"Adding hydrogel to growing media improves crop, bottom line"

Mixing hydrogel into growing media. It is a new recipe for growing media that seems to improve the final product and the grower's bottom line. "While customers - from retailers through consumers - may not recognize a hydrogel in the growing mix, they reap the benefits. And, that means more income for growers", states Evonik in a press release.

Hydrogels are the product of nano-science. They absorb up to 30 times their weight in water, and then release it to the plants as needed. They're not only harmless to the plant, they can hold nutrient-rich water and prevent fertilizer run off.

Adding a hydrogel to growing media
• improves plant quality
• enhances survival rates, thus reducing shrink
• increases water-holding capacity
• prevents nutrient leaching
• reduces irrigation frequency
• lessens irrigation labor
• ensures consumer success

And, that results in a healthier bottom line for growers and retailers.

Putting hydrogel in the mix reduces watering frequency and prevents loss from wilt. (Image: iStockPhoto.com)

"Not only have we noticed the visual benefits with Stockosorb but also cost savings. Our irrigation costs (water and labor) dropped approximately $20,000 in five months," says Phil Roberts of Broadway Gardens, ME.

All that's needed is a little recipe tweak like mixing Stockosorb hydrogel into growing media. Like sugar, Stockosorb comes in different sizes for different container applications.

Bessie Newbery, Gracias Greenhouse, Belleville, MI, says: "Using Stockosorb in the mix of our hanging baskets helped save 500 that were accidentally not watered for 10 to 12 days. Although the baskets were dry when this was discovered, they recovered and came right back!"

An increasing number of growers have also found success adding Stockosorb from Evonik Industries to their custom mixes. Stockosorb is an advanced hydrogel placed in the growing media to absorb water and nutrients, which are then slowly released to plants as they need it. This can be especially helpful in the second or third crop of the year to improve plant health and irrigation efficiency during the hotter summer months. Media manufacturers can easily include Stockosorb in custom blends at growers' requests.

If changing the recipe was going to improve your bottom line 10 to 20 percent, wouldn't you do it?

For more information
Evonik Corporation
Tiffanie Roach
2401 Doyle Street, Greensboro, NC 27406 USA
T: 336-335-3764
F: 251-443-4872
stockosorb@evonik.com
www.evonik.com