Need info on silica and use in rols

Greenthumbs256

Greenthumbs256

Well-Known Member
Just like the tittle says!
Someone told me my stems look weak and suggested I look into silica! I have read that there is an organic silica but I know nothing about this and don't want to mess up all my hard work getting a living soil! Any info would be great!
 
Richard Drysift

Richard Drysift

Well-Known Member
Diatomaceous earth is usually used to get rid of gnats but it's also a great source of silica when used as a soil amendment. Besides adding sand to your mix there are very few options for silica as far as I know. It will take awhile to break down and become available for absorbtion either way.
 
Roger A. Shrubber

Roger A. Shrubber

Well-Known Member
you should get all the silica you need from soil. no need to add it at all. you would have to reuse it many, many, delah times to need to add any
 
Greenthumbs256

Greenthumbs256

Well-Known Member
I stopped adding diatomaceous earth bc I thought it was over kill on my amendments here's my mix! I do go light on everything just about!
CM180424-063129001.jpg
 
Greenthumbs256

Greenthumbs256

Well-Known Member
And I also do top dressings of guanos ewc and compost! I also Use aact very rarely sst and coconut aloe waterings but I use a live aloe which brings me to another question my coconut powder is a powDer what's the best way to add my aloe just strip it and mix the clear goo?
 
whitebb2727

whitebb2727

Well-Known Member
Richard Drysift said:
Diatomaceous earth is usually used to get rid of gnats but it's also a great source of silica when used as a soil amendment. Besides adding sand to your mix there are very few options for silica as far as I know. It will take awhile to break down and become available for absorbtion either way.
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I second this. Mix diatamacious Earth in your soil.

Food grade not pest grade.

About a cup per cubic foot of soil. Wear a good dust mask.
 
Greenthumbs256

Greenthumbs256

Well-Known Member
whitebb2727 said:
I second this. Mix diatamacious Earth in your soil.

Food grade not pest grade.

About a cup per cubic foot of soil. Wear a good dust mask.
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Food grade or pest grade??? How do I tell I already own some DE I just stopped using it bc if how many amendments I was using! Also stopped up bone meal, blood meal, dolomite lime!
 
Greenthumbs256

Greenthumbs256

Well-Known Member
whitebb2727 said:
Hmm. It should say food grade. With it being a hydro shop I would hope it's food grade. Hydro shops do sell poisons to.

If it is pest grade it will list permethrin somewhere on the package.
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I will ask the main guy he practally rums the place and ive come to see myself as decent friends lol
 
Southerner

Southerner

Well-Known Member
I wonder how long the silica in DA takes to become available to plants, anyone know? I’ve been using it in my mix but am wondering if a bottle of ProTekt would be more beneficial.
 
Greenthumbs256

Greenthumbs256

Well-Known Member
Southerner said:
I wonder how long the silica in DA takes to become available to plants, anyone know? I’ve been using it in my mix but am wondering if a bottle of ProTekt would be more beneficial.
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I don't know for sure but my guess would be a few months if you do a long soil cook MY GUESS would be it's should be good by then!
 
Chronikool

Chronikool

Well-Known Member
Basalt Rock dust has a shit load of Silicon dioxide (Silica) in it. Because of adding this i dont give it a second thought.

Your Azomite supplement will have it in spades! Like upwardz of 50% of the total mineral makeup. Definitely the most abundant mineral in it. :)
 
Greenthumbs256

Greenthumbs256

Well-Known Member
Chronikool said:
Basalt Rock dust has a shit load of Silicon dioxide (Silica) in it. Because of adding this i dont give it a second thought.

Your Azomite supplement will have it in spades! Like upwardz of 50% of the total mineral makeup. Definitely the most abundant mineral in it. :)
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But that's the thing I do use basalt? So I then I shouldn't be worried about silica??? But then again my buds aren't that big to the point that they shouldn't lay over and bend at the middle! But some do! Makes me think this strain can only used as either short or with some support i.e. tomatoe rack or some type of scrog net!
 
W

Wetdog

Well-Known Member
Southerner said:
I wonder how long the silica in DA takes to become available to plants, anyone know? I’ve been using it in my mix but am wondering if a bottle of ProTekt would be more beneficial.
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DE is the skeletons of one celled Diatoms that died eons ago. If they haven't broken down much in that length of time ....

ProTekt is available way faster. WAY faster! Also easier to overdo. I finally got to the point where I was just using 1/4 tsp/gallon of water and watering with that once every week or 2. I'd slightly overfill a 1tsp measure in a 5gal bucket and spot water.

This was outside, but that amount and frequency worked well for the plants.

Wet
 
Greenthumbs256

Greenthumbs256

Well-Known Member
Wetdog said:
DE is the skeletons of one celled Diatoms that died eons ago. If they haven't broken down much in that length of time ....

ProTekt is available way faster. WAY faster! Also easier to overdo. I finally got to the point where I was just using 1/4 tsp/gallon of water and watering with that once every week or 2. I'd slightly overfill a 1tsp measure in a 5gal bucket and spot water.

This was outside, but that amount and frequency worked well for the plants.

Wet
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I actually just finished a documentary that mentioned something about that I can't remember exactly what was said but DE is some interesting stuff!

And also I love diversity in my soil but I'm worried I'm adding too many things! Someone on here told me "everything I add needs to have a reason not just a npk! " and I know diversity is important especially for the Bennies and fungi but I'm worried Im doing too much and need to remember less is more what do you guys think!
Below is my recipieCM180424-063129001.jpg
 
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