Using potassium silicate in your reservoir

HotWaterKarl

Well-Known Member
Curious about using PS in your reservoir. I run ebb and flow and start with clones. Should I add the potassium silicate right in the beginning when I first put the clones on the table? And then keep adding it until week 6 of flower? This bottle I have of DNF nutes doesn't really give me any feed schedule for the stuff other than add 1/4tsp per litre.

Also I heard it is best to mix it in a bit of warm water then add it to the reservoir first before adding your nutes. Also that it will raise PH. I also heard plants absorb it at PH 7 so I don't understand how it would be effective with my reservoir in the 5.6-6.2 range.

- if there is a better place for this thread let me know.
 
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ruwtz

Well-Known Member
Add K-sil first then pH down to fix res before adding anything else or you will hit a precip - most likely with phosphorus or calcium.

Don't bother after the stretch as the plant is mostly done growing stems and this is what the silica is best utilized for.

Cant speak for the brand you've bought but I run it as a dry salt and make my own stock solutions rather than adding directly to the res.
 

HotWaterKarl

Well-Known Member
Add K-sil first then pH down to fix res before adding anything else or you will hit a precip - most likely with phosphorus or calcium.

Don't bother after the stretch as the plant is mostly done growing stems and this is what the silica is best utilized for.

Cant speak for the brand you've bought but I run it as a dry salt and make my own stock solutions rather than adding directly to the res.
From my research it also can increase THC%, makes denser buds (adds weight since it acts like mortar between cells), and thicker stalks as well obviously, but not just thicker stalks? Also I heard it can buffer unwanted or excess metals at the roots, like aluminum, copper, manganese, iron and sodium, as well as preventing too much P uptake which can help with nutrient deficiencies. I am basing the feed schedule from Advanced Nutrients Rhino Skin which says to stop at week 6., it is the same stuff as what I have just a lot more watered down... but I take it from your response, you don't use it past week 2-3 in flowering. That is interesting too, have you ever tried using it until you leech?

With my de-ionized RO water my PH comes out now below 5. So I am thinking I will no longer have to use PH up anymore with the Silica, which is fine by me as I never liked using it, I always thought it was precipitating nutes out of solution anyways. So I may not have to PH down before adding nutes, adding nutes will PH down it anyways?

@Farmer.J - I have heard it can if used right up until the end. But I have also heard that there is no noticeable difference in the smoke or burn when used properly, so I guess I won't truly know until I try it.
 
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ruwtz

Well-Known Member
From my research it also can increase THC%, makes denser buds (adds weight since it acts like mortar between cells), and thicker stalks as well obviously, but not just thicker stalks? Also I heard it can buffer unwanted or excess metals at the roots, like aluminum, copper, manganese, iron and sodium, as well as preventing too much P uptake which can help with nutrient deficiencies. I am basing the feed schedule from Advanced Nutrients Rhino Skin which says to stop at week 6., it is the same stuff as what I have just a lot more watered down... but I take it from your response, you don't use it past week 2-3 in flowering. That is interesting too, have you ever tried using it until you leech?

With my de-ionized RO water my PH comes out now below 5. So I am thinking I will no longer have to use PH up anymore with the Silica, which is fine by me as I never liked using it, I always thought it was precipitating nutes out of solution anyways. So I may not have to PH down before adding nutes, adding nutes will PH down it anyways?

@Farmer.J - I have heard it can if used right up until the end. But I have also heard that there is no noticeable difference in the smoke or burn when used properly, so I guess I won't truly know until I try it.
Interesting stuff! Go for it and let us know if you see these claims for real!

IMO, there's better gains for bud quality from the extra K than the silica... most people underrate K for heavy feeders in bloom.

I use to around week 4. Its a little more expensive on the lb and that paired with the fuss of fixing pH is the only reason I cut it back really. No harm no foul going all the way AFAIK.

Definitely good as pH up, in fact many of the bottles of pH up are just k-sil.

And no, you definitely have to pH down when adding adequate quantities. I add 100-150ppm and pH can easily hit pH9... adding calcium nitrate to this is a precip disaster 100%. Many salts will acidify but not by 3 whole points.
 

