Potassium Silicat. How do you use yours?

Hi everyone.

I currently use liquid silicon from growth technology. Its 6%.

I've always added this straight to my nutrient tank but after further reading of the product data sheet from my manufacturer they actually recommend mixing in clean water before hand and allowing it to stand for 10mins before adding it to your tank.

The reason behind this is its high alkalinity can cause precipitation in your nutrients.

This hasn't even crossed my mind before reading this. I already know that pH's above 8 and below 4 can cause precipitation in the nutrient mix.

I just hadn't thought about it happening with silica additives.


With my own I generally add 0.5ml per litre to my nutrient mix. Now however I think I will make it the first thing I add to my "clean" water before mixing my nutes.


So I'm wondering how do you use yours?




J

jondamon said:

I've always added this straight to my nutrient tank but after further reading of the product data sheet from my manufacturer they actually recommend mixing in clean water before hand and allowing it to stand for 10mins before adding it to your tank.

The reason behind this is its high alkalinity can cause precipitation in your nutrients.

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This is correct. If you use a small sample and mix silica and nutes it will pretty much instantly turn to a plastic sludge.

Malevolence said:

This is correct. If you use a small sample and mix silica and nutes it will pretty much instantly turn to a plastic sludge.

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I know this already. Just like mixing raw Ca and Mg gives you a sludge.

Maybe I'm not making it clear enough.

In 18 litres I add my root stimulant first, then my enzyme product, then my nutes, then after this I add my raw silica.

This does not create a sludge.
However what it may do is whatever it comes into contact with maybe rendered useless due to a high alkalinity at that point of contact until fully dissolved.

Did that explain it a little better?

Its not like I mix all my raw nutes in one container and then dump all the raw liquids into my tank.

I mix into my 18L tank separately.


J

Dyna Pro-Tek recommends applying as the first fertilizer in your res, then subsequently applying your other N-P-K fertilizers. I think that is to disperse the high A silica throughout to minimize percip. As for your bennies and such I don't know if it is better to put them in first, last , or whatever but for the salts- definitely the silica first and let sit awhile.

patlpp said:

Dyna Pro-Tek recommends applying as the first fertilizer in your res, then subsequently applying your other N-P-K fertilizers. I think that is to disperse the high A silica throughout to minimize percip. As for your bennies and such I don't know if it is better to put them in first, last , or whatever but for the salts- definitely the silica first and let sit awhile.

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This is what I'm now leaning towards too.

It was only contained in the downloaded PDF about this and not printed on the bottle.


Thanks for the info.



J

jondamon said:

I know this already. Just like mixing raw Ca and Mg gives you a sludge.

Maybe I'm not making it clear enough.

In 18 litres I add my root stimulant first, then my enzyme product, then my nutes, then after this I add my raw silica.

This does not create a sludge.
However what it may do is whatever it comes into contact with maybe rendered useless due to a high alkalinity at that point of contact until fully dissolved.

Did that explain it a little better?

Its not like I mix all my raw nutes in one container and then dump all the raw liquids into my tank.

I mix into my 18L tank separately.


J

Click to expand...

ok, well as has been said... add silica first.

im using facliatior and its silica+nute manager.. it says to add first and let sit to aerate then add base npk

It seems as though I've bought the only bottle in the world that doesn't state ADD FIRST on the label lol.


J

I ose Protekt and it is like 10.5 pH alone...I add it to the water first... soluble silica will precip at lower than 10pH if very concentrated...but it will not diluted..this is why they cannot just include it in the regular fert mixes... so yes add it first to clean water then your other nutes

So I checked wikipedia and got just about what I expected. It's mostly just used for the potassium. I REALLY don't think weed makes use of silicates. How would anyone know it's the silicate doing anything?:

"Horticulture

In horticulture, potassium silicate is used as a soluble source of potassium and makes also the growing medium more alkaline."


It's basically a source of potassium. The whole idea that silicates increases resin production or anything like that reminds me of the rash of glass dust being found on people's weed. I bet it was from you silicate users!

I am gonna guess that that glass-like dust is perlite. Although, silicates can be effective in sprays I doubt many are blasting their flowers with them. As far as silicates go, they are to be used first in the nutrient mix....allowed to aerate and onward as usual. Potassium Silicate makes for stronger, thicker, woodier stalks capable of supporting large yields. Also, it has a protective quality to it, that helps when something comes up....Temps, Drought, stress and thus I recommend it for new strains, beginners, and hot environments.

churchhaze said:

So I checked wikipedia and got just about what I expected. It's mostly just used for the potassium. I REALLY don't think weed makes use of silicates. How would anyone know it's the silicate doing anything?:

"Horticulture

In horticulture, potassium silicate is used as a soluble source of potassium and makes also the growing medium more alkaline."


