Silica/silicon questions

PJ Diaz

Well-Known Member
This is a cut and paste of a post I made in a different thread recently regarding Power Si..

I personally use Armor Si right now, which is Potassium Silicate. Apparently Potassium Silicate needs to break down before being usable by the plants. The question is how much does it take to break it down to a usable form. Also Potassium Silicate will raise your ph. Agisil 16H is also Potassium Silicate, and is better value compared to Armor Si (but I got my Armor Si for free, so there's that).

Power Si is different because it's the readily available form of Si, Silicic Acid, which is why it's a lot more expensive.

Interestingly enough a buddy of mine started working for a new company last week who carries an even more concentrated version of Silicic Acid, which is also even more expensive that Power Si (if you can believe that). I had never heard of this product before, which is apparently a whopping 40% silicic acid. I can't seem to find the exact amount of silicic acid in Power Si, but I've been told that it's somewhere between 1% and 4%. That makes this other stuff at least 10x stronger, and considering that the feed rates (0.3 ml / 10L (2,64 gal)) are like 20% that of Power Si (3 ml / 5 gal), it makes this super expensive stuff a better deal than Power Si.

Anyway, here's the 40% mono-silicic acid product: https://www.grow-genius.com/mono-silicic

Here's where you can get it online: https://centralcoastgarden-shop.com/brands/Grow-Genius/

Here's some other good really good info about the different types of silica, and their different effects on plants in foliar applications: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6027496/#B27-plants-07-00045

Here's a summary of the above study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6027496/table/plants-07-00045-t003/

I think the general takeaway from this study is that Potassium Silicate is great for preventing fungal infections when used as a foliar, but doesn't provide the same sort of biostimulant boosts which Silicic Acid does.


Screenshot (50).png
 

Dreminen169

Well-Known Member
I use 25-50ppm from seed to harvest. I also use it as pH up. Like other suggested dial your dosage in with your EC/TDS meter. Cheers!
I’ve heard of people cutting out silica towards the middle of flower because it effects taste of final product. Do you find this to be true?
 

Wastei

Well-Known Member
I’ve heard of people cutting out silica towards the middle of flower because it effects taste of final product. Do you find this to be true?
In soil I can see the point and I do taper everything off in the end weeks of flower with soil grown plants. That includes silica.

In hydro you really have to overdo it to have any negative effects. As long as you control total EC and do weekly res changes you will never overdo silica in hydro.

Everything under 50ppm is fine. I typically aim for 30 ppm when I mix the nutrient solution. You want to stay on the higher end but never go over 50 ppm.

That's why it easier to start lower and add silica as pH up when doing top off etc and to regulate pH.

I've personally never seen side effects of silicate in hydro and very rarely in soil plants. It's about total EC in the medium, not the amount of silica. That should be in range if pH and EC is in range IMO.
 
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Star Dog

Well-Known Member
Possible grower error then, it's more than "pH up". Not sure how measuring a small dose is a hassle. To each their own.
Not noticing any difference is an error your saying?

So in your vast experience what difference do you note using silicon, I mean see with your own eyes?
 

twentyeight.threefive

Well-Known Member
Not noticing any difference is an error your saying?

So in your vast experience what difference do you note using silicon, I mean see with your own eyes?
Do you assume everyone has "vast experience" or was it just intended to demean?

I have noticed a large difference in stem rigidity and overall growth as it improves water and nutrient absorption.

I don't use a net, yo-yos or anything to support flower. The stems are well strong enough to support them on their own. Maybe I just grow shitty buds. Honestly it could be either.

That's what I've noticed anyways since you asked. Have a great day!
 

Star Dog

Well-Known Member
Do you assume everyone has "vast experience" or was it just intended to demean?

I have noticed a large difference in stem rigidity and overall growth as it improves water and nutrient absorption.

I don't use a net, yo-yos or anything to support flower. The stems are well strong enough to support them on their own. Maybe I just grow shitty buds. Honestly it could be either.

That's what I've noticed anyways since you asked. Have a great day!
I thought with a comment like user error maybe you seen something I didn't.
No offence, have a nice day!
 

lusidghost

Well-Known Member
Typo, why panda film brother?

Originally to stop algae from growing at the pot tops, bonuses were stopping wet coco being open to the environment, humidity is a particular problem for me already.
They encourages root growth over the surface of the coco, the roots love that space underneath.
No, I meant we both use it. I haven't seen too many others rocking the PF. Another thing I like about it is leaves can't fall into the trays.
 

JimmiP

Well-Known Member
So I am wanting to add silica blast from botanicare to my feeding regimen. I read that adding silica throughout the entire grow is beneficial for your plants but apparently even more so during flowering. Well I just flipped and am about to start flowering so I figured I would ask you guys whats up?

How much should I add per gallon and how often should I feed my plants silica?
Is this actually going to benefit my plants in a significant enough manner to make the added effort worth it?

Thanks fellas.
Silica also helps a whole bunch when it comes to preventing bud rot and powdery mildew. And one more benefit,,, bugs don't like plants as much when they have been fed silica.
 

rkymtnman

Well-Known Member
This is a cut and paste of a post I made in a different thread recently regarding Power Si..

I personally use Armor Si right now, which is Potassium Silicate. Apparently Potassium Silicate needs to break down before being usable by the plants. The question is how much does it take to break it down to a usable form. Also Potassium Silicate will raise your ph. Agisil 16H is also Potassium Silicate, and is better value compared to Armor Si (but I got my Armor Si for free, so there's that).

Power Si is different because it's the readily available form of Si, Silicic Acid, which is why it's a lot more expensive.

Interestingly enough a buddy of mine started working for a new company last week who carries an even more concentrated version of Silicic Acid, which is also even more expensive that Power Si (if you can believe that). I had never heard of this product before, which is apparently a whopping 40% silicic acid. I can't seem to find the exact amount of silicic acid in Power Si, but I've been told that it's somewhere between 1% and 4%. That makes this other stuff at least 10x stronger, and considering that the feed rates (0.3 ml / 10L (2,64 gal)) are like 20% that of Power Si (3 ml / 5 gal), it makes this super expensive stuff a better deal than Power Si.

Anyway, here's the 40% mono-silicic acid product: https://www.grow-genius.com/mono-silicic

Here's where you can get it online: https://centralcoastgarden-shop.com/brands/Grow-Genius/

Here's some other good really good info about the different types of silica, and their different effects on plants in foliar applications: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6027496/#B27-plants-07-00045

Here's a summary of the above study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6027496/table/plants-07-00045-t003/

I think the general takeaway from this study is that Potassium Silicate is great for preventing fungal infections when used as a foliar, but doesn't provide the same sort of biostimulant boosts which Silicic Acid does.


Screenshot (50).png
so i just used up the last of my Armor Si. i was gonna try the DG ProTekt but it's potassium silicate too.

i got a qt of this to try: Cutting Edge Solutions Bulletproof Si
5% Silicone Dioxide (Si02) derived from Sodium Silicate
 
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