Water Polymer Crystals are odorless, white water-absorbing polyacrylamides that increase the ability of soil to store water and nutrients around the root system. Retaining moisture up to 400 times their weight, they are able to continually absorb, expand, aerate, and release water and/or fertilizer. Simply adding the crystals to the soil can reduce water time and amount by 50%. Once activated, they last for years, being replenished by rains. Among their many 'growing' applications are house/patio plants, lawn, trees, shrubs, flower beds, vegetable gardens, specialty crops, and sod production.