Technical Abstract: Polyacrylamide (PAAm) hydrogels are commonly employed to ensure hydration of the growth media and minimize crop losses during the crop production and postproduction phases in horticulture. However, studies of the effect of these materials have shown that they have a minimal effect on crop life and quality. The reasons for this poor performance are not understood as the commercial hydrogels have not been adequately characterized. In this study PAAm hydrogels were synthesized and their properties were measured along with those of commercially available hydrogels. Hydrogel swelling, density and SEM analyses showed that the commercial hydrogels were most likely not pure PAAm materials, but a derivative with ionic groups. This modification greatly increases the water absorption properties of the hydrogels but at a cost of extreme fragility. Measurements of hydrogel dehydration under controlled conditions showed that they were able to retain moisture for only a few hours. Large pores in the gels allowed the water to be easily transported out. The fragility resulted in the gels easily breaking up into smaller specimens which are likely to have contributed to the poor water retention. Hydrogels with improved water retention need to be produced if these materials are to have a significant impact in horticulture.