Aquatrols Soil Wetting Agents
Aquatrols produces AquaGro and related soil wetting agent products designed to improve water infiltration, distribution, and retention in hydrophobic growing media and turf. Wetting agents are surfactants that reduce surface tension in water, allowing it to penetrate and move through dry or waxy growing media more uniformly. In soilless container growing, peat-based and coir-based media can develop hydrophobic characteristics after drying out -- water channels through the dry areas rather than distributing evenly, leaving dry pockets even after apparent thorough irrigation. AquaGro breaks this surface tension and restores uniform wetting across the root zone.
AquaGro L Media Wetting Agent
Aquatrols AquaGro L is a liquid wetting agent concentrate available in 2.5 gallon format for commercial volume applications. It is used as a drench application to restore wettability in problem media, and as a regular addition to irrigation programs in media known to develop hydrophobic behavior under dry conditions. AquaGro is used extensively in professional turf management and has direct application in controlled environment agriculture where consistent media moisture distribution is critical to uniform crop production.
Applications in CEA Growing
Wetting agents are particularly useful in peat and coir mixes that develop dry patches, in media that has been allowed to dry out excessively between waterings, and in situations where channeling causes uneven irrigation despite adequate total water volume. Browse all growing media or see nutrient supplements. Fast shipping.
Aquatrols FAQ
What is a wetting agent and when do I need one?
A wetting agent is a surfactant that reduces the surface tension of water, allowing it to penetrate and spread through porous media more uniformly. You need one when your growing media shows signs of hydrophobicity -- water beads on the surface and runs to the edges of the container rather than penetrating uniformly, or when plants wilt despite apparently adequate irrigation and media appears dry in the center of pots while wet at the edges. Peat-based and coir-based media are particularly prone to hydrophobicity after drying, and aged or recycled media can develop this characteristic even in high-moisture environments.
How do you apply AquaGro to hydrophobic growing media?
For severe hydrophobic media, prepare a drench solution at the manufacturer's recommended rate and apply slowly until the entire media volume is uniformly wetted. In extreme cases, allow the media to soak for 15-30 minutes before applying additional solution. For ongoing prevention in susceptible media, add AquaGro at a low maintenance rate to your irrigation water on a regular schedule -- weekly to biweekly depending on media type and irrigation frequency. Follow label rate guidelines; excessive surfactant addition can damage roots and alter solution behavior in hydroponic systems.
Can wetting agents be used in hydroponic nutrient solutions?
Wetting agents can be used in hydroponic applications where the goal is improving media infiltration in drip or container systems. For open-top drip systems in coco or peat media, adding a low rate of AquaGro to the nutrient solution can maintain consistent wetting behavior throughout the container. For recirculating systems (DWC, RDWC, NFT), consult product label instructions before adding any surfactant to the reservoir -- surfactants can create foaming issues in aerated systems and may affect dissolved oxygen management. Contact 888-815-9763 for application guidance specific to your system type.
