One of the biggest misconceptions about Hydretain is that it pulls moisture from atmospheric humidity down into the soil. This sometimes leads people to question its efficacy or believe it won’t work in a dry desert environment. However, Hydretain actually works on water vapor within the soil itself.  While Hydretain can indeed condense moisture in the air back into liquid water, it is not powerful enough to attract atmospheric moisture while it is in the soil.

While everyone knows that the atmosphere contains water molecules, or humidity, those same gaseous water molecules are also found underground. That’s because soil isn’t just a solid mass, and has space for water and water vapor. Hydretain acts on these pockets of underground vapor!

Pore Space in the Soil

Porosity is an important factor in soil health. Pore spaces between soil particles facilitate the water, air, and nutrient exchanges that plants need to thrive. During irrigation or rainfall, those pore spaces fill with water, creating the opportunity for plant roots to take a drink. As soils begin to dry down, air reenters the pore space and water molecules separate to form moisture vapor or humidity. Just as we can’t drink from the humidity in the air around us, plants can’t utilize this moisture either, and eventually it is lost to evaporation.

However, once Hydretain is applied and watered into the soil, it adheres to plant roots and soil particles. As soils dry and water molecules separate in the process of evaporation, Hydretain attracts those molecules to itself, pulling them back together to reform plant usable droplets – similar to seeing condensation form on a cold glass. This process extends water availability to plants, minimizing moisture stress and reducing the need for frequent irrigation. So even in extremely arid climates such as deserts, soil moisture can be very high with proper watering techniques!

Best Ways to Use Hydretain In the Desert

• Watering Hydretain Into the Soil
  Hydretain must be watered into the soil in order to function properly. In arid climates, water evaporates more quickly than humid ones. When using liquid Hydretain, the product should be watered-in immediately following the application to ensure that Hydretain reaches the root zone rather than adhering to leaf tissue or getting caught in the thatch layer. If you are unable to water right away, granular Hydretain products are the better choice for your application.
• Watering Practices
  In arid climates, light and frequent waterings to cool grasses and other plants are a common practice. Unfortunately, this watering style does not provide enough soil moisture for Hydretain to be effective. With deep, infrequent watering you’ll provide enough moisture into the soil profile for Hydretain to perform properly. This practice will allow you to reduce overall water use while allowing plants to receive the water they need to naturally cool themselves through transpiration.

Because of humidity naturally found underground in porous soil, Hydretain works regardless of atmospheric humidity. So even if you work in a hot desert climate, go ahead and use Hydretain – after thoroughly watering it into the ground. It’ll work just as well as in more humid conditions!