What form of silica is best absorbed through foliar feeding?
- Thread starter jpeg666
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newbie9
Active Member
Quoted from Tomato Pie. "Potassium Silicate can be used in an organic grow. It is found naturally in soils containing bits of clay. If you are going to use the silica blast in your feeding regimen you must add it FIRST to plain RO water and ph to 6.5, then add your other base nutrients/teas and additives and ph again. Potassium Silicate is extremely base (like ph 11) so adding it to a compost tea with microbes might kill off some of your micro herd. Potassium silicate is very beneficial in plant health. It makes your plants cell walls more rigid/strong and also keeps pathogens and anaerobic bacteria in check. Your plants immune system gets a nice boost from this additive. I use it up to six weeks in flower then stop for the flush. Never had a problem with it and have seen much more positive than negative."
jpeg666
Well-Known Member
Did you foliar or water? Plants tend to drop after being foliar fed or if they are watered heavily until all the soil is saturated, don't worry let it sit for a few days and let the soil dry up, they should be back to normal the next day if they aren't the soil is probably still soaked they will be fine as long as you don't keep adding water.
I foliar feed mine every single day R/O water, Humboldt sticky, and superthrive. and after the leaves get nice and soaked sometimes they will fully curl in on themselves then once all the water is absorbed/evaporated they slowly return to normal.
Dreminen169
Well-Known Member
Question about AGSIL16H (silica), since it’s sooo alkaline & I plan on foliar feeding, do I need to pH adjust?
I’ve heard that foliar sprays require an acidic pH (pH 4.0 – 6.0) for proper absorption. However, I also feel like I’ve heard that the reason AGSIL16H (silica) is an effective IPM for PM is because of its high alkalinity…
My plan is to use silica as a foliar spray for some clones I just got as a preventative, so my question is do I do need to pH adjust? Or can I get by without pHing?
go go kid
Well-Known Member
you have to adjust ph b4 and after adding potassium sillicate
Dreminen169
Well-Known Member
I just want to use straight potassium silicate as a foliar for a preventative for some clones I just received. My concern is will pHing the foliar feed render the IPM useless because I’m taking the alkalinity out of the picture & I fell like I’ve heard that’s why silica is a good IPM. Or is silica a good IPM regardless of alkalinity?
Dreminen169
Well-Known Member
Interesting video. Didn’t know you have to pH twice (if starting above 7.0)
PJ Diaz
Well-Known Member
Silicates such as AgSil 16H aren't on the same level as mono-silicic acid: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6027496/
Dreminen169
Well-Known Member
What makes mono-silicic better than regular potassium silicate for an IPM application?
Dreminen169
Well-Known Member
Also, what makes silica in general ideal for IPM. Is it the alkalinity like I feel like I read somewhere a while back?
go go kid
Well-Known Member
Silicic Acid
As research expands, growers are realizing the benefits of adding silicic acid, a form of the element silicon, to their growing routines. Silicon is not considered an essential plant nutrient. Still, it provides many benefits to plants. Therefore, some people think of silicon as a biostimulant.
Silicon provides a number of benefits to plants. These include increased resistance to pests and pathogens, increased growth, and increased stress tolerance. The mechanisms behind these benefits vary. Some of these benefits are caused by improved plant responses to pests. Others are due to structural changes in plants. Yet other benefits are caused by changes in plant chemical signaling.
Before you apply silicon, it’s important to understand the forms that plants take up. After all, some forms of silicon are more available to plants than others. Therefore, applying silicic acid, silica, and silicate has different effects on plants. For best results, choose a product that contains monosilicic acid. One such product is Silution.
As research expands, growers are realizing the benefits of adding silicic acid, a form of the element silicon, to their growing routines. Silicon is not considered an essential plant nutrient. Still, it provides many benefits to plants. Therefore, some people think of silicon as a biostimulant.
Silicon provides a number of benefits to plants. These include increased resistance to pests and pathogens, increased growth, and increased stress tolerance. The mechanisms behind these benefits vary. Some of these benefits are caused by improved plant responses to pests. Others are due to structural changes in plants. Yet other benefits are caused by changes in plant chemical signaling.
