Hydrosource

Hydrosource is a long-lasting, easy-to-use, water-absorbing soil amendment. Use in gardens, houseplants, and landscaping to increase the soil's water-holding capacity. You can either increase the growth of the plant or decrease the watering frequency. It usually lasts 8-10 years in the soil.

General Performance: One pound of Hydrosource will absorb up to 48 gallons of rainwater or snowmelt, and 20-35 gallons of water, depending on the salt content of the water.

Hydrosource can be applied wet or dry. Dry granules are usually easier to use, but soak them thoroughly to fully fill them with water (hydrate). When hydrated, the granules look like chunks of clear gelatin about 1/2 inch in diameter.
- Dry Application:
- For large quantities of potting soil or backfill around trees and shrubs. - 2 pounds / cubic yard of soil (approximately 200 gallons of soil).
- Small quantities of potting soil - 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 cc) per quart of soil
- Note: Since dry granules swell to many times their original size when water is added, 15-20% swelling room must be left in each planting hole or flowerpot
Wet Application:
- Best for small applications such as repotting houseplants, and planting shrubs, small trees, and bedding plants
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 cc) of dry granules absorbs approximately 1 cup of water
- 1 ounce (3 tablespoons - 45 cc) absorbs approximately 1 - 1 1/2 gallons of water
- 1 pound (2 1/2 cups) absorbs approximately 20 - 35 gallons of water
Mix granules in water and allow to stand for 60 - 90 minutes

One Hydrosource user says, "We did not use (water-absorbing) polymers in the past as we felt they were too expensive. Two years ago we started using them in large evergreen installations, after learning that several of our suppliers were using them in growing tree stock. We cut our tree losses on pines and spruces from 21% to 8%".

Cost Comparison
Hydrosource	$.50 -$1.25 per tree
Tree replacement (6 foot pine)	$30 - $100 per tree
Labor for replacement	$30 - $50 per tree
For 100 Trees
Cost of Hydrosource	$125
Replacement Savings on 13 fewer trees (21%-8%)	13 * $60 = $780

The Colorado Forest Service has used water-absorbing polymer in their seedling tree program for the past thirteen years. Several million seedlings have been planted using a slurry of the fine grind for a bareroot dip, and a cup to a pint of the hydrated standard grind mixed in the backfill. They report the fine grind is especially beneficial for keeping seedlings alive during planting with the wide variety of people and levels of experience involved.

Each pound of Hydrosource standard will treat one of the following:

Houseplants	130 - 6" pots 60 - 1 gallon pots 15 - 5 gallon pots
New sod or seeded turf	25 to 65 square feet
Gardens	10 to 50 square feet
Shrubs and trees	Provide 5-8 gallons of water storage each for 3 large shrubs or trees
For survival planting	130 seedlings

House / Office Plants:

1 teaspoon dry granules or 2 cups of hydrated gel	6" pot ~ 2/3 gallon
1 tablespoon (3 teaspoons) dry granules or 6 cups of hydrated gel	8" pot ~ 1 1/2 gallon
7 teaspoons dry granules or 1 gallon of hydrated gel	5 gallon pot

Mix Hydrosource in lower half of the pot, because water tends to flow quickly through porous potting soil, before granules near the top have time to fully re-hydrate

Repotting - Using the above rates mix granules or hydrated gel (best) thoroughly in lower half of pot. If using dry granules, fill soil to within 1 inch of pot rim, to prevent swelling out of pot

Existing Plants - Depending on container size, use a pencil or wooden spoon handle to poke 4 - 6 holes around the plant, going to the bottom. Divide the correct amount of dry granules evenly among the holes, pushing them to the bottom. Water slowly to hydrate the granules. Wait at least 2 - 3 weeks before changing watering intervals, to give feeder roots a chance to grow into the granules.
Vegetable and Flower gardens - Use 2 -4 pounds per 100 square feet for low-water adapted flowers, and up to 10 pounds per 100 square feet for water-loving vegetables and flowers

The use of weed-barrier fabric will further and substantially reduce the need for watering or weeding
Application - by hand, or using a whirlybird spreader, broadcast Hydrosource evenly over the leveled bed, then turn under with a spade or rototiller
Bedding plants may be given a quick start by mixing a small handful (~ 1/2 cup) of hydrated gel in the backfill of each plant, taking care not to leave clumps of gel. Water bed thoroughly after planting

Trees and Shrubs - Dig a hole 5 times the diameter (if possible), but no deeper than the rootball or container. The table shows the amount of dry Hydrosource needed to mix in the backfill of round holes 2 1/2 to 5 times the diameter of the container:

Container size	@ 2 1/2 times	@ 5 times
1 gallon	1/3 cup	1/2 cup
3 gallon	1/2 cup	1 1/2 cups
5 gallon	5/8 cup	3 1/2 cups
15 gallon	1 2/3 cup	7 3/4 cups

Type / Size Tree	Rootball	Hole	Cy backfill	% poly	cups	# trees
Aspen Trees 2"	18"	24"	.41	.08	1/4	12.5
3"	24"	30"	.52	.10	1/3	10
4"	36"	42"	.74	.15	1/2	6.7
5"	42"	48"	.89	.18	1/2+	5.6
Evergreen	3'	4'	1.62		1	3
	4'	5'	2.25		1 1/3	2.25
	5'	6'	2.56		1 1/2	2
	6'	7	3.04		2	1.5

New or Seeded Turf
- Rule-of-thumb - watering interval can be extended approximately one day for each 7 1/2 pounds of Hydrosource per 1,000 square feet, given evapo-transpiration (ET) rates of 0.25" per day (worst case in Colorado and some other western states).
- For example, 15 pounds of Hydrosource normally stores 1/2" of extra water (two additional days between waterings), and 30 pounds stores 1" of water (four additional days between waterings)
- Warning - to avoid making a "soft" lawn, never use more than 5 pounds of Hydrosource per tilled inch per 1,000 square feet. Thus, 20 pounds must be tilled in 4"; 30 pounds in 6"
- Application
  - Use a whirlybird hand fertilizer spreader or drop spreader to apply Hydrosource evenly over the ground before rototilling to appropriate depth
  - Increase application rate roughly 10% over sloped areas
  - Save one pound to spread over the top of each 1,000 square feet before laying sod or seeding
- Ground may be watered either before or after laying sod, however, if it's watered before, you should move around on the bare ground using a piece of plywood to avoid making deep footprints in the soft soil. Water thoroughly and slowly.
Safety
- This product has been determined nonhazardous by 29 CFR 1910.1200 (OSHA Hazard Communication Standard) Handle with good hygiene and safety; keep away from children and pets
- In case of eye contact, immediately flush eyes with water for 15 minutes or until irritation subsides. Get medical attention if irritation continues.
- If ingested, treatment may vary from simply drinking extra water, to giving the emetic, Ipecac, in syrup form. Consult physician before giving emetic. Call (918) 253-8922

Jensen Sales Company, 8980 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, Colorado 80125, USA
Phone: (303) 791-4250 Fax: (303) 791-2636 e-mail: info@jensensalescompany.com
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