I got the water gel beads at Daiso - a japanese store in the Bay area, and recently I found some beads as well at Michael's craft store. So far the water gel beads does not go afoul after being there for awhile apart from shrinking when it starts to dry up,or if it starts looking dusty, I just pour it out and re-soak, or just add some water, to make the beads plump again. I have had the Golden pothos in the water gel bead set up since early spring this year 2011, while one of the Dracaenas, I have had her like that going on 5 years. The other Dracaena, for about a year. The Amaryllis, am just starting a week ago, so still observing how it goes, same with the paperwhites which I just started yesterday.
