What can i use in soil to retain water?

i found perlite in my garage and internet said they hold water 600% or so.... is this the stuff to retain water?? haha

Pearlite improves aeration to the roots and promotes water drainage. Vermiculite and peat moss are excellent for holding water.

Pearlite may be used with soil or soilless mixes or as the only component in the medium. 100% pearlite grows can be great.

letterbomb325 said:

i found perlite in my garage and internet said they hold water 600% or so.... is this the stuff to retain water?? haha

Click to expand...

Unless you're growing outside, in a fairly dry area, you probably don't really want to retain water - but just in case:
http://containergardening.about.com/od/containergardendesign/f/Water_Crystals.htm

you could also add some coco coir to your mix. great for water retention