Water Beads in Chiangmai.

[Dazinoz]

Hi,

I am not sure what they are called but I have seen them called water beads. They hold enormous amount of water and swell up hundreds of time when wet.

Does any one know where I can buy in Chiangmai? I am after plain ones not scented ones and a largish quantity. I wanted to fill large fish tank with them.

Mail order from within Thailand would also be ok.

Thanks.

[worgeordie]

I've got to ask ,what about the fish?

regards worgeordie

[NancyL]

It's also called water gel -- crystals of polyacrylamide polymer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_gel_(plain) Back when Hubby and I had a nursery/greenhouse business we bought the stuff in 50 pound bags and mixed it in with the potting soil when we "upped" the rooted cuttings into intermediate sized pots. A small amount goes a long way. Typically Hubby would blend the polymer crystals into the damp potting soil in the late afternoon, so it could expand overnight for the crew to use the for the potting work the next day. If it was added to the damp soil and used immediately, then you'd return a couple hours later to find the crystals had expanded in the potting soil, pushing the soil/crystal mixture out of the pots. Big mess. We only had to make that mistake once!

It's great stuff for keeping potting soil evenly moist and thus increasing the health of plants sensitive to water/drought stress. Also, cut down on the need to spray for insects because insects are attracted to stressed plants and they weren't stressed when we used the water crystals.

We also sold water crystals in the little retail store at our nursery/greenhouse for homeowners to use with their houseplants. It was sold in a jar or small tub. Here is a photo of a brand from Australia. Not what we sold, but maybe available here in the shops in Kamtieng, the plant market just south of the Tesco Lotus on the SuperHighway. A jar this size should be adequate for filling an aquarium. This stuff really expands when wet.

[Dazinoz]

I've got to ask ,what about the fish?

regards worgeordie

There will be no fish. A project I am working on if I can get all the materials.

[Dazinoz]

It's also called water gel -- crystals of polyacrylamide polymer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_gel_(plain) Back when Hubby and I had a nursery/greenhouse business we bought the stuff in 50 pound bags and mixed it in with the potting soil when we "upped" the rooted cuttings into intermediate sized pots. A small amount goes a long way. Typically Hubby would blend the polymer crystals into the damp potting soil in the late afternoon, so it could expand overnight for the crew to use the for the potting work the next day. If it was added to the damp soil and used immediately, then you'd return a couple hours later to find the crystals had expanded in the potting soil, pushing the soil/crystal mixture out of the pots. Big mess. We only had to make that mistake once!

It's great stuff for keeping potting soil evenly moist and thus increasing the health of plants sensitive to water/drought stress. Also, cut down on the need to spray for insects because insects are attracted to stressed plants and they weren't stressed when we used the water crystals.

We also sold water crystals in the little retail store at our nursery/greenhouse for homeowners to use with their houseplants. It was sold in a jar or small tub. Here is a photo of a brand from Australia. Not what we sold, but maybe available here in the shops in Kamtieng, the plant market just south of the Tesco Lotus on the SuperHighway. A jar this size should be adequate for filling an aquarium. This stuff really expands when wet.

yates-waterwise-water-storage-crystals.jpg

Thanks for that. Will have a look there.

Edited February 16, 2016 by Dazinoz