Water Savers

Take advantage of living in the age of technology with these water- and time-saving products.

* Anti-transpirants: These plant “antiperspirants” reduce water loss through plant leaves, which is important because most of the water taken up by plants through roots is lost through transpiration, says Steve Hollister, manager of Armstrong Garden Center in Santa Ana.

“Anti-transpirants, such as the product Cloud Cover, reduce water loss without compromising plant health,” he says.

Anti-transpirants are excellent for plants in hot, windy areas and for hanging baskets and container plants that dry out quickly. They also help plants make it through the drying Santa Ana winds.

* Soil polymers: Originally used and tested in England, these granules that resemble clear pebbles when dry expand tremendously when wet, becoming gelatinous reservoirs of water from which plant roots can draw water.

“It can be hotter than blazes outside, but the plant roots are happy because they have access to the water in the polymers whenever they need it,’ says Robert Burdick, president of Broadleaf Industries in Costa Mesa, which manufactures Broadleaf P4, a soil polymer sold throughout garden centers in Orange County.

“Soil polymers can save plants that might otherwise die from drought stress, and they cut down on watering by as much as 50%,” he says.

Follow package directions when using soil polymers, because a little goes a long way, and more is not better.

For a retailer near you that carries Broadleaf P4 soil polymers, call (800) 628-7374.

* Self-watering pots: To make sure that your potted plants get the water they need, try time-saving self-watering containers. These pots enable plants to drink from the bottom up as they get thirsty.

“Watering from the bottom up is good for plants because you more or less give them control of their watering,” says Patrick Nielsen, product manager for gardenware at Bemis Manufacturing in Sheboygan Falls, Wis., where they produce self-watering containers that are available in most local nurseries and home and garden centers.

Many of these pots are designed with pillars at the bottom of the pot that are filled with soil during potting. These lead into a lower water well. As the plant needs water, capillary action draws water up through the soil directly to the plant roots. To water plants, simply fill the water well every two or three weeks.

For a retailer near you that carries Bemis self-watering containers, call (800) 547-3888.