Using polymer crystals

[tim_19]

Well, as the title suggests, is it a good idea to use water absorbing polymer crystals if sometime in the week you are not able to water your plants for one or two days?
Im not talking about in the flowering stage when there is a risk of mould, but in the veg stage.

Im going to have them outdoor, and going to be at my mums for 1-2 days every week, meaning i cant water my plants...

so, what you think?

tim_19 Reviewed by tim_19 on 10-17-2007. Using polymer crystals Well, as the title suggests, is it a good idea to use water absorbing polymer crystals if sometime in the week you are not able to water your plants for one or two days? Im not talking about in the flowering stage when there is a risk of mould, but in the veg stage. Im going to have them outdoor, and going to be at my mums for 1-2 days every week, meaning i cant water my plants... so, what you think? :cool: Rating: 5

[Rusty Trichome]

Not an expert, but sounds like a bad idea. Possible root rot and chemical reactions to the nutes.
I've had to leave my babies for up to a week, a few times, and have used it to top-off my reef tank while on vacation. (called the 'wick' method, I think)
You get a bucket and some string. (thin strips of cotton cloth work too, but the larger the 'wick' the faster it empties the water bucket.)
Fill the bucket with water and place on a table so bucket is higher than the plant container. Cut the string so you can reach easily reach from the inside/bottom of bucket, up over the rim loosely, and reach the container you want watered. Weigh-down both ends of the string with a rock or something. One end in the water bucket, one end inside the plant container. Don't let string touch edge of plant container, as it could let water dribble down the outside of pot. During the summer, you may need two strings per plant. The water siphons itself up, over the edge of the water bucket, down the string, and down into the soil.
Best to practice a time or two into empty buckets, so you know approx. how long 'resivor' will last, and how much water is being delivered.

HTH...Rusty