I used that water retention gel in my hanging baskets and the surface has gone into a crust?

Question

The water just runs off.

Answer 1

This product is normally ideal for baskets and tubs. It sounds that you didn't mix it in the compost properly. You probably have too much on the surface, hence the crust. Just carefully break up the surface and the baskets should be ok for watering.

Answer 2

Maybe if you have lots of the gel at the top of the soil the sun baked the surface and dryed out the gel?
I got a bit carried away with the gel crystals myself and added far too many crystals - although I haven't had the same problem yet.

Try soaking the hanging basket in a bucket of tepid water and if you have lots of gel on the surface, take some off.

.. it's surprising just how much water the gel crystals soak up!!

Answer 3

Sounds as if the gel was in top layer of compost and has dried out. If that is the case, gently scrape it off, reactivate the dry gel in water and reuse. Ideally when using this gel, I put it in the lower half of container, using plain compost in top third. That way the plants get their water supply and the gel does dry out.

Answer 4

aerate: poke holes in the soil (scissors, screwdriver, pencil, whatever) and water.