are you using the flowers for a topdress? I just use the greens....so assuming the dandelion still has some green leaves you're good to go...
^^^ I hear you on the silica.Cann
Potassium Silicate - whyforhuh?
Ok I am posting this as educational and present it for enlightenment purposes only. Gardening is based in personal preference and in my purist view...
***ORGANIC IS LIKE PREGNANT YOU EITHER ARE OR YOU AREN'T!***
My main friendly point here is that medicine and foods marketed as organic should be produced with 100% naturally occurring inputs materials, specifically ones created by natural earth/life forces at ambient pressures and temperatures.
So I finally found a highly informative and very well cited document created byNational Organic Standards Board Technical Advisory Panel Review
compiled by University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (UC SAREP) for the USDA National Organic Program
link to the clencher here: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5057629
I refer to this article as the clencher because it has tons of great supporting info and concludes that:
Concluding remarks
Clearly, potassium silicate is a synthetic because, although the potassium carbonate and sand are mined, they require very high temperature treatment to form potassium silicate, and therefore a significant contribution of fossil fuel or fossil fuel replacement energy.
As a fertilizer, potassium silicate is highly soluble (generally a trait that puts a material in the prohibited grouping) and jolts the soil with a rapid release of nutrients, even though the effects of a rapid availability of potassium and silica is not believed to have nearly as profound an impact as other materials such as sodium nitrate (an allowed non-synthetic material, with restrictions). As a source of potassium or silicate for soil fertility, there are several effective non-synthetic, low soluble alternatives (lack of alternatives can mitigate other prohibited traits). Although synthetic silicates of metallic micronutrients have been allowed, they are not allowed as a source of silica, and probably should remain so: the reason for allowing these synthetic metallic silicates is the lack of acceptable materials, not that they are compatible with organic philosophy. The weight of the above evidence puts potassium silicate as a fertilizer in the prohibited column.
As a fungicide, the same concerns about synthetics are present. However the amounts used are much smaller, there is no jolt to the soil and, most importantly, effective alternatives are not available. Unfortunately, there is not convincing evidence that potassium silicate will be even as effective as the alternatives, and its mode of action is not understood. These are important considerations. Sulfur and copper are allowed synthetics because, although they have some non-target toxicity and environmental troubles, they have a well-understood mode of action and breakdown products, have been used by organic farmers for a long time, and are proven effective. Potassium silicate does not have significant non-target toxicities, environmental risks or breakdown products, but does have a poorly understood mode of action, a short history of use, and has not been proven widely effective.
Recommendations to the NOSB:
The substance should be listed as a prohibited synthetic on the National List.
However, I encourage the NOSB to reassess the material, perhaps as a restricted synthetic fungicide if, in the future, the mode of action becomes better understood, and much more significant and widespread effectiveness as a fungicide is proved.
Also here is how MANY listing organizations view potassium silicate:
Status
Potassium silicate is not listed in the Final Rule. Synthetic silicates of zinc, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, and cobalt are allowed as micronutrient plant or soil amendments in cases of documented soil deficiency (§205.601(j)(6)(ii)). In processing applications, silicon dioxide (SiO2) is an allowed synthetic.
Certification
Domestic certifiers
California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) Certification Handbook Not listed (CCOF 2000).
Idaho Department of Agriculture (ISDA) Organic Food Products Rules Not listed (Section 02.06.33, 2000).
Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) Organic Certification and Standards Materials List Not listed. For processing, allows
silicon dioxide as a floating agent (2000).
Washington Department of Agriculture (WSDA) Organic Crop Production Standards Not listed (WAC 16-154-070, 2000). Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) Generic Materials List Not listed (2002).
We all know the state certifiers are tougher than bushys watered down fed rules too!
Ok thats their stance, here is my take. I will also cite some of the above linked Review because I know not all will take the time to read it wholly.
#1 issue is patient health. When it comes to my own and my patients health I strictly stand by the precautionary principle. Just because something isnt proven to be bad, does not mean it cant do harm.
Keep in mind that our crop is traditionally consumed by burning and inhaling cannabis flowers and extracts.
In the production section:
Applications of potassium silicate pose a risk primarily from inhalation or ingestion of silica-rich compounds. Respiratory problems in the agricultural sector due to inhaled dust are a proven concern (Schenker 2000). Decades ago, it was shown that dust arising from storage and handling of wheat grains contained particles that were believed to cause respiratory ailments (Baker 1961). Burning of high-silica crops, such as rice and sugarcane, have been problematic for worker health in the past (Boeniger et al. 198. There is also significant indirect evidence linking ingested plant silica and human cancer (Sangster et al. 1983, Bhatt et al. 1984, Hodson et al. 1994), but there currently is no connection between plant silica and inorganic silica sources. Mitigation of health risks associated with respiration of silica-laden dust can be achieved though proper use of personal protective equipment including a NIOSH-approved dust respirator where dust occurs."