HotWaterKarl

Well-Known Member
Interesting stuff! Go for it and let us know if you see these claims for real!

IMO, there's better gains for bud quality from the extra K than the silica... most people underrate K for heavy feeders in bloom.

I use to around week 4. Its a little more expensive on the lb and that paired with the fuss of fixing pH is the only reason I cut it back really. No harm no foul going all the way AFAIK.

Definitely good as pH up, in fact many of the bottles of pH up are just k-sil.

And no, you definitely have to pH down when adding adequate quantities. I add 100-150ppm and pH can easily hit pH9... adding calcium nitrate to this is a precip disaster 100%. Many salts will acidify but not by 3 whole points.
What is your input water PH before adding the Silica? Mine is probably around 4.5 and 0 PPM. That's the only reason I wonder if I will need to PH down it, but thanks a million for the heads up. I'd say if the Silica brings it up to around ~7PH I probably don't need to PH down, the nutes will do that for me? I'll just have to try it and find out what it comes out to before nutes I guess... Cheers!
 

HotWaterKarl

Well-Known Member
Never mind I tried it and it raised my PH from like 4.5-8.3.. So what do I PH down it to considering that the nutes will drop it further still? 6.5-7?
 

ruwtz

Well-Known Member
Never mind I tried it and it raised my PH from like 4.5-8.3.. So what do I PH down it to considering that the nutes will drop it further still? 6.5-7?
Yeah, 6.5 is pretty good (i'm in coco though). IME the rest of nutes only bump it down by a few .1's but i'd rather not dip under my target of 5.8pH then have to bring back up. If I hit 5.8-6.1 I don't fuss.

If you got brains it won't take long to figure out the exact amount of pH down to add every single time for reliably identical results.

AFAIK pH is not cumulative as you were thinking, ie. starting pH of 4.5 is less prone to reaching 8 or 9 with the addition of k-sil than, say, starting with pH6.. Whatever your starting pH and regardless of how much k-sil you add it won't go beyond 9ish. Its not a strong base!

FYI for my stock solution I add something like 150g to a quart, then use at 4ml/gal in the res. Even the stock isn't beyond pH9 (don't quote me on those amounts, ask if you're interested).

Stocks are the way to go if using dry salts: no issues with solubility, clumping, precips etc, and always there ready to go with zero calculating to reach accurate ppm's.
 

HotWaterKarl

Well-Known Member
Dudes, this is really weird. I have my DI 0 PPM water which I added the PS to. Now when I measure with my Blue Lab pen the PH says 6.0 but the drops (I always cross check with drops) says the PH is around 8. I just calibrated the pen with the same results. EC is 0.1 after adding the PS. Why the difference between the pen and the drops, a full 2.0 points???? Bizarre, but I trust the drops more than the pen. Sometimes the blue labs have trouble when the water is pure, but you would think adding the PS would help add a bit of EC and make it ok to measure with...getting the PH correct here before adding nutes is going to be a bit of a shitshow.
 

Carolina Dream'n

Well-Known Member
Interesting stuff! Go for it and let us know if you see these claims for real!

IMO, there's better gains for bud quality from the extra K than the silica... most people underrate K for heavy feeders in bloom.

I use to around week 4. Its a little more expensive on the lb and that paired with the fuss of fixing pH is the only reason I cut it back really. No harm no foul going all the way AFAIK.

Definitely good as pH up, in fact many of the bottles of pH up are just k-sil.

And no, you definitely have to pH down when adding adequate quantities. I add 100-150ppm and pH can easily hit pH9... adding calcium nitrate to this is a precip disaster 100%. Many salts will acidify but not by 3 whole points.
Potassium silicate isn't meant to be used as PH up. You can not add it to low PH water nor water with nutrients already in it.

Show me one company that has a bottle labeled as PH up and the guaranteed analysis saying potassium silicate.
 

HotWaterKarl

Well-Known Member
Potassium silicate isn't meant to be used as PH up. You can not add it to low PH water nor water with nutrients already in it.

