Is there anything more frustrating than trying to figure out why a plant will not grow or bloom after lavishing hours and hours across many weeks? Borrowing from the real estate rule book, the three most important considerations for planning a gardening: location, location, location. Plants simply will not prosper if they are located in an area that is not in harmony with their nature, no matter how much the gardener does to conterract the effects of a bad spot. Gardeners become respectable only when they accept this natural law. After years I have achieved this modest status, even though I still try to round the corners on the rules. Lately though, something new has caught my attention: Container gardening and the miracle of adult diapers.
Recently, my husband installed some haystack-style flower boxes under the windows in our house. I enthusiastically filled these with a rich assemblage of bright blossoms and greenery but quickly realized that I was in trouble; the afternoon sun was merciless and I could not keep up with the irrigation needs of these window boxes, even though the plants were supposed to love direct sunlight. I needed some way to manage the moisture level in the soil or I would never have anything but crispy brown firestarter under my windows.
Sometimes gardeners and writers have to start over and that's what I did. I overturned the boxes and started fresh. This time, I unfolded some adult diapers and spread them all over the inside of the window boxes with their absorbent sides facing into the boxes. I re-filled the boxes with new soil and flowers, hung them back up and gave them a good watering.
Adult diapers are filled with superabsorbent polymer (SAP) which can absorb as much as 30 times its own weight in fluid. It is non-toxic and it is a modern marvel. In my window boxes, the polymer did its job very well; absorbing water when it rained, these little crystals gave up their water at the perfect rate to keep the soil in my flower boxes moist and fertile.
It was a friend of mine that put me onto this idea. I do not know the origins of the idea, but I can't help but wonder at the odd connection between diapers and gardens: You know, the manure thing.
Happy gardening to all of you this summer. - 2456
Recently, my husband installed some haystack-style flower boxes under the windows in our house. I enthusiastically filled these with a rich assemblage of bright blossoms and greenery but quickly realized that I was in trouble; the afternoon sun was merciless and I could not keep up with the irrigation needs of these window boxes, even though the plants were supposed to love direct sunlight. I needed some way to manage the moisture level in the soil or I would never have anything but crispy brown firestarter under my windows.
Sometimes gardeners and writers have to start over and that's what I did. I overturned the boxes and started fresh. This time, I unfolded some adult diapers and spread them all over the inside of the window boxes with their absorbent sides facing into the boxes. I re-filled the boxes with new soil and flowers, hung them back up and gave them a good watering.
Adult diapers are filled with superabsorbent polymer (SAP) which can absorb as much as 30 times its own weight in fluid. It is non-toxic and it is a modern marvel. In my window boxes, the polymer did its job very well; absorbing water when it rained, these little crystals gave up their water at the perfect rate to keep the soil in my flower boxes moist and fertile.
It was a friend of mine that put me onto this idea. I do not know the origins of the idea, but I can't help but wonder at the odd connection between diapers and gardens: You know, the manure thing.
Happy gardening to all of you this summer. - 2456
About the Author:
About the author: Kate Kew has been caregiver to senior adults for over 30 years and is the Director of Public Relations for Golden Age Medical where she is managing a growing pool of information to help inform and support those who are trying to cope with senior care and incontinence. Kate welcomes you to visit, use and add to this online library: All about adult diapers
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