Viewing post #674362 by RoseBlush1

springcolor said:Karen Chapman co-author of Fine Foliage gave a lecture this spring and she stated her dislike for the gel polymers. Her idea is when your soil is dry and you have those in the soil they draw moisture from the soil, taking away water from the plants. She doesn't use them, she is a local container designer. I used them once but did't really notice a big improvement. When I plant a hanging container I use a small clear container saucer in the bottom of the pot. Holds just a bit of water like a reservoir but, I use moss lined baskets and they dry out really fast. Works like a charm.

The gel polymers work fine in hot dry climates for containers. The important part is not to water the container from the top and let the water flow through the pot once the crystals have dried. They do create those air pockets Rick mentioned and the water just goes through the pot right past them and they do not have a chance to absorb water to be held in the container.

However, if you set the container in a drip tray overnight and allow the water to be absorbed through the base of the container they do perform the function of holding moisture in the soil for a longer period of time.

For me, this means I don't have to water container plants twice a day.

Smiles,
Lyn