Show me one company that has a bottle labeled as PH up and the guaranteed analysis saying potassium silicate.
So you are saying you can't add it to low PH water, well my DI water comes out at 0 PPM and PH of like 4.5 So am I supposed to add PH up before adding the PS? I wish nutrient makers would add a bit of info on the bottle.
 

xtsho

Well-Known Member
That's what you normally do yep...with potassium silicate you add it first then PH down to 6.5 then add your nutes and PH adjust, it would seem.
You are correct. I just read this:

"Important note:
CAUTION: Using High amounts of Agsil 16H Potassium Silicate Soluble Silica Powder will cause pH to rise severally.


Some fertilizers CANNOT handle this high pH and will fall out or become useless!!! To avoid this from happening add Agsil 16h Powder Potassium silicate 1st to your reservoir and then pH adjust down with our Phosphoric Acid until a more desirable pH level is reached like 6.0pH.

Now add your fertilizers or plant foods like you normally would, and adjust pH one more time prior to feeding your plants."


http://www.mbferts.com/Agsil-16H-Potassium-Silicate-Soluble-Silica-Powder-545.htm
 

ruwtz

Well-Known Member
You are correct. I just read this:

"Important note:
CAUTION: Using High amounts of Agsil 16H Potassium Silicate Soluble Silica Powder will cause pH to rise severally.


Some fertilizers CANNOT handle this high pH and will fall out or become useless!!! To avoid this from happening add Agsil 16h Powder Potassium silicate 1st to your reservoir and then pH adjust down with our Phosphoric Acid until a more desirable pH level is reached like 6.0pH.

Now add your fertilizers or plant foods like you normally would, and adjust pH one more time prior to feeding your plants."


http://www.mbferts.com/Agsil-16H-Potassium-Silicate-Soluble-Silica-Powder-545.htm
Like I said... :roll:
 

HotWaterKarl

Well-Known Member
https://www.rollitup.org/t/the-benefits-of-potassium-silicate.355548/
Why You Should Use Potassium Silicate.
Many benefits can be gained by using a good Potassium Silicate product in your feeding program. Increased tolerance of environmental stress, heat, cold, drought, water and soil toxicity or deficiency, improved growth rate both in the root zone and in the plant it foliage. By using Potassium Silicate with clones can increase the rate of roots kicked by as much as 80%.

Potassium Silicate is a natural fungicide, it helps build the plants defense from attacks by insects, fungi. Potassium Silicate helps the plant growth by depositing it self epidermal cell walls, enhancing the plant's ability to keep the leaves pointed towards the light source. It also increases the stem strength, making it easier to hold up more weight. As the plant builds it self up with Potassium Silicate, it helps with balancing nutrient uptake and distribution, and increased concentration of chlorophyll and RUBP carboxylase in leaves. (AKA the Calvin cycle)

How Potassium Silicate Increases Resistance to Pathogens
Potassium Silicate is impregnated in the epidermal cell layer acting as a barrier against penetration of fungal attacks from powdery mildew, black spots, pythium and phytophthora and many more fugal problems. Silicate also increase the mechanical strength of the plant to help it in extreme heat and cold swings, salt build up in soils or increased TDS in water, and controls the rate of transpiration of plants.

Potassium Silicate plays an active role in combating fungal growth by the production of polyphenolic compounds, this is a main part of the plants natural defense against fugal and insect attacks.

The plants leaf system will rapidly bound potassium Silicate in the tissue and cell walls with in 24 hours of uptake. Therefore a continuous source of Silicate is very important. When silicate uptake by the plant it will start with the older growth and work is way into the newer growth to help build up the mechanical strength of the plant.

When adding Silicate to a foliage spray program, it will help lower the rate of disease attack and helps protect the plants new leafs from spider mites, aphids, and many other sucking type insects.

How Potassium Silicate Increases the Metabolic Rate of Plants
It has been shown that silicate improves resistance to wilt, resistance to water stress, can help fight heat stress up too 105 deg F. If your plant has excessive transpiration, the plant will cease it metabolic function and stunted or no growth will occur.

