Are all hydroabsorbent polymers safe for growing plants?
No. Hydroabsorbent polymers all contain a certain quantity of monomer residues from the manufacturing process. These acrylamide and acrylic acid monomers are phytotoxic at levels above 500 ppm. Some hydrogels may contain toxic levels of monomer contamination. The hydroabsorbent products in the TerraCottem mixture have a monomer level below 215 ppm and have been certified to be non-toxic in tests meeting the highest internationally recognized standards, meaning the product will not contaminate plants, soil or ground water. ^ top Is water retention capacity related to water availability? No. The water retention capacity of polymers is not necessarily relevant in terms of performance, because high water retention capacity does not mean high water availability. While most hydrogels (primarily produced for the diaper and sanitary wares industry) can absorb hundreds of times their own weight in water, they are designed to irreversibly bind the moisture, and may compete with the plant roots f
