If you have ever accidentally dropped an adult diaper into the bathtub, you know the shock and awe of seeing the thing transform in the blink of an eye.   It is a little like watching a self-inflating life raft unfold on impact with water.   But this object in the tub does not float and as you quickly discover when you go to retrieve it, also has the tendency to explode under its new stupendous weight.   Gel-like particles glisten as they spill out of their bloated housing and you are wondering what on earth these glistening bits are as they cling to your fingers.

"What on earth" is precisely the gardener's interest in this phenomenon.   Plump with possibility, these little crystals have their place in the garden.   The technical name of these nontoxic crystals is superabsorbent polymer, known as SAP in the diaper industry.   With the capability of holding as much as 30X their own weight in fluid, they are water conserving gems when blended into the avid gardener's flower beds.   These polymer crystals are in fact marketed specifically for gardening under a variety of trade names, for the purpose of mixing with soil to help keep planting beds moist.   They generally retain their hydrating potency for three years, so the gardener can count on a long term return after the initial application.

If you already have some adult diapers hanging around the house, this is an easy way to test the potential of these crystals without troubling to order a container of them from the plant nursery.   For starters, you can try growing hanging flower baskets or lushly foliaged patio containers in some of the brighter and hotter spots of your yard by putting a diaper (absorbent side facing up) inside your planter before filling with soil and plants.   The diaper will soak up excess water during irrigation and later help hydrate the plants as the sun beats down on them.

The same SAP crystals found in diapers are useful for coating bare rooted transplants, helping vulnerable roots make a better hydrated transition to their new soil home.   Florists have discovered their benefits in keeping cut flowers fresh.   The usage list goes on.   But finally and least surprising for those who first encountered these wee crystals' absorbent function in adult diapers, they are extremely helpful when it comes to cleaning up hazardous spills.   That could have gone without saying.