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Location

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Date Posted

Ukiah California

So i was curious if anyone uses Silica? it helps with cell wall strength, and thought perhaps that could help with splitting (or make it worse?)

8/31/2017 4:02:25 PM

Seattle, WA

Silica is very important for plant growth/health. Agsil 16H is a good way to make your own potassium silicate (what's in Dynagro ProTekt for super cheap.

https://www.kisorganics.com/products/agsil-16-h-potassium-silicate

and here's one of my favorite articles on silica
http://www.fnga.org/education-and-research/research/reports/75/finalreport.pdf

You can also get silica from diatomaceous earth and other sources.

9/8/2017 8:54:17 PM

Bethlehem CT

I have heard that silica is especially important for cucurbits.

9/9/2017 8:15:27 AM

Torrance, Ca.

Good read Tad!

I use a lot of silica, good or bad I have no idea. The pot heads use it for stronger stems and branches so why not. I side dressed my plants the last two years with silica powder,,, biggest and thickest leafs, stalks and vines I've ever had.

9/9/2017 10:56:34 AM

Williamsport

ok. what is silica, sand?

9/9/2017 5:40:40 PM

Bethlehem CT

So Cal where do you get the silica powder?

9/10/2017 8:28:16 AM

Torrance, Ca.

I use the one from NPK. Amazon is where I order it.

I have a friend that grows that medical stuff here in California. I was at his facility one day and noticed all this gray powder on the top of his soil in each pot. I asked him what it was and he said he started top dressing his plants last year with silica and noticed much bigger and healthier plants.

9/10/2017 10:44:46 AM

Ukiah California

Silica is Silica Dioxide. not silica sand.
I know one company called Montana Grow sells it as a powder, and ive seen it sold as a liquid as well. Didnt know if it was popular among pumpkin growers or not :p

9/12/2017 12:36:42 AM

Torrance, Ca.

Yes, silicon dioxide\diatomite

9/12/2017 12:57:54 AM

Austin MN

Potassium silicate is what I and Josiah Brant use. There is a reason why the fruit go 14-29% heavy ;)

I'm sold that silica and good calcium make them very heavy!

9/12/2017 7:42:39 AM

JACKSON, WISCONSIN. ; )

I use silica all the time.... powder and liquid.... liquid when I water and powder on the ground. Growth products brand has sil guard I get mine in 2.5 gallon jugs

9/12/2017 10:13:06 AM

JACKSON, WISCONSIN. ; )

I think heavy and light is genetic. I've grown heavy right next to air bags...

9/12/2017 10:15:12 AM

Torrance, Ca.

I'm with you on that one Garry. We'll see though this year,,,,,, I used both liquid and powder all season and top dressed like never before while vine burying. I have noticed much thinker and bigger stalks and leafs. Maybe the bigger, thicker leafs have something to do with breaking down more sugars and making the pumpkins go heavier...

9/12/2017 10:19:54 AM

Prestonsburg,ky

What is a good product to add to soil to increase silicate level for plant availability?

9/12/2017 4:06:27 PM

Seattle, WA

Here's what I want to know? How long does it take the silica to become plant-available? I realize some of this is related to the microbial interactions and activity in the soil, but a rough time frame? 2 weeks? 3 months?

Also, diatomaceous earth is 98ish% amorphous silica, can I just use that? It's way cheaper. Just got a product sample of Grow-sil that is derived from rice hulls. It's 99% silica. What about silica sand, and other sources?

I need to buff up on my chemistry, but I was going to throw them under the microscope and see what they looked like and how the microbes liked them.

9/20/2017 1:19:46 AM

Seattle, WA

It seems like all the commercial bottled nutrients involving silica though are just watered down potassium silicate or sodium silicate.

9/20/2017 1:20:54 AM

Bethlehem CT

Good questions Tad. Just an idea here. I think our pumpkin weights would sky rocket if we shadowed the worlds best pot growers. They are on the cutting edge of horticulture.

9/20/2017 8:11:18 AM

Bethlehem CT

Would diatomaceous earth work as a good source?

9/20/2017 8:19:56 AM

JACKSON, WISCONSIN. ; )

If you look at the kins I have grown this year heavy to chart grows right next to air bags did I call it or what....lol ...... all had same feed liquid and granular the scales don't lie my virgin soil might not have the higher levels of silica that my old dirt did? Or maybe it's not available for plants yet? Good thread but I know I like the principle of silica and will continue to use it

9/20/2017 8:21:31 AM

JACKSON, WISCONSIN. ; )

Oh ya TEAM Gantner / Bird is my name ...

9/20/2017 8:22:08 AM

NE Arkansas

mb ferts has hi-sil 16 for the best price... you can mix your own and save a ton of money

9/20/2017 12:47:24 PM

Seattle, WA

big moon, the issue with DE is how long until it becomes plant available, which would be dependent on how long it takes the microbes in the soil to break it down. I'm still trying to learn more from people smarter than me. I'll keep you guys posted. I have seen people appearing to sell DE as a silica powder for way too much money. Got to watch products, especially out of the cannabis industry.

10/2/2017 11:20:58 PM

New York

Kelp 4 less Silica is very good you can use as much as you want without locking up the nutrients and it can go into the plant immediately its not potassium silicate. It is also very cheap

6/24/2018 2:18:52 PM

Colorado

Anybody ever use Asprin? For silica in plants that is...........

6/24/2018 9:09:01 PM

Aberdeen

Ok I have potassium silicate 0 0 25, could anyone tell me a safe dose to use per five gallons of water to get the benefit of the silcate? Also does any one know how much percentage of silicate is in this product? I'm not looking to fertlize with heavy potassium at this time, just like to give the plants some cell strengthening juice. Thanks for any info.

7/5/2018 2:22:40 PM