Sparaxis
20 years ago
Maybe it is a matter of how you use them? I used to use them to pot up plants that needed a special mix (Pacific Coast irises). They had to be potted that year because we were moving house, and I mixed acid loving potting mix, water saving crystals soaked in a bucket of water, camelia and azalea food, and coir peat. I mixed the whole lot thorougly in bulk then filled the pots. I doubt that putting the granules on top of the soil would do anything, and I think it is probably important to soak them first, although I am sure they would take up water. They do need to be near the roots of the plant, so the roots can grow through them and absorb water. I can't see how they wouldn't work in this way, unless the ground is allowed to dry out completely, then the water saving crystals dry out too.

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