Silica, worth it???

Daggy

Well-Known Member
I'm not a big fan before using it my organic nutrient mix would balance out to 6.45 and after adding it to the mix it would raise it up to 6.7 and I would have to use a shit ton of pH down to get it to the target pH 6.5
Try Advanced Nutrients PH Down. Its very concentrated, I
 

az2000

Well-Known Member
after adding it to the mix it would raise it up to 6.7 and I would have to use a shit ton of pH down to get it to the target pH 6.5
Could depend on the nutrients a person uses. I only need about 1ml/gal PH-Down to move my mix 0.2. The only time I had to use large quantities of ph up/down was when I used too much nutrients, ppms in the 1000-1100 range. Now I mix nutrients to about 500ppm and moving the ph is easy.
 

WhiteRooster

Active Member
3 bottle caps and it brings my 200 gal res from 6.7-6.2
With a 25-30 gallon reservoir a filled with fresh water it would take about 25 drops to bring it down to around 6.5 and with the silica in the nutrient mix it would take 10 times as much to go from 6.7 to 6.5
 

Daggy

Well-Known Member
With a 25-30 gallon reservoir a filled with fresh water it would take about 25 drops to bring it down to around 6.5 and with the silica in the nutrient mix it would take 10 times as much to go from 6.7 to 6.5
Yeah silica is known for raising ph. I dont use it.
 

Scroga

Well-Known Member
Last summer I managed to grow in a 40 degree Celsius tent..which ill attribute to the silica and the odd ice bottle... This is in dwc mind you
 

TonightYou

Well-Known Member
I've lost stains at lower temperatures in my tent (95) where as this summer prior to hanging my carbon filter near the light I hit over a 100 a too many times. Plants didn't perform as well but all shrugged off temperatures that previously killed my garden.

I don't think it's necessary, but my plants haven't been this hearthy or easily dealing with stress prior to use. Zero wilting as I've previously seen. There are some articles non cannabis related showing silica is beneficial, but to what degree, I'm not sure. I certainly don't think it causes any problems in soil mediums.

I wish I could quantify it's effects, but the anecdotes for me at least align with what I've read in peer reviewed journals
 

Spliffer1

Well-Known Member
The benefits of silica are real, reducing stress from heat/dry conditions. I used a lot when I grew outdoors. Southern summers were hard on them, heat and dry conditions. Then I moved north, brought everything indoors, and quit using it. Then, this last winter, the air got so dry my plants started showing signs of heat stress. I couldn't add enough moisture to the air fast enough, so I went back to using the silica- Dyna Grow Protekt, and it worked great! But, it WILL raise your ph.
Then I found this, and it's awesome-
https://www.kelp4less.com/shop/soluble-silica/
In soluble form, mix it by the gallon and use 5-7 ml per gal of nutrient mix, and it doesn't mess with the ph. Best deal around!
 

tyson53

Well-Known Member
silica is a great add to plants....it strengthens cell walls in leaves helping to prevent mold and insect damage....also helps strengthen plants structure...last year i used pro tek weekly in a watering....had some mold..this year I used watering and foliar weekly and had way less mold on the same strains as last year and the branches were like steel rods...
 

Spliffer1

Well-Known Member
No its not. Refer to my prior post.

Personally I would never do business with that company, but thats just me.

- Jiji
Hmmm. Interesting, indeed.
I had never known of it until now.
After a little research, yes, you are correct, in the comparison to the dyna gow, as well as at a very good price. I will be looking into that suppliers (PQ Corp) other organics- I'm always looking for the better deal, and the better product.
I have to note, that even though I've used Protekt for several years, indoors and out, soil and hydro, - with great success, you have to watch the ph of your solution. Or that's been my experience with it.
Potassium silicate's ph is very high, and the Agsil 16h you mentioned has a ph over 11. Whereas the silicone dioxide/potash is neutral.
May I ask why you would never do business with them (Kelp-4-Less)? Is there something I should know?
 

axl

Well-Known Member
I always use it before I do a lot of LST training. I typically grow monsters and then throw them under a big scroog net which requires a lot of stress for the ladies. So, adding silica makes them much more flexible and helps them recover. I like it a lot, and have used many different brands and it seemed they wall worked the same.
 

jijiandfarmgang

Well-Known Member
Hmmm. Interesting, indeed.
I had never known of it until now.
After a little research, yes, you are correct, in the comparison to the dyna gow, as well as at a very good price. I will be looking into that suppliers (PQ Corp) other organics- I'm always looking for the better deal, and the better product.
I have to note, that even though I've used Protekt for several years, indoors and out, soil and hydro, - with great success, you have to watch the ph of your solution. Or that's been my experience with it.
Potassium silicate's ph is very high, and the Agsil 16h you mentioned has a ph over 11. Whereas the silicone dioxide/potash is neutral.
May I ask why you would never do business with them (Kelp-4-Less)? Is there something I should know?
Me too, I'm frugal as shit.

Well, from the little bit I've seen videos and website, it seems their marketing tactics are questionable. Personal preference I guess. I read some competitor was saying their ingredients were suspect on something....I take that worth a grain of salt but just reading that description for Silica, my bullshit alarm was going off in my head.

It will definitely raise ph, and probably isn't worth messing with. Having said that, I bought some to experiment with lol.

- Jiji
 
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