Water Management Gel
Water management gel polymers are substances that absorb hundreds of times their weight in water. The water absorbed is nearly all available to the plants. There use results in managing watering in the root zone of the plant significantly reducing watering maintenance and providing for a more constant supply of water to the roots. Superabsorbent polymers have been used in many areas in horticulture and agriculture for nearly two decades now. Initially accepted as a bare root dip in forestry their use quickly spread to landscape, greenhouse and nursery, and numerous agricultural markets with its use ranging from bare root gels to hydromulching, transplant amendments to "ice packs" for cut flower shipping. |
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Water management gel is available in our store Crystals will swell up and increase the weight by approximately 400 times! |
Environmentally safe superabsorbent copolymer. Water-Gel Crystals is a polymer gel powder (cationic polyacrylamide powder) and is non-toxic, ecologically neutral, it breaks down after its useful working life to water, carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen. It is an effective water conservation aid designed to reduce watering by up to 50%. In the old days before superabsorbents, peat moss was the soil additive of choice to retain water (20 times its weight). Now, superabsorbent polymers can retain up to 400 times their weight. And besides conserving water and maintenance time, they reduce leaching of fertilizers and nutrients into ground water and water run-offs. Home/Garden applications include lawns, trees, shrubs, flower beds, vegetable gardens, pots and hanging baskets, and crafts. For potted plants, it reduces risk of over-watering and root rot, since the roots absorb as much water as needed from the gel. Water crystal effects: Increases survival - holds WATER for use by roots, over 95% available
to the roots. Water is fundamental to plant health. How Much Can You Save? Beat the Drought with Xeriscaping Length of life for decorative purposes (because of exposure to light) is approximately 1-2 years. If mixed in soil, it serves for about 7-9 years as a source for moisture retention. Preparing gel: 1 table spoon of gel to 1 quart of water. (1 TBS creates 1 qt of gel!) Landscape use: Mix crystals evenly with the back fill in the
upper 2/3 of planting hole depth leaving untreated the top 1" of
soil. Mix at the rate of 1 oz. per inch caliper of tree or foot diameter
of ball. At 1 lb. Per 100 sq. ft. watering is cut in half. Use Water Crystals for Craft Projects Numerous uses in addition to horticulture and agriculture applications.
Floral and candle arrangements, centerpieces and ice/heat packs. Make
low cost self-watering pots... The gel can be easily colored (dyed) by just stirring in a few drops of food coloring or icing coloring. Materials Needed: Water Crystals, distilled water, jelly jar
(with 2 pc lid), fragrance oil, food coloring
Options: To help keep dust off your smelly jellies while still allowing the fragrance to escape, and to enhance the look of them, use only the rim of the 2 piece lid and replace the middle piece with a piece of thin cloth material, netting or lace. For stronger scent dispersion, the water crystals may be used in a potpourri warmer. After a few weeks, the mixture may be refreshed by adding 1 or 2 teaspoons of distilled water and a few drops of fragrance oil. You may experiment with fresh fragrant flowers of Gardenias, Jasmines, Michelias, Ylang-Ylang! They'll live longer in a gel! CAUTION: Although non-toxic it should never be consumed or taken internally in either its granule or its gelatinous forms. It should never be used by children without constant adult supervision. Dispose in trash, not down the drains!
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