How You Can Reduce Watering Frequency of Potted Plants by Half

With potting soil treated properly withsoil or growing medium.
water-absorbing polymer crystals, you can go onAfter blending with the soil, a subsequent watering
vacation without worry that your house plants orshould be applied to maximize water content. Blend
container gardens will stress out and shrivel from lackat a rate of 5-12 parts soil to one part gel (by
of water.volume). The normal ratio is 8:1, but this can be
In fact, when used properly, Water Crystals will cutvaried depending on the soil composition, climatic
in half—and sometimes more—the frequencyconditions (temperature and humidity), and the type
for watering house plants and plants in containerof plant to be grown.
gardens.To treat existing container plants or container
But, don't wait until the last minute before yourgardens, make holes with a pencil, dowel rod,
vacation to treat your soil.screwdriver or other such implement in the planting
You should apply Water Crystals at least 3-5 daysmedium to approximately 2/3 the depth of the
before leaving and then saturate the growing mediumpot. You're goal is to be sure that the Water
before departure, or you could return to aCrystals reach the root zone. Add dry crystals evenly
disappointment. The earlier application gives the soil,to the holes as follows:
polymers, plant and pot time to adjust to each other.Pot Diameter    Amount     # of Holes
The plants will find the water stored in the polymer6 inches      1/2 teaspoon   4 Holes
crystals and drink from them as needed. Hydrated8 inches      1 teaspoon       6 Holes
polymers will also keep the potting soil more moist10 inches    2 teaspoons     8 Holes
than soil not treated with them.12 inches    4 teaspoons    10 Holes
In new pottings, Water Crystals should be allowed toFor larger containers, follow the progression illustrated
expand fully upon initial watering. You have two waysin the table.
of doing this: Pre-swelling the polymer before addingThen, soak, but do not over-saturate, the soil.
to your potting mix; or adding the crystals in their dryRemember, it will take 15-30 minutes for
state into your growth medium.mid-gradation crystals to absorb the excess water;
You can pre-swell by adding water at a rate of atless time for granular powder.
least 12-15 gallons of water per pound of dry crystals.Water Crystals or any polymer crystals are not
That's an equivalent to about 4-8 teaspoons for onesubstitutes for good watering and fertilizing. They
gallon of water. The polymer will hold much more; butonly augment good irrigation treatment practices.
this rate will get you started. Allow the mixture toThey increase the medium’s water holding
stand at least 20 minutes or until water has beencapacity and enhance the efficient use of available
absorbed.water by the plant. No soil should not be allowed to
The less-messy way to incorporate the crystals tocompletely dry out.
you mix is to add them dry crystals. To promote theFeeder roots seek out the filled reservoirs of Water
uniform distribution of absorbed water, you mustCrystals, penetrating their membranes to provide
thoroughly mix or till the polymer  crystals into thenourishment to the plant.