Do Water Retaining Crystals Really Work in Container Gardens?
Do Water Retaining Crystals Really Work in Container Gardens?Answer: I’ve always wondered if I was missing the boat by not using water crystals, also known as water retaining crystals or hydrogels, in my container gardens. Lots of people recommend them and claim that if they mix water crystals in with their potting soil, they have to water much less often. Water crystals are also often advertised as being “green,” because they supposedly conserve water. There are two types of water crystals, those made that are starch based (Quench) and the more common type which are made from polyacrylamide (Soil Moist and WaterCrystals). There is disagreement as to the environmental impact and toxicity of polyacrylamide. But some studies, suggest that polyacrylamide, which most water crystals are made of, is a carcinogen. While the jury is still out on the safety of the polyacrylamide water crystals, the question
