Try this easy water-saving tip: use fresh disposable diapers to help keep your container plants moist all summer. It works well and saves money!
Why I Use Disposable Diapers In The Garden
You can save time and money by using disposable diapers in the garden. The water-absorbing crystals inside many diapers are the same polymer that is sold as garden water-retention crystals, only diapers are often much less expensive.
When I lived in Kansas, summers were very hot. My deck had no shade and some container plants needed watering twice a day. I checked garden centers, but a small package of the granules cost nearly $25. I couldn’t justify the price.
One day while changing my son’s diaper I had an idea. I tore open the absorbent center and scooped the polymer and fluff into a bowl. Out of curiosity I tested how much water it would hold. I hoped for two cups — it held nine cups of water!
That amount of polymer could help keep several containers moist. At the time I could buy diapers for about $0.20 each, so the cost per container was very low.
Using new disposable diapers in pots saves time and evens out moisture for plants. Plants need less frequent watering and experience fewer spikes of drought stress. You can add the polymer when potting up new plants or gently incorporate it into established containers.
Yes, you can use used diapers that contain only urine, though not soiled ones. If you’re willing to handle them, diapers with only urine can be rinsed and the polymer reused. Some gardeners find the idea off-putting, but consider that wildlife, pets and other animals routinely urinate outdoors and soils naturally process these inputs.
Biological and chemical processes in soil break down and neutralize many substances. Manure and compost are commonly used in gardens after decomposition. Similarly, incorporating diaper materials into container soil results in gradual breakdown and integration, not direct consumption of contaminants by plants.
Regarding edible plants: use personal judgment. In my experience I used this technique with ornamentals rather than vegetables. If you plan to use polymers or reclaimed diaper material with edibles, consider your comfort level and take precautions such as using new, unused diaper material or choosing commercial water crystals labeled for edible gardens.
Safety details about using disposable diapers in garden pots
- Outer liner: Some diapers have a plastic outer liner. It won’t harm the soil in the short term, but you should remove and discard any non-biodegradable plastic when you refresh the containers.
- Water-absorbing polymer: The crystals used in diapers are superabsorbent polymers that break down slowly and are sold separately for gardening purposes. They retain water and release it to plant roots over time.
- Absorbent fluff: Diapers often contain cotton or wood pulp that decomposes naturally. Concerns about manufacturing residues are generally minor; soil microbial activity and normal decomposition processes further degrade residual substances.
Think creatively about water conservation in your garden. Diapers offer an inexpensive source of water-retention polymer that can reduce watering frequency and help containers survive hot, dry periods.
— Tawra