It's basically a source of potassium. The whole idea that silicates increases resin production or anything like that reminds me of the rash of glass dust being found on people's weed. I bet it was from you silicate users!

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yeah ok. Whatever you say buckwheat. You need to read some scholarly studies on the subject.

churchhaze said:

So I checked wikipedia and got just about what I expected. It's mostly just used for the potassium. I REALLY don't think weed makes use of silicates. How would anyone know it's the silicate doing anything?:

"Horticulture

In horticulture, potassium silicate is used as a soluble source of potassium and makes also the growing medium more alkaline."


It's basically a source of potassium. The whole idea that silicates increases resin production or anything like that reminds me of the rash of glass dust being found on people's weed. I bet it was from you silicate users!

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Its used to strengthen cell walls, help against heat issues, drought resistance, pest attacks, fungal problems. It even helps with nutrient transportation for certain elements.


I suggest you read studies on the subject not what some unknown person has written on Wikipedia.



J

Why are my stems so thick and strong without any silicates at all? How do so many people grow such healthy looking plants without such an "essential" element? Most hydro growers use 0 and yet all of the sudden it's like this hidden gem nobody notices but a select few...

I actually have read a lot about plants from many sources, and have found very little on silicates other than weed related forums making claims.

This one seems good though:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17177170

Boosting silica levels in wheat leaves reduces grazing by rabbits.

Why not add some fluoride too. The cell walls can be strengthened with potassium fluoride!

You guys have no way of proving that any effects you get are from the silicates and not the potassium considering potassium helps built strong stems.

This product is very little different than potassium hydroxide except for the fact that it's not a strong base.

Are your grows really being held back by the stems not being glassy enough?

I personally don't claim it does anything other than what I listed above.

It can help stems to become thicker and harder to penetrate by sap sucking pests.

I DON'T USE IT TO CREATE BIGGER BUDS.

I use it to give my plant a boost of silica for the extra benefits I listed.

Try using it yourself to make your own judgement its pretty inexpensive. I paid £12 for 1 litre and it so far has lasted me a fair few grows.

Its also a great addition to use as pH up.

Something else to consider about silicat and its uses is that silica is also found in diatomaceous earth. So if you use any DE then you are unknowingly adding silica to your plants.

http://www.pqcorp.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=YrDNgSnDcGI=&tabid=140&mid=572

http://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?q=potassium+silicate+nutrient+use&hl=en&as_sdt=0&as_vis=1&oi=scholart&sa=X&ei=AJGcUe_TLIaS0QXCjYCADA&ved=0CC0QgQMwAA


J

I have a container of solid reagent grade potassium hydroxide flakes. Why would I want to use an inferior product?

jondamon said:

I personally don't claim it does anything other than what I listed above.

It can help stems to become thicker and harder to penetrate by sap sucking pests.

I DON'T USE IT TO CREATE BIGGER BUDS.

I use it to give my plant a boost of silica for the extra benefits I listed.

Try using it yourself to make your own judgement its pretty inexpensive. I paid £12 for 1 litre and it so far has lasted me a fair few grows.

Its also a great addition to use as pH up.

Something else to consider about silicat and its uses is that silica is also found in diatomaceous earth. So if you use any DE then you are unknowingly adding silica to your plants.

http://www.pqcorp.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=YrDNgSnDcGI=&tabid=140&mid=572

http://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?q=potassium+silicate+nutrient+use&hl=en&as_sdt=0&as_vis=1&oi=scholart&sa=X&ei=AJGcUe_TLIaS0QXCjYCADA&ved=0CC0QgQMwAA


J

Click to expand...

http://aob.oxfordjournals.org/content/96/6/1027.full.pdf+html
http://www.cabdirect.org/abstracts/19401101097.html
http://www.cabdirect.org/abstracts/20003024118.html
http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/content/43/1/236.short

Another thread here on RIU about potassium Silicat.


https://www.rollitup.org/hydroponics-aeroponics/355548-benefits-potassium-silicate.html


J

That first document only studied the concentrations of Si in shoots of different species, but not even a word about what it could be used for or why it's pulling it up. i'll get to the other 3!

Edit : the second sounds like it would be a valid experiment because it uses silicic acid instead of potassium silicate for some of the experiments, but I can only read the abstract.

Kite High said:

http://aob.oxfordjournals.org/content/96/6/1027.full.pdf+html
http://www.cabdirect.org/abstracts/19401101097.html
http://www.cabdirect.org/abstracts/20003024118.html
http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/content/43/1/236.short

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