In article ,
(HPBudlong) wrote:

Does anywhere know the best type of polymer crystals for plants (
veggies.) And
the best place for price. I'm in the LA area, so that would be best to avoid
shipping costs, but if I can get them at a good price elsewhere I'll do
it mail
order. I am looking for at least 5lb bags.

Helen

First read "Deadly Polymers for Your Garden"
http://www.paghat.com/polymers.html
Coupla quotes:

"Many of the "superabsorbant" properties claimed by polymer manufacturers
are exaggerated, & during biodegradation these polymers even reverse their
effect depriving plants of moisture. Woodchips, quality compost, or peat
do the same job adequately, plus the woodchips or compost provide safe
plant nutrients & a medium for benificial micro-organisms such as polymers
retard."

"Frank Shields actually observed soils with biodegrading superabsorbant
polymers repelling water so that the ground remained too dry. But Jim
McNelly of www.composter.com reports a different reason for this dryness,
as shown in assessment studies of which he was part. The polymers
biodegrade into a taffy-like substance that do not release their moisture
for plants to use, plus do not permit moisture to reach the surrounding
soil."

--
"Of what are you afraid, my child?" inquired the kindly teacher.
"Oh, sir! The flowers, they are wild," replied the timid creature.
-from Peter Newell's "Wild Flowers"
Visit the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.paghat.com