The message
from Victoria Clare contains these words:
Dave Poole wrote in
:

The crystals will not be crystals after the first growing
season and in any case and will degrade as time goes on.



Actually I cleared out mine a couple of months ago and found that they were
nice firm clean jelly chunks, wobbly yet not sticky to the touch. As they
mostly seemed to be in excellent nick, I grabbed handfuls and shoved them
in with the fresh compost, and so far my baskets are flourishing (though
I've only just put them out of the greenhouse, so fingers crossed.

However, I'm sure that the crystals I used the year before last just became
greenish runny sludge and had to be chucked - it probably depends on the
exact makeup of the crystals you are using.

These gel 'crystals' are expensive.

Find a delicatessen which receives chilled (not frozen) products. The
gel is packed into pods like large strips of bubble-wrap, and frozen,
then used to keep the contents of the boxes cool in transit. They are
usually thrown away.

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
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