Use if silicates in cloning or new seedlings helps speed up the rate of growth by as much as 90% (University of Florida and Minnesota). Also the study showed that 18% top 80% increase of dry weight of fruit and herbs.

It also increases reproductive rate in plants (Bud Growth). Increases tolerance of Zinc deficiencies, excessive phosphorus, manganese, sodium and aluminum toxicity.


My favorite is Dyna-Gro's Pro-Tek it is the most refined and concentrated there is on the market. 5 ML per gallon to start and 1ML per gallon add back with top off water.

EPA- Potassium silicate is the potassium salt of silicic acid, and, in formulation, is readily absorbed by the plant. Silicon comprises 32% of the Earth’s crust, and silicic acid salts (silicates) are the most common form of silicon. Consequently exposure to silicates is widespread in activities involving contact with soil and natural water. The other part of the chemical, potassium is a required element for survival of both plants and animals, as is silicon.

Potassium silicate is an active ingredient to be used as a fungicide, insecticide and miticide. Potassium silicate will be 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.
Most common used in hydro is Potassium Silicate.

REFERENCES
1. Marschner, H., Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants, Academic Press, 1995, pp. 417-426,440-442.
2. Datnoff, L.E., et al., “Influence of Silicon Fertilizer Grades on Blast and Brown Spot
Development and on Rice Yields,” Plant Disease, October 1992, pp. 1011-1013.
3. Miyake, Y. and E. Takahashi, “Effect of Silicon on the Growth of Cucumber Plant in Soil
Culture,” Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 29 (4), 1983, pp. 463-471.
4. Miyake, Y. and E. Takahashi, “Effect of Silicon on the Growth and Fruit Production of
Strawberry Plants in a Solution Culture,” Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 32 (2), 1986, pp. 321-326.
5. Miyake, Y. and E. Takahashi, “Silicon Deficiency of Tomato Plant,” Soil Sci. Plant Nutr.,
24, 1978, pp. 175-189.
6. Schmidt, R.E., et al., “Response of Photosynthesis and Superoxide Dismutase to Silica
Applied to Creeping Bentgrass Grown Under Two Fertility Levels,” J. Plant Nutrition, 22
(11), 1999, pp. 1763-1773.
7. Posters presented at Silicon in Agriculture Conference, Sept. 26-30, 1999, Ft.
Lauderdale, FL. “Effects of Silicon on the Seedling Growth of Creeping Bentgrass and
Zoysiagrass,” by Z. Linjuan et al., China Agricultural University; “Influence of Silicon and
Host Plant Resistance on Gray Leaf Spot Development in St. Augustinegrass,” by L.E.
Datnoff and R.T. Nagata, University of Florida.
8. Chen, J., et al., “Let’s Put the Si Back into Soil,” University of Florida, Mid-Florida
Research and Education Center, Apopka, FL.
For more information on PQ Corporation and our complete
 

Joryalan

Member
Yeah, 6.5 is pretty good (i'm in coco though). IME the rest of nutes only bump it down by a few .1's but i'd rather not dip under my target of 5.8pH then have to bring back up. If I hit 5.8-6.1 I don't fuss.

If you got brains it won't take long to figure out the exact amount of pH down to add every single time for reliably identical results.

AFAIK pH is not cumulative as you were thinking, ie. starting pH of 4.5 is less prone to reaching 8 or 9 with the addition of k-sil than, say, starting with pH6.. Whatever your starting pH and regardless of how much k-sil you add it won't go beyond 9ish. Its not a strong base!

FYI for my stock solution I add something like 150g to a quart, then use at 4ml/gal in the res. Even the stock isn't beyond pH9 (don't quote me on those amounts, ask if you're interested).

Stocks are the way to go if using dry salts: no issues with solubility, clumping, precips etc, and always there ready to go with zero calculating to reach accurate ppm's.
Is the K-Sil fully flowable for all hydro needs like micron filters, emitters or dosatron setups?
 
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