I would like suggestions on materials I can use to make the water last longer. These are the present materials: watering crystals and mushroom soil. Any tried and true suggestions will be appreciated.

When you can water outside it's better to water once a week very deeply than to water just a little bit every day. Try and water in the early morning or early evening when it's cooler and for conservation don't use a sprinkler. If you don't have a drip system get soaker hoses. They lose less water to evaporation than sprinklers do. And a thick layer of mulch does help retain moisture in the soil for a longer peroid of time.

Poke a good-sized (but not big, say carpentry-nail sized, bigger than a pin at least) hole at the lowest part of one side, fill them with water, screw the top on and take the top off once it's in place. It's great because the water won't really start coming out while the top is screwed on so you don't drip everywhere while you walk around the yard. I think my mom got this trick from when she lived in Riverside, CA. It's also great for transplants and other things when you need to spot-water and don't feel like standing over something for a half hour with the hose on a trickle.

Shade structure for the hottest, sunniest areas of the garden also help to retain moisture. Just weight the dang thing down so you aren't chasing it down the street...

Your mileage may vary, depending on your soil there. If you do use it, really soak it first -- like in a big bucket and use your hands -- or it'll screw everything up and suck water away or never get wet.

I make it sound bad, but it really helps unless you let it totally dry out down below, and that takes a whole lot of not watering :)