Before you apply silicon, it’s important to understand the forms that plants take up. After all, some forms of silicon are more available to plants than others. Therefore, applying silicic acid, silica, and silicate has different effects on plants. For best results, choose a product that contains monosilicic acid. One such product is Silution.
PadawanWarrior
Well-Known Member
I've never heard that before that video. I wonder what the reasoning with pHing before is.
go go kid
Well-Known Member
part 2
EPA: Potassium silicate is listed in Title 40 (Protection of Environment), Part 180— tolerances and exemptions for pesticide chemical residues in food Subpart D— Exemptions From Tolerances, 180.1268:
Potassium silicate is exempt from the requirement of a tolerance in or on all food commodities so long as the potassium silicate is not applied at rates exceeding 1% by weight in aqueous solution and when used in accordance with good agricultural practices.
Potassium silicate was registered by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Pesticide Programs as a biopesticide, September 7, 2007 (PC Code 072606). The EPA noted the wide distribution of silicon in the earth’s crust and concluded exposure to silicates was commonplace in activities involving contact with soil and natural water. Potassium silicate was approved as an active ingredient to be used as a fungicide, insecticide and miticide. Potassium silicate is used as a broad spectrum, preventative fungicide with optimum control obtained when used under a scheduled preventative spray program.
Potassium silicate also provides suppression of mites, whiteflies, and other insects. It is approved for use on agricultural crops, fruits, nuts, vines, turf and ornamentals. The EPA accepted the data and information provided by PQ Corporation addressing the mammalian and non-target toxicology data requirements and concluded that they adequately satisfied data requirements to support the registration (Reilly et al., 2007). No additional data was needed to support registration. Potassium silicate is exempt from the requirement of a tolerance.
DA: Silica and silica gel (a hydrated amorphous form of silica) are considered GRAS by FDA (21 CFR 182.90 and 21 CFR 182.1711). FDA provides that silicon is ubiquitous in the environment and further states that there is no evidence in the available information on aluminum calcium silicate, calcium silicate, magnesium silicate, potassium silicate, sodium silicate, sodium aluminosilicate, sodium calcium aluminosilicate, tricalcium silicate, silica aerogel, and talc that demonstrates or suggests reasonable grounds to suspect a hazard to the public when they are used at levels that are now current or that might reasonably be expected in the future.
Potassium silicate is listed under title 21—food and drugs, Part 178—indirect food additives: adjuvants, production aids and sanitizers, Subpart D—certain adjuvants and production aids as § 178.3297 colorants for polymers (d) Color additives and their lakes listed for direct use in foods, under the provisions of the color additive regulations in parts 73, 74, 81, and 82 of this chapter, may also be used as colorants for food-contact polymers. (e) List of substances: Aluminum and potassium silicate (mica).
USDA: Potassium silicate is listed under title 7—Agriculture, part 205—National Organic Program, subpart G—administrative, § 205.601—Synthetic substances allowed for use in organic crop production. The rule permits the use of potassium silicate for plant disease control and as an insecticide or miticides with the restriction that the silica, used in the manufacture of potassium silicate, must be sourced from naturally occurring sand.
4. Chitonase: An enzyme for IPM use. (We get this by using Crustacean Meal in our Soil mix and sprouted seed teas especially from using Barley Seed Tea’s)
Read the excerpts below or check out the whole article from the links below.
Plants represent the major component of biota and have the capability to synthesize their food through the process of photosynthesis. Physiological and environmental changes affect their health and make them vulnerable to variety of diseases thus directly or indirectly affect other components of ecosystem. A large number of environmental issues are linked with the eradication of plant diseases with chemical compounds. Most of these diseases are caused by fungal and insect pathogens. Chitin is the main structural component of these organisms and thus the enzyme responsible to hydrolyze chitin content are receiving attention in regard to their development as biopesticides or chemical defense proteins in transgenic plants and in microbial biocontrol agents. Therefore, understanding the overview of chitinase will provide a basis for improving the pathogenic activity of potential biocontrol strains, for developing novel biological control strategies and for exploring their roles in the plant defense. The present review describes the properties of chitinase with respect to plant health improvement.
