Okay.... Who's heard of this?!

[Taverna78]

Has anybody ever heard of using a baby diaper for gardening super soil?!! Check this video out...

http://youtu.be/sXb8rJ8Rm3I

[FiggieFive_0]

WOW! Who knew? This could definitely help with overwatering problems and fungus gnat control. I wonder if this will aid in rooting cuttings also. Thanks, Taverna for sharing this.

[Bevman]

I have used them for years. You can by that crystals in bags. Here is two sources. Search water crystals on the net.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=water+absorbing+crystals

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrosorb-Moisture-Water-Absorbing-Crystals/dp/B001BOC8VS

[Taverna78]

I wondered as well if would help cuttings defiantly help with over water but cuttings I think this may keep it too moist? This is my first time rooting cuttings and I am nervous because so far only 3 out of about 10 are doing well and I take so many opinion I may of over done it.

[Bevman]

I have not used the crystal for cuttings, but only in the soil of established plants. A thought came to me, they advertise there is a moisture barrier in the diaper to keep the babies bottom drier. So my thought was, to wet the diaper, lay our babies (fig cuttings) in it just as if we wrapped them in damp paper towels. Would the barrier keep the cuttings from rotting and allow them to root?

[drphil69]

I have used them for years. You can by that crystals in bags. Here is two sources. Search water crystals on the net.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=...rbing+crystals

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrosorb-Mois.../dp/B001BOC8VS

Hi Art - do you make the mix like in the video, 1:1 with potting mix? If not, what do you find works well? I currently use a modified 5:1:1 (pine bark fines: perlite:compost) for my container figs.

[Bevman]

My experience with the crystals have only been tearing apart diapers, and adding it to my planting mix for potted plants and even in the garden. I have not bought bags of it yet, though I am planning on doing that. I have also not started using it with my couple of fig trees yet or my fig cuttings, since I am relativity new to figs but not growing other things, edible and not.

[drphil69]

Thanks for the clarification. Sounds like you do what I do, add some without a strict measure. I think will try it as an additional part to 5:1:1. I love the idea of less watering but don't want to over do it either.