GKVKs – Gardening Tips and Store Gardening Tips and Store
Related Articles
Today we will look into an awesome scientifically proven method to reduce your watering frequency for your plants from daily to once in a week by using just 1 teaspoon of SAP around your potted plants or even ground plants. Will demonstrate you how to use it and check the moisture levels using a moisture testing tool from Day 1 to Day 7 and also discuss some science behind all this.
What we are basically doing is, creating mini water reservoirs or mini water storage houses for your plants. These reservoirs provide a stable supply of water and nutrients to plants. We increase soil water holding capacity to 500 to 1000 times. This is really useful in drought prone areas or if you have water shortage. This method helps to conserve water, save your valuable time, manpower and perhaps money not only in summer but in other times like when you have water shortage and also its a great hacks when you are out on a vacation. One more benefit of this is, It also reduces the quantity and frequency of fertilizer application. The research article links to this video are provided in video description, you can check the detailed articles on this gardening idea.
Well, Now How to Perform This Hack? Actually I am experimenting this method and showing you how it works. I have taken two containers of identical size and soil plus the identical plants of almost the same size. Because the watering requirement may vary between different plant species and also different plant sizes. So, I have taken identical plants and labelling one container as T – that is TEST PLANT and the other one as C – that is Control plant. We will be obviously adding the SAP substance to Test container and not to the Control. Both of these are watered only once on day 1 and the moisture levels are checked daily or on alternate days.
So now lets look into the Procedure on How to add this substance:
If you are doing this on your existing potted plants, you need to dig out some holes around your plant. You can keep the depth of each hole to about 3 -4 inches depending on your plant size and root system. Do this carefully and make sure you do not damage or dig on the roots. You can use any tool like a screw driver or even a pipe. Make some 4 to 6 holes around your plant, depending on your pot size and also plant size. If your plant has larger water requirement, then dig much deeper holes.
Now Add Just 1 or 2 gm of this SAP material into each hole. 1 teaspoon I think its about 4 – 5 gram. So add 1 -2 gm approx. into each hole and then cover these holes with soil. Then add about half to 1 litre of water depending on your container size. I will discuss about what is this SAP compound shortly, but be assured this is a fully bio-degradable and non-toxic substance.
One more method you can use this, if you are repotting any plant, you can mix about 1 to 2 teaspoons of this stuff into your potting mix. Mixing it with soil results in a light, fluffy, aerated well draining soil, which is really good for your plant health. But do not use this for succulents and similar plants.
So, Now before discussing on What is SAP, will show you the result of this experiment. On day 1 after adding this substance and water, leave on for an hour for the SAP to absorb water. Now you test the moisture level using this useful gadget which measures both pH and moisture levels. The link to purchase this is on my website www.gkvk.in. One more point to clarify – this is not a promotional video where I am promoting some companys stuff. On my website, I have only listed the things which I have purchased and tested personally.
Well, I have kept both Pot T and Pot C in the same location and similar climatic conditions under my 50 percent shadehouse to receive the same amount of sunlight. Make sure these are not watered daily and in case if you are expecting rain, you can shift to a safe location to protect them from rain.
Now on Day 1 after watering both Test and Control Pots, the moisture level is very good in both container – showing Fully WET in the meter.
Its not at one point in soil, I am checking it all around the soil in pot T as you can notice in the video.
After 2 Days, you can see the moisture level has remained nearly the same in Test Pot – that is its still completely WET and the control pot moisture level has fallen from wet to just MOIST.
On Day 3, you can see Test pot is still WET and the Control Pot is showing DRY. This means it needs watering immediately. The results may vary depending on your zones climatic conditions.
Well, On Day 5, You can see there s a fall in moisture level, but still its showing MOIST and can continue for a day or two. You can either water your plant at this point or wait for another 2 days and rewater so that the hygroscopic meaning water absorbing crystals takeup this water and hold and supply this to your plant for another week.
So, this proves the effectiveness of this method and you do not need to water your plants frequently and your plants remain content, happy and healthy, This is really useful specially in summer or even if you are going on a vacation!
So Now Quickly Lets Learn Whats this SAP and What is the cost of this substance and where its available?
SAP is nothing but Super Absorbent Polymer or hydrophilic or hygroscopic polymer chains, SAP also sometimes called as Hydrogel substance. It is an eco-friendly, non-toxic, harmless, biodegradable material with super good water absorption and water holding capacity ranging from 100 to 1000 times water retention to its weight. Different grades of SAP are available for different purposes with different capacities.
Water beads or water crystal balls are also similar hygroscopic polyers, they are usually sodium polyacrylate and used for similar purpose.
In agriculture they are used as water reservoirs within soil and they absorb the water when it is raining and release water back when it is dry.
Now How much does this cost? This is not too costly. I got this 250 gms of SAP for about 4 USD. May be Its much cheaper if purchased in larger quantities. You can find the link to purchase this in description and also almost all products that I have purchased and tested are listed at my website www.gkvk.in . Its not a functional store, but a catalogue of links to items that I have purchased or those that I recommend.