3. Potassium Silicate:
EPA: Potassium silicate is listed in Title 40 (Protection of Environment), Part 180— tolerances and exemptions for pesticide chemical residues in food Subpart D— Exemptions From Tolerances, 180.1268:
Potassium silicate is exempt from the requirement of a tolerance in or on all food commodities so long as the potassium silicate is not applied at rates exceeding 1% by weight in aqueous solution and when used in accordance with good agricultural practices.
Potassium silicate was registered by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Pesticide Programs as a biopesticide, September 7, 2007 (PC Code 072606). The EPA noted the wide distribution of silicon in the earth’s crust and concluded exposure to silicates was commonplace in activities involving contact with soil and natural water. Potassium silicate was approved as an active ingredient to be used as a fungicide, insecticide and miticide. Potassium silicate is used as a broad spectrum, preventative fungicide with optimum control obtained when used under a scheduled preventative spray program.
Potassium silicate also provides suppression of mites, whiteflies, and other insects. It is approved for use on agricultural crops, fruits, nuts, vines, turf and ornamentals. The EPA accepted the data and information provided by PQ Corporation addressing the mammalian and non-target toxicology data requirements and concluded that they adequately satisfied data requirements to support the registration (Reilly et al., 2007). No additional data was needed to support registration. Potassium silicate is exempt from the requirement of a tolerance.
DA: Silica and silica gel (a hydrated amorphous form of silica) are considered GRAS by FDA (21 CFR 182.90 and 21 CFR 182.1711). FDA provides that silicon is ubiquitous in the environment and further states that there is no evidence in the available information on aluminum calcium silicate, calcium silicate, magnesium silicate, potassium silicate, sodium silicate, sodium aluminosilicate, sodium calcium aluminosilicate, tricalcium silicate, silica aerogel, and talc that demonstrates or suggests reasonable grounds to suspect a hazard to the public when they are used at levels that are now current or that might reasonably be expected in the future.
Potassium silicate is listed under title 21—food and drugs, Part 178—indirect food additives: adjuvants, production aids and sanitizers, Subpart D—certain adjuvants and production aids as § 178.3297 colorants for polymers (d) Color additives and their lakes listed for direct use in foods, under the provisions of the color additive regulations in parts 73, 74, 81, and 82 of this chapter, may also be used as colorants for food-contact polymers. (e) List of substances: Aluminum and potassium silicate (mica).
USDA: Potassium silicate is listed under title 7—Agriculture, part 205—National Organic Program, subpart G—administrative, § 205.601—Synthetic substances allowed for use in organic crop production. The rule permits the use of potassium silicate for plant disease control and as an insecticide or miticides with the restriction that the silica, used in the manufacture of potassium silicate, must be sourced from naturally occurring sand.
4. Chitonase: An enzyme for IPM use. (We get this by using Crustacean Meal in our Soil mix and sprouted seed teas especially from using Barley Seed Tea’s)
Read the excerpts below or check out the whole article from the links below.
Plants represent the major component of biota and have the capability to synthesize their food through the process of photosynthesis. Physiological and environmental changes affect their health and make them vulnerable to variety of diseases thus directly or indirectly affect other components of ecosystem. A large number of environmental issues are linked with the eradication of plant diseases with chemical compounds. Most of these diseases are caused by fungal and insect pathogens. Chitin is the main structural component of these organisms and thus the enzyme responsible to hydrolyze chitin content are receiving attention in regard to their development as biopesticides or chemical defense proteins in transgenic plants and in microbial biocontrol agents. Therefore, understanding the overview of chitinase will provide a basis for improving the pathogenic activity of potential biocontrol strains, for developing novel biological control strategies and for exploring their roles in the plant defense. The present review describes the properties of chitinase with respect to plant health improvement.
PJ Diaz
Well-Known Member
They are about the same for IPM when used as a foliar, however you don't get any of the biostimulant benefits from Silicates that you do from Silicic acids.
40% MSA is a good choice.
In root feeds, potassium silicates are not readily available, and need to be broken down by bacteria.