PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a water swelling pellet-like plant growing medium containing water absorbing resin, and having shape retention when dried and crumbling when absorbing water to become a plant growing medium, and to provide a method for producing the medium.SOLUTION: The water swelling pellet-like plant growing medium includes water absorbing resin which satisfies (1)-(3) conditions stated below, a plant growing carrier, and a water-soluble or water dispersible binding agent. The water absorbing resin: (1) the electric conductivity of hydrous gel when letting 1 pt.wt. water absorbing resin absorb 100 pts.wt. of 25°C ion exchanged water is 0-3.0 mS/cm, (2) the water absorption magnification of 25°C ion exchanged water of the water absorbing resin is 80-1,000 times, and (3) the water absorption speed of the water absorbing resin is &ge300 s by a water absorption speed testing method stated below. The water absorption speed testing method: including putting 0.5 g water absorbing resin into a 100 ml container at 20°C followed by putting 50 g tap water thereinto at one time, and measuring a time (s) until the whole gels by 10 seconds.COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&INPIT【課題】 吸水性樹脂を含み、乾燥時には保形性があり吸水時にはくずれて植物育成用媒体となる水膨潤性のペレット状植物育成用媒体およびその製造法を提供する。【解決手段】 下記(1)~(3)の条件を満たす吸水性樹脂、植物育成用担体、および水溶性または水分散性の粘結剤からなる水膨潤性のペレット状植物育成用媒体である。吸水性樹脂:(1)吸水性樹脂1重量部を25℃のイオン交換水100重量部に吸水させた時の含水ゲルの電気伝導率が0~3.0mS/cmであり;(2)吸水性樹脂の25℃のイオン交換水の吸水倍率が80~1000倍であり;(3)吸水性樹脂の吸水速度が、下記吸水速度試験法で300秒以上である。吸水速度試験法:20℃において、吸水性樹脂0.5gを100ml容器に入れ、その中に水道水50gを一度に入れ、全体がゲル化するまでの時間(秒)を10秒単位で測定する。【選択図】 なし
