Water beads are made from a super absorbent polymer. They begin life as a tiny hard bead but can grow up to 100 times their original size when added to water. They are non-toxic and reusable, yet they do biodegrade over time making them safe for the environment!
Water beads go by many different names but are perhaps most commonly known as Orbeez® (which is the trademarked version of the generic product). They are also often referred to as water crystals, water balls, gel balls, crystal balls, magic beads, hydrogel and water marbles.
Check out the time-lapse video below showing the beads growing in size over time.
How do I grow water beads?
Simply add the beads to water for a duration of 3 to 5 hours. They will soak up water until they reach their maximum size. This size depends on the type of water bead you are using.
