Diapers

indianabob · 11-12-2008, 10:07 AM

I use the absorbent in diapers mixed with sphagnum and peat and perlite…makes a great potting medium...if your first water contains a fertilizer the polymer crystals soak it up and it doesn’t leach out.

indianabob, grower of fine weeds and a few hostas

dcarch · 11-12-2008, 01:32 PM

" -------- Water-Absorbing Crystals (in diapers)
Purchasing Information: Super absorbent crystals are sold at lawn and garden centers under many different trade names including HydroSource or SoilMoist. Just ask for help in finding water-absorbing polymer crystals.
Super absorbent polymers are rapidly becoming one of the most exciting environmental education topics in classrooms worldwide. Today, super absorbent polymers are widely used in such applications as forestry, gardening, and landscaping as a means of conserving water. Imagine using a substance that could store water in the soil and then release it, as the plants roots need it? Indeed, the super absorbent polymer in this package is able to reduce the amount of time that is spent watering a lawn, a garden, or even a house plant by 50 to 80 percent! While we may consider water-absorbing polymers to be a modern convenience, imagine the impact that such technology is having on parts of the world that are plagued by drought.
Super absorbent polymer has hundreds of uses, is environmentally safe to use, ----------"

dcarch

salix · 11-13-2008, 11:48 PM

Quick question - how safe are these materials? Up to now I have only used them for ornamentals in containers, having read somewhere (on a label, I think) that they were not to be used for food plants...

mdvpc · 11-14-2008, 12:24 PM

A very good product is Zeba.

"Zeba is a unique superabsorbent polymer based on natural cornstarch, making it biodegradable, nontoxic and odorless. As a starch-based polymer, Zeba is made up of glucose molecules, which are linked together chemically to become a water-insoluble, net-like matrix in the form of a hydrogel that holds and releases water for use by plants as needed. "

zeba.com

I am not affilliated with the company at all. I cannot use Zeba because it works too good-I have super high levels of salt in my water, and the Zeba grabs it and damages my tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. But it sure works good-and a little goes a long way.

dcarch · 11-14-2008, 01:45 PM

Originally posted by mdvpc:

A very good product is Zeba.

"Zeba is a unique superabsorbent polymer based on natural cornstarch, making it biodegradable, nontoxic and odorless. As a starch-based polymer, Zeba is made up of glucose molecules, which are linked together chemically to become a water-insoluble, net-like matrix in the form of a hydrogel that holds and releases water for use by plants as needed. "

---------.

So can you make your own diapers using Zeba?

dcarch

mdvpc · 11-15-2008, 06:25 AM

Don't know. Our sons don't have children yet, so I haven't crossed that bridge. But if you can, at least the Zeba is biodegradable.

As handy as you are with your hands, I bet you could. Could get a little messy though.

salix · 11-17-2008, 12:34 AM

Michael, thank you for that information. Now I just have to track down a source for Zeba up here...

mdvpc · 11-17-2008, 02:57 PM

Salix-I dont know where up here is, but you can buy zeba at groworganic.com

kas · 01-28-2009, 09:49 AM

Now if we could just take this thread and mix it with the one on urine as fertilizer us folks with little ones could potentially have a new garden phenomenon. Hmm....LOL!

paulf · 01-29-2009, 10:23 AM

I have used a product called water-keep. They have a very informative web-site www.water-keep.com. It is environmentally safe and safe to use around edibles. I have used it in ornamental hanging baskets we take care of for our small town. The hanging baskets were in sunny locations and tended to dry up and cause the flowers to die without daily and sometimes several a day waterings.

I ordered the product via the internet because the price was the best I could find. The service was excellent and the product did what it said it would. I am sure there are several good choices; this is another to consider.

Dreyadin · 04-26-2009, 11:40 AM

Definately make sure it is well hydrated when first using in containers though. I used something called moisture mizer... short story... I didn't hydrate it enough to start and had too much mixed through out (and probably used too much) so after 1 big rain the soil in my containers and whiskey barrels puffed way up and overspilled... and the jello looking substance just added to my husband's amused "I told you so" look.

