How to use hydrogel on plants

use hydrogel on plants

Every fanatic of plants has at some point heard of the hydrogel, only that, although the name sounds a bit strange and we can get confused about the use of it or even come to believe something that may not specifically be what we expect , it is of equal importance to know what is this element for.

It will be very helpful in the sense that the hydrogel will help our plants and it may save us time.

What is the hydrogel?

What is hydrogel

Hydrogel is a chemical polymer for plants that allows us to save irrigation water for a higher yield, apart from allowing us to take care of our plants with more delicacy and precision, especially in times of drought.

When we speak in a more detailed and specific way regarding hydrogel, we can say that it is also often called solid water or potassium polyacrylate, whose main property is based on water retention, an issue already mentioned above.

It can absorb between 200 and 300 times its size and up to 1000 times its volume, that is, can retain up to 90% of water inside.

When the earth that is located around it begins to dry out, the hydrogel begins to gradually release its water reserve, thus creating humidity in the environment according to its need and after this, when it is back in contact with the Water, rehydrates and restarts the process.

A quality hydrogel should have a shelf life of up to 8 years, although you can repeat these rehydration cycles approximately 50 times and from there continue to work, only that it retains less water and even, not only absorb water, but can absorb some nutrients such as calcium and magnesium, this being a point of great importance when talking about certain specific plant plantations.

Furthermore, the Potassium Polyacrylate hydrogel It is non-toxic and biodegradable, being very useful since it is also a "photosensitive" material, which is why ultraviolet rays make it dilute more quickly.

One piece of advice we give you is that you should always check that the hydrogel to be purchased for plants is based on potassium polyacrylateSince some cheaper hydrogels of Chinese origin are mixed with potassium and calcium polyacrylate, which directly damage crops.

The hydrogel can be found in different ways, as in crystals (0.8–2.0 mm), which is mostly used for larger tracts of land, generally in agriculture, horticulture, etc. and the one that is used in a generic and powdered way (0.2–0.8 mm) and is ideal for use in pots, small gardens and green areas of the garden.

How to use hydrogel?

Hydrogel for use in gardens and pots

Now, having the necessary information regarding the product, we must know that hydrogel can be applied by mixing it into the substrate or, placing it on the surface of the ground or the pot.

In addition, it can be placed "dry" or already "hydrated", but it is very important to know that if we add it dry, you have to add it as it comes in the package and if you want to use hydrated, you should use a ratio of 1 g of hydrogel in 80 ml of water, which would be one part in 8 of water; as for example, with 10 grams of hydrogel for plants we will require 800 ml of water.

Another question that is important to know is that hydrogel cannot absorb water from plant roots. In addition, it does not rot the roots, since the release of water is according to the demand of the plant and when it is used mixed with the substrate, it is vitally important to consider the space it will occupy when it swells.

While it is not toxic, you should keep it in a dry place and out of the reach of children. There are simply two ways to measure how much hydrogel should be used in plants and it can be done based on the amount of soil or substrate or based on the amount of milliliters of water that it requires, also if it requires a lot of or little humidity.


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  1.   Adrian said

    I am a chemical technician and the information you have entered is accurate. However, I must say that since its hydrophilic property is variable, depending on what type of hydrogel it is, that is, to what category it is related, it can have long-term consequences on the soil. I have written an article about this in https://www.hidrogel.site/