Maximum Yield Cannabis Canada 2017 November/December | Page 27

Once water is absorbed, it can seep with regulation into
the surrounding environment, making hydrogels an attrac-
tive tool for gardeners. Not only can they absorb water, they
can also absorb liquid nutrients that are then released in a
predictable fashion.
What Makes This Special?
So, the technology is cool, but how can it be practically
applied to gardening? For starters, in areas where water is
hard to come by or there is drought, a slow release of water
will reduce evaporation, allowing more of the water to
benefit plants while conserving resources.
Also, even the most enthusiastic gardeners enjoy some
vacation time. Employing hydrogels creates a worry-free
method of keeping plants hydrated while you’re away
without having to bother the neighbours.
When discussing the future of growing, hydrogel
water is being used on the International Space Station
(ISS). Hydroponics is great for growing fresh produce
for astronauts, but water can be cumbersome in the
tight quarters of the ISS. This is sure to be studied
more as plans to put humans on Mars and other space
explorations are fleshed out.
Benefits
When it comes to your grow set-up, there are a few benefits
that can be gained from using hydrogel water or gel crystals.
• Water is slowly released
• Nutrients can be slowly released
• Easily replenished
• Conserves water
• Is good for people that forget to water or cannot
water plants regularly
• Can be added to soil or used in hydroponic systems
• Can be a fun way to get kids involved
with growing produce
• Future applications are exciting
Drawbacks
When it comes to drawbacks, there really is only one: they
release a restricted amount of moisture. Hydrogel water and
gel crystals work rather well with seedlings, grass, leafy
greens, and other similar plants because they can keep up
with the needed moisture levels. However, hydrogels just
don’t have the capacity, at least not yet, to water heavily
fruited plants like tomatoes and peppers, which require much
more water to grow. Large crops would also pose a challenge.
This may change in the future, however, as scientists are
already working on ways to improve using these materials
for growing. In Japan, high-tech polymers were used in a thin
sheet to maximize the benefits and minimize the issues with
growing in this fashion. This experiment worked as a way to
spread nutrients and encourage root growth while working
as a medium. Scientists grew tomatoes, melons, and spinach
using this method, but only the smaller plants were success-
ful. While not a complete win, it’s a step in the right direction.
“
Employing hydrogels creates a
worry-free method of keeping
plants hydrated while you’re
away without having to bother
the neighbours.”
Bottom Line
Depending on your current growing set-up, hydrogel
water can be a convenient, inexpensive addition for
releasing water and nutrients into your system. This
method may not work for everyone, but it at least offers
another tool in your hydro set-up.
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