A treated medium for plant growth includes (A) a medium for plant growth and (B) a water retaining composition disposed on the medium. The composition also includes (1) an alcohol alkoxylate, (2) water, (3) a surfactant, and (4) a humectant. The (1) alcohol alkoxylate has the structure: R-(EO)m—(PO)n-(EO)y—(PO)z—OH in which R is a C3-C14 linear or branched aliphatic carbon chain, EO is ethylene oxide, m is from 0 to 20, y is from 0 to 20, PO is propylene oxide, n is from 1 to 40, z is from 0 to 40, and (m+y) is at least 1. The (3) surfactant and (4) humectant are chosen from specific compounds. The treated medium has a water retention of from 100 to 400 grams of water per 100 grams of treated medium as compared to a control medium that is free of the water retaining composition.