Almost every day, gardeners and lovers of home plants have to solve a dilemma: how to make the soil in pots remain loose when watering. This is very important, because the lack of oxygen is detrimental to plants, and the soil compacted during watering does not allow air to pass through well. Someone adds peat to the soil, risking making it too acidic. However, there is a more convenient solution to this problem - a hydrogel. This unique substance transforms water into a gel-like state. As a result, water is retained in the substrate, but does not interfere with air exchange.
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Aqua primer and hydrogel: what is the difference
The hydrogel looks like powder or granules. This substance has a neutral environment, is harmless to organisms, absorbs water well and swells. In the soil, these granules retain water for up to 5 years, while gradually decomposing.
IMPORTANT! Do not leave hydrogel pots in a cool place. It cools down quickly and can supercool the roots of plants.
Some people confuse aqua primer with hydrogel, but they have significant differences:
- there are no nutrients in the aqua soil;
- it is denser and does not give moisture to the roots.
Aqua soil is most often multi-colored. It can be harmful to plants.
Ways to use the hydrogel
- Add to soil to water less. 5 parts of the soil should account for 1 part of the swollen gel. If the roots of the plant spread over the surface, then spread the gel in the upper 10 cm layer. If the roots go deeper, the gel needs to be deepened by 20-30 cm. In this case, you can water less often, but more abundantly.
IMPORTANT! Be sure to wet the gel in advance, otherwise, when watering, its volume will increase dramatically.
- Germinate seeds. Moisten the gel and knead until smooth. Place it in a 3 cm layer in a container. Dip the seeds a little into the substrate and leave under the film. Ventilate regularly. The seeds will germinate faster and more amicably. However, this option cannot be used for seeds with a leathery surface (beans, peas).
TIP! Small granules are better suited for germinating seeds.
- Grow seedlings. Fill the beaker 1/3 full with earth and place the gel granules on top. Dip the seeds into the gel and cover the cups with plastic wrap. When the plants germinate, the gel will promote better development.
- Fertilize the soil. If instead of water, the gel is moistened with a solution of fertilizers and introduced into the soil, then the nutrient composition will gradually flow to the plants. This means that the effect will be long lasting and smooth, which is more beneficial.
- Root cuttings. The hydrogel helps plants to take root in a new place due to the fact that it does not allow the roots to dry out. It is enough to add the gel to the well during planting. You can do the same when transplanting seedlings to a permanent place.
- Take care of the lawn. In this case, the gel should be applied dry. Spread it under the rolls while stacking (50 g pellets per square meter). The hydrogel will store moisture and release it to plants in dry times. As a result, the lawn will remain green even in the absence of precipitation.
With hydrogel, you will no longer flood your plantings or dry them out. If you love all sorts of innovations, then try using the gel when growing plants.
Do you use hydrogel when growing plants?
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