---
title: "Has anyone ever used these? If so, would you recommend it?"
description: "Has anyone ever used these? If so, would you recommend it?"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/fQipaoQNS2SCTJGI4q9l9w/aT1nrGETT4apVN6UJq3eQW"
community: "Equipment & Materials"
author: "Kier"
published: "2025-04-15T00:37:53.229327Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/Vrr3MjuykrOZBrXOa6gz4h_OdO1eOzW4lW_XZ7ORpCU/BjLQW1VcQqCQOPuphWNFpw.webp?size=large"
---

[Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Equipment \& Materials](https://getplanta.com/community/fQipaoQNS2SCTJGI4q9l9w.md)

# Has anyone ever used these? If so, would you recommend it?

_Posted by Kier on 2025-04-15_

Has anyone ever used these? If so, would you recommend it?

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/Vrr3MjuykrOZBrXOa6gz4h_OdO1eOzW4lW_XZ7ORpCU/BjLQW1VcQqCQOPuphWNFpw.webp?size=large)

## 12 comments

### 🪴 Botanical Bekka🌵 commented on 2025-04-15

Interesting now I'm curious to see what everyone else says

#### Squirrelywhirl replied on 2025-04-15

Same! I’ve never heard of these before

### c.cat commented on 2025-04-15

im wondering if thats just perlite. ive never heard of it before either lol

#### Squirrelywhirl replied on 2025-04-15

I actually googled it because I thought the same thing but it is different. The crystals are made of some type of polymer

### 🪴 Botanical Bekka🌵 commented on 2025-04-15

Probably like those little hydroponic terracotta looking balls?

### Wolfen 🐺 commented on 2025-04-15

They add the clear water gel crystals to the soil. Similar to those round water beads. I tried it when they first came out years ago. I didn't notice much difference. And they can keep your soil wetter longer, depending on your environment, so could lead to root rot.

#### Wolfen 🐺 replied on 2025-04-15

These

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/LABcXOiTFudmBUCsau2S0dZnnxDdeMAvwSHhNs7sG2k/3EcdxLTcS3emz-bUzpooRA.webp?size=large)

### Sunny commented on 2025-04-15

I’ve used them over 20 years ago on potted plants that kept we outside. I never got the hang of it. I didn’t realize how much they would swell until it rained when we were out of town for a weekend. Came home to find the tiny crystals were size of large grapes. They swole and pushed the plants out of their pots along with most of the soil! It looked like raccoons dumped clear gelatin cubes around the pot after dumping the plant and soil beside it!🤣 My husband who always thought more is better put up to 1 cup in some of the big pots when he should have only used a couple of tablespoons! We had fun repotting everything with fresh soil. We told the neighbors raccoons messed with the pots. Too embarrassing!😄

#### Kier replied on 2025-04-15

Oh wow.

### Kier commented on 2025-04-15

Thanks everyone! I think I’ll go with the watering globes instead ☺️

#### Sunny replied on 2025-04-15

You have to be careful with watering gloves on plants that don’t like continuously wet roots. It can lead to rot. You can slow water with it. Then, remove it (or leave it empty) when the soil is saturated to allow the soil to dry before the next watering cycle.

#### Kier replied on 2025-04-16

Thank you! I appreciate that ☺️

---

_Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_