Master Gardener Website

The Master Gardeners of Santa Clara, California have a terrific website, check it out.

http://www.mastergardeners.org/scc.html

Hydrogels

In a previous entry a visitor made a comment on his use of hydrogels.  Hydrogels are those little clumps of material that when water is added swell into jelly-like blobs.  They are added to soils, mostly for container plants, to help retain water and then release it to the plant as the soil drys out reducing the need to water. I've also heard they are good for starting cuttings.   Some people like them, others don't.  If you use them or are thinking of using them you might read the article by Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott from Washington State University for more insight on the materials.  Dr. Chalker-Scott is one of the the great mythbusters for garden remedies.  Even if you aren't interested in hydrogels, check out her website.  A link is in the box to the right.   Anyway she has concerns about the chemicals released when the products break down.  The link to her article on hydro-gels is http://www.puyallup.wsu.edu/~linda%20chalker-scott/horticultural%20myths_files/Myths/Hydrogels.pdf

After reading the article, make up your own mind.