11-12-2008, 10:07 AM	#1
indianabob Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 1	Diapers I use the absorbent in diapers mixed with sphagnum and peat and perlite…makes a great potting medium...if your first water contains a fertilizer the polymer crystals soak it up and it doesn’t leach out. indianabob, grower of fine weeds and a few hostas

11-14-2008, 12:24 PM	#4
mdvpc dwarf tomato grower Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: zone 8 Posts: 75	A very good product is Zeba. "Zeba is a unique superabsorbent polymer based on natural cornstarch, making it biodegradable, nontoxic and odorless. As a starch-based polymer, Zeba is made up of glucose molecules, which are linked together chemically to become a water-insoluble, net-like matrix in the form of a hydrogel that holds and releases water for use by plants as needed. " zeba.com I am not affilliated with the company at all. I cannot use Zeba because it works too good-I have super high levels of salt in my water, and the Zeba grabs it and damages my tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. But it sure works good-and a little goes a long way. __________________ Michael

11-15-2008, 06:25 AM	#6
mdvpc dwarf tomato grower Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: zone 8 Posts: 75	Don't know. Our sons don't have children yet, so I haven't crossed that bridge. But if you can, at least the Zeba is biodegradable. As handy as you are with your hands, I bet you could. Could get a little messy though. __________________ Michael

11-17-2008, 02:57 PM	#8
mdvpc dwarf tomato grower Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: zone 8 Posts: 75	Salix-I dont know where up here is, but you can buy zeba at groworganic.com __________________ Michael

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11-12-2008, 01:32 PM	#2
dcarch Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Zone 6 NY Posts: 976	" -------- Water-Absorbing Crystals (in diapers) Purchasing Information: Super absorbent crystals are sold at lawn and garden centers under many different trade names including HydroSource or SoilMoist. Just ask for help in finding water-absorbing polymer crystals. Super absorbent polymers are rapidly becoming one of the most exciting environmental education topics in classrooms worldwide. Today, super absorbent polymers are widely used in such applications as forestry, gardening, and landscaping as a means of conserving water. Imagine using a substance that could store water in the soil and then release it, as the plants roots need it? Indeed, the super absorbent polymer in this package is able to reduce the amount of time that is spent watering a lawn, a garden, or even a house plant by 50 to 80 percent! While we may consider water-absorbing polymers to be a modern convenience, imagine the impact that such technology is having on parts of the world that are plagued by drought. Super absorbent polymer has hundreds of uses, is environmentally safe to use, ----------" dcarch

11-13-2008, 11:48 PM	#3
salix Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 52	Quick question - how safe are these materials? Up to now I have only used them for ornamentals in containers, having read somewhere (on a label, I think) that they were not to be used for food plants...

11-17-2008, 12:34 AM	#7
salix Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 52	Michael, thank you for that information. Now I just have to track down a source for Zeba up here...

01-28-2009, 09:49 AM	#9
kas Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 24	Now if we could just take this thread and mix it with the one on urine as fertilizer us folks with little ones could potentially have a new garden phenomenon. Hmm....LOL!

01-29-2009, 10:23 AM	#10
paulf professional meeting goer Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: SE Nebraska on the Missouri, zone 5 or by the new zoning maps, zone 5/6 Posts: 119	I have used a product called water-keep. They have a very informative web-site www.water-keep.com. It is environmentally safe and safe to use around edibles. I have used it in ornamental hanging baskets we take care of for our small town. The hanging baskets were in sunny locations and tended to dry up and cause the flowers to die without daily and sometimes several a day waterings. I ordered the product via the internet because the price was the best I could find. The service was excellent and the product did what it said it would. I am sure there are several good choices; this is another to consider.

04-26-2009, 11:40 AM	#11
Dreyadin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: IL Posts: 539	Definately make sure it is well hydrated when first using in containers though. I used something called moisture mizer... short story... I didn't hydrate it enough to start and had too much mixed through out (and probably used too much) so after 1 big rain the soil in my containers and whiskey barrels puffed way up and overspilled... and the jello looking substance just added to my husband's amused "I told you so" look.