in this project we're using some ordinarydisposable diapers, to create an extraordinary gardening gel, that's non-toxic, environmentallyfriendly, and can cut your watering schedule in half. for this project we'll need one of these disposablediapers. new or gently used, it doesn't really matter. now most people know that a diapercan hold quite a bit of liquid, but you might be surprised to see how much. i just put over4 cups of water in this thing, and you can see that in just a few seconds, all the fluidis completely absorbed, without a drop left in the bowl. to see what's inside, let's goahead and rip it open, and dump the contents into a bowl. you can see that if we add abit more water and mix it together, we've
got ourselves an amazing, fiber rich hydrogel.i tried packing some of this stuff into an airtight bag and freezing it overnight, tomake an improvised ice pack that won't leak. now, you can use food coloring to change thecolor of the gels, but when working with plants it's best to leave it clear. this way, yourplants won't turn funny colors as they grow. one adult sized diaper makes over 12 cupsof hydrogel, and the small pieces of cotton wadding break apart and mix right in. nowwe're gonna need some all purpose potting soil that you can get at any home improvementstore, and a large mixing bowl to dump it in. add equal parts of dirt and gel, thenbegin working the two together until they're thoroughly mixed. now you've not got a superabsorbent, super soil that's light and fluffy,
and perfect for your potted plants. go aheadand throw a little soil into the pot first, then help your plant get comfortable. to holdit firm in place, just keep packing more soil until everything sits tight. you can finishup by giving the plant a bit more water, and now with the super crystals in your soil,your plant can go twice as long between waterings, saving you time, and resources. if you'relooking for a lazy way to get your seeds started, just dump them into a batch of the grow dough,and give it all a good mix, or you could even just sprinkle the seeds on top. fill a containerof your choice, add a bit of water, and find a place that you can set it and forget it.over the course of a week, your seeds will automatically sprout and begin to grow, withoutany extra effort, or any extra water.
in the event of an extreme overwatering like this,you might expect that your plants would drown, or begin to rot. but with the hydrogels infusedin the soil, you can see how the excess water is quickly absorbed, keeping the soil dampand fluffy, and possibly saving your plants as a result. now the reason this mixture willhold so much liquid is because of these super-absorbent water crystals. they'll hold over 500 timestheir weight in water, and if you want to separate them out like this, try ripping apartthe wadding in the diaper, and shaking it upside down over a piece of paper. the cottonfluff should blow away, and you'll be left with just the crystals. this diaper gel canwork on your existing plants as well. as the gel expands and contracts, it will naturallyaerate the soil as it does. just grab a knife
and a spoon, and gently nestle them down between,the roots, and spread them apart to form a gap. now you can drop some gel down to theroots, work the soil back together, and continue around the pot until all your water-gel isused up. for one final idea, you can help preserve your fresh cut flowers, by addingsugar, vinegar, and a bit of bleach to some warm water. this will create a homemade flowerfood, and when you add your slush powder, you'll see it absorbs the solution and slowlygrows up to 60 times its size. by agitating the gel you can create an awesome effect thatlooks like crushed ice. not only does it look cool, but it's slowly releasing water as theflowers need it, and feeding them at the same time. the gel is completely non-toxic. it'sbiodegradable, and environmentally friendly,
so it's a great option for working into yourgarden. not only will this save you on watering costs, but it will also last quite a few seasonsbefore it needs to be replaced. well now you know how to take an ordinary diaper, and convertit into a super absorbant potting soil, that will help keep your plants happy, and hopefullykeep you happy as well. if you liked this project, perhaps you'll like some of my others.check them out at www.thekingofrandom.com