• Question: does hydrogel include salt and why is it good for growing plants?

    Asked by ellejs to Adam, Catherine, Leila on 22 Mar 2012.
    • Photo: Leila Battison

      Leila Battison answered on 22 Mar 2012:

      Yes, hydrogels have a kind of potassium salt in them, but their main property is their incredible ability to hold water. About 500g of dry hydrogel granules can hold 30 gallons of water!

      Plants need water for photosynthesis, and they get it up through their roots, so hydrogels make it a lot easier for plants to get that water, than in soil. They’re especially good in places where there isn’t much rainfall, or when you can’t water your plants very often.

    • Photo: Adam Stevens

      Adam Stevens answered on 22 Mar 2012:

      I’d never heard of hydrogel until I looked it up just now! Sounds cool.

      You can grow plants without it though, it’s called hydroponics. You just put the plants in basically a big bath :>

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