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South Western Pa

I found that this material, Water Absorbing Polymer, was used in several of the new so called high tech potting soils. It’s supposed to Increase the water holding capacity of any soil or growing medium and to serve as reservoir for water used by growing and mature plants.

Has anyone used this in their patch, if so any comments on it?

Mark

12/4/2003 10:34:01 PM

Omaha, NE (N41-15-42 )

I used it last year, and it helped, but you have to be careful, because most of the polymers are sodium based and break down into salt after several years, and it can kill trees and perennials, especially if they are fed iron supplements. Iron breaks down the polymers. I found a potassium based polymer that I plan on using next season. Cheaper too than other sources:
http://www.watersorb.com/mainstore.html

12/4/2003 11:41:51 PM

Montoursville, PA

Leaves and manures will build all the water holding advantage any grower needs. Greenhouses no longer use soil for the most part in the retail and even in the wholesale trade. They make a medium, by convience, and have no concern for soil changes as a result of their use. Polymers are excellent tools for the potting trade.

If you are just begining, to build, and need a quick short term water holding assist you can use Canadian Peat Moss. This introduces concerns, by some opinions, but none, of those concerns, are inorganic and not easily worked with.

12/5/2003 10:03:04 AM

[email protected]

Never used it in the patch. But sand rootzone athletic turf fields we have. It works. You want to be careful to not over apply. The dry chyrstals look like nothing. Until they get wet that is. WOW. They swell up like crazy.

If there's a downside to proper use, it is the length of time the gel remains viable. A couple seasons & it's time to add more.

Not cheap either. We sell a 60 Lb bag for $198.00

Steve

12/5/2003 10:56:47 AM

Nova Scotia

i used a product called aqurocks by megagrow. i added a teaspoon to 2 shovel of dirt. the next day it looked like i had made white jellow 12" tall

12/5/2003 12:52:31 PM

[email protected]

Wow. I just checked JMattW's link. Their 50 Lb bag is $3.36/lb. Which also happens to work out to almost to only $.06/lb more than us.

For the record: We're closing out & liquidating the polymers we have in stock from our last years vendor. Locally we have 2 60 lb. drums that are marked down as "liquidate".

Email inquires with zip-code to me for a solid quote. Need zip to calculate UPS fees. This stuff is going out at or below cost.

12/8/2003 7:21:22 PM