Eco-hydrate - anyone ever used this?

Krilnik · Nov 19, 2012 1:18 pm

I was at Masters the other day and noticed something on the shelves that i'd never heard of.

Eco Hydrate.

http://www.ecoorganicgarden.com.au/product_p/eh.htm
https://bnnn72.ssl-cdn.s.mel.secureinf. ... b5058a.pdf

It's advertised as a "radically new" way of getting water to your plants root systems and i quote "eco-hydrate reduces soil moisture evaporation by absorbing and storing water as microscopic droplets on root hairs, root tips and soil particles".

I bought the 500ml concentrate and poured it into an old Seasol 2 litre hose on bottle and sprayed over my lawn last weekend.

Has anyone ever used this and have you see the results they claim?? (50 percent less water use!!!)

Anyone???

heykaramba · Nov 22, 2012 12:26 pm

I've heard its good - there's only one way to tell though Krilnik. You've sprayed it on so now see if it improves the lawn. There's nothing like personal experience ! Let us know your thoughts in a few weeks though.

Krilnik · Nov 22, 2012 12:44 pm

I only sprayed 100sqm worth over my front and back lawns - about 280sqm all up. I plan on buying more of this stuff and soaking my lawns with it.

We've barely had any decent rain in Melbourne for quite a while now. My 5000 litre water tank is almost empty. There's no major rainfall predicted and Channel 10 news last night told us that we're in for long hot and dry summer, according to new research from BOM.

In Melbourne, i'm seeing a lot of lawns starting to turn yellow and dry. Yep, i'm not holding out much hope for anyones lawns to remain lush and green for much longer, especially heading into December with this weather.

woodyren · Nov 22, 2012 7:00 pm

Waiting to hear the results as well. Would this be a good product to spray some newly laid (1 week ago) empire zoysia turf?

mecha-wombat · Nov 23, 2012 10:04 pm

I have used the eco-gypsum still to early but might get some of this too

kexkez · Dec 29, 2012 8:18 am

it was one of the products fu suggested back a thread from a while back.
Someone had been asking about saturaid. Zeolite can be purchased through Bunnings as zeochlor and in WA Clark rubber sell it as pool filter material as Zelbrite. Some of the pools and spa places will tell you it is for water filters in ponds etc. same stuff.
Here's Fu's comment:

There are a heap of posts and a few threads on wetting agents here at Homeone to answer your question.

Using detergents is so bad environmentally, (which we all ultimately pay for in many ways) and also for soil health. Long term use and with some detergents, even short term use will create the very problem many seek to over come and it can be a merry go round of fail and problems.

Everytime you want to use a wetting agent, use some zeolite as well

Zeolite will aid the passage of water through the soil.

Now yes Debco saturaid is a worthwhile purchase but there are many others worth a look too. Eco-Hydrate. Terracottem, grosorb, wetlock. they are great. There is a ripper used in golf courses that is just about a number for a name and I have forgotten the name so a mystery it will remain :lol:

Krilnik · Jan 09, 2013 2:30 pm

I used Eco-Hydrate on my Emerald Kikuyu lawn a couple times over the last few weeks during this massive dry hot spell we've been experiencing in Melbourne. I water by hand/sprinkler for about an hour. I water my lawn about once to twice a week so it's getting plenty of water (well, watering by hand isn't "plenty" - Its just enough. There's no substitute for a good bit of rainfall).

Every single lawn in the neighborhood has gone yellow. My neighbors couch is almost white! It has not rained here for over a month.

I think i see my lawn going into moisture and heat stress slightly longer now that i have used this product. Only just. It won't turn your lawn into a lush green golf course.

I don't think i'll be using it again anytime soon again for normal use. If you ever go away on holiday for an extended period of time then yes, great product.

Another thing, it's too expensive. Apparently the little magic moisture-attracting molecules that attach themselves to the grass roots last only 2-4 weeks before you have to use it again. I ain't spending $15 x 2 bottles every few weeks for the sake of cutting down the amount of water i use to water my lawn. At $15 a bottle each, how am i saving money? I'm not. I'm sure it's a fantastic product and i can confidently say, as per above - i did see my lawn staying stress-free much longer.

If this product was say, around $3 to $5 then i might purchase it again.

I'll stick with my Eco-Seaweed/Powerfeed/Molasses mix.

toadman100 · Aug 28, 2023 6:16 pm

I haven't used Eco Hydrate but on the recommendation of a local lawn contractor, I tried Eco Wet.

It really works. I live in Perth and have been struggling for years with the sandy soil and the lack of rain.

After 3 applications starting in March of this year, the lawn is doing a nice very billiard table impersonation.