"No carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, or developmental toxicity data are available for potassium silicate.
OBVIOUSLY avoid inhaling the dust (dry formulas or crusty lids!) But what happens when we burn synth silica grown meds and inhale them?
From page 3/4, Production section:
Silicon impregnates along epidermal cell walls (Parry and Smithson 1964). These layers become effective barriers against water loss and fungal infection (Sangster 1970, Takeoka et al 1984). Silicon is also deposited in xylem vessel cell walls, preventing constriction of xylem under high transpiration stress (Raven 1983), and in endodermal root cells, where it acts as a barrier against infection of the stele by parasites and pathogens (Bennett 1982). Although there appears to be a relationship between silicate treatments, resistance to fungal attack, and expression of plant defense mechanisms (Cherif et al 1992), a concurrent study (Cherif et al 1992a) showed that accumulation and polymerization of silica at fungal infection sites has no role in providing a physical barrier against fungal attack. Further evidence points to the accumulation of silica in the trichomes of fruit as a possible barrier (Samuels et al 1993).
Si is deposited throughout the plant as it grows. Save for the roots, all of the above (epidermal cells, xylem walls, and of course Trichomes) bolded plant parts are smoked as parts of the flowers! I DO NOT use potassium silicate just in case this burned and inhaled deposited Si is harming our lungs!!! Ill trade higher health for dry weight any day!
#2 issue is environmental health (global and garden environment)
Potassium silicate is NOT a naturally occurring compound. It takes excessive temperatures and pressures ie A LOT of fossil fuel derived energy and carbon dioxide emissions to produce. It is also extremely alkaline and may disrupt nutrient cycling and microbes in our containers.
How Made:
Potassium silicates are manufactured using a calcination process that combines silica sand (SiO2) and potassium carbonate (K2CO3) at 1100-2300°F for up to 15 minutes (NOP Petition; Rawlyk and McDonald 2001). The two substances fuse into glass, which can be dissolved with high-pressure steam to form a clear, slightly viscous fluid, or cooled and ground into a powder. Carbon dioxide is evolved from this reaction. The solution can be dried to form hydrous powder crystals of potassium silicate. p.2 of link
It is an acid salt which highly soluble (generally a trait that puts a material in the prohibited grouping) and jolts the soil with a rapid release of nutrients, which in itself may have negative consequences to our microbes. Additionally the material is highly alkaline and known to damage aquatic life systems due to this. Carefully monitor your pH when using this stuff or you are guaranteed killing plant surface/soil microbial life!
Plenty of Substitutes: (to get Si as a nutrient)
Where Si amendments are needed, a number of agricultural products high in silica may be used to supplement soil reserves. These range from field trash, such as rice hulls and sugarcane bagasse, to shells from aquatic animals. Where agricultural solutions are not available or practical, the use of glauconite is a viable alternative. Glauconite is a composite mineral of hydrated iron-potassium silicates (7% K2O, 54% SiO2). The mineral is mined from naturally occurring sedimentary deposits known as greensand, and has an established history of use as a natural soil conditioner. The substance is commercially available and OMRI-listed.
#3 issue its just another bottle from the grow shop!
Isnt that what we are moving past with higher/real living organics? To me saying that a side by side comparison with a synthetic additive to an organic garden is enough, falls short. Ya, I bet your synth Si uptake souped organic plants will grow better than the non-treated organic plants in the test. Too bad that you threw the baby out with the bathwater for me (based on my personal purist definition and high bar for true organics) and your garden is now organic (organic based is a nice giant category your "organic" garden now falls into) as opposed to actually being 100% living organic. Grow how you want, but IMO you are misleading folks just like the rev if you start to pick and choose which synthetic bottles/products are legit in your organic garden. (Rev at least uses no synth bottles!)
To each his own tho, greenwashing is a major pet peeve of mine since college. What variable we are comparing also needs mention: most growers fixate on yield of dry weight, to me resin quality and purity are the main objectives. We all yield good, but not every experienced growers product tastes good and is free from tainting by the industrial world we create/live in.
Sorry for the long post. I tend to delve into my research and just wanted to share!
I've PMed a few mods in this regard...still haven't heard back - we'll see what happens. This definitely deserves to be sticky...
I would generally say, 1-2 tbs of botanicals per gallon of soil would be more than enough, but I can also see adding much more.
