| One way to manage the moisture provided to your | | | | years and more. |
| plants actually reduces your requirements for | | | | Because the growth medium is much less compacted |
| watering. | | | | than untreated soil (due to the expansion and |
| This technology has been applied by farmers and | | | | contraction of the crystals as they go through |
| agronomists to improve soil, increase plant production, | | | | repeated hydration/dehydration cycles), the soil's |
| and conserve water. Through it: | | | | natural ability to hold water improves over time. |
| - Farm production yields have grown as much as 150 | | | | Users of this type of product have reduced watering |
| percent | | | | frequency by as much as: |
| - Turf farms have kept grass green throughout the | | | | - 20-40% for most gardens and irrigated field crops, |
| year while diminishing water use | | | | - 15-40% on lawns and golf courses, and |
| - Garden centers and flower shops have increased | | | | - 50-75% for potted plants. If fertilizer is present and |
| the shelf life of their plants and cut flowers | | | | washed into the soil with water, the crystals absorb |
| - Arborists have increased the vitality rate of their | | | | the mixture. This prevents the nutrients from |
| seedlings. Free-flowing, white polymer granules absorb | | | | percolating through the soil and past the root |
| and store 400 times their weight in water. | | | | system, where it does no good but actually can be |
| As each granule swells when immersed in water, it | | | | harmful in runoff or seepage that can cause chemical |
| turns into a gel-like substance containing the water | | | | contamination. |
| that it stores and releases to plants. | | | | The crystals need to expand fully upon initial |
| In just several minutes, a white granule the size of a | | | | watering. This is best accomplished by pre-swelling |
| freckle plumps up with water to the size of an | | | | them prior to blending with soil. To do this, add water |
| marble. Swelled with water, it is as clear as a | | | | at a rate of 6 gallons per half pound of dry crystals |
| diamond; but, you cannot squeeze water from it. | | | | and allow the mixture to stand until water has been |
| Press it, and it breaks into smaller crystals. | | | | completely absorbed. For smaller amounts, a good |
| When mixed or tilled with soil, the hydrated granules' | | | | starting point is once teaspoon of water crystals for |
| membranes are penetrated by feeder roots of plants | | | | each cup of water. These water absorbing polymers |
| that are drawn to reservoirs or water. These roots | | | | are not a substitute for adequate watering and |
| seek life-sustaining hydrogen and oxygen--two parts | | | | fertilizing. |
| hydrogen and one part oxygen, in fact. | | | | They only increase the growing medium's water |
| Gradually, the hydrated granules, called water | | | | holding capacity and enhance the efficient use of |
| crystals, polymer crystals and/or water absorbing | | | | available water by a plant. Soil should never be |
| polymers, are drained of water by the plant and | | | | allowed to completely dry out, and this type of |
| from ambient temperature at a rate much slower | | | | product will help you prevent your plant's growth |
| than water evaporates. Then, when it rains or when | | | | media from drying out. |
| the soil is watered, the de-hydrated or partially | | | | They are helpful for growing container plants, potted |
| de-hydrated polymers granules absorb excess | | | | plants, vegetables and flowers in gardens, sod, trees, |
| moisture to continue the process. They will do this | | | | shrubs and field crops. |
| thousands of times, with life cycles up to and 12 | | | | |