lets talk silica

I dont get it what happens to potassium silicate if i put it in a allready made nutrient solution?
And does that mean i can only put it at the start of a grow and if i want to put more i have to do a whole res change?

It says it will react with calcium and magnesium.but all tap water has magnesium and calcium.

Billy the Mountain said:

It's an often repeated misconception, mostly from the purveyors of exorbitantly priced alternatives to Potassium Silicate.

I would encourage you to read the article about silicates. The author is the guy behind hydrobuddy and a chemist by training.

https://scienceinhydroponics.com/2023/02/common-questions-about-silicon-in-nutrient-solutions.html

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Well, at least I'm using one on his best priced list.

amneziaHaze said:

I dont get it what happens to potassium silicate if i put it in a allready made nutrient solution?
And does that mean i can only put it at the start of a grow and if i want to put more i have to do a whole res change?

It says it will react with calcium and magnesium.but all tap water has magnesium and calcium.

Click to expand...

It depends. If it is a concentrated solution if will crash out and it is expensive sand.
If it is already diluted then you can add it to the nutrient solution. I don't know how long it will stay dissolved but it should be stable for a few days before all silicate precipitated.

It is important to first dilute it and then lower the pH.

If cannabis roots do not uptake Si, like most broadleafed plants, it doesnt matter what form you give it.

Roguedawg said:

If cannabis roots do not uptake Si, like most broadleafed plants, it doesnt matter what form you give it.

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If

Billy the Mountain said:

It's an often repeated misconception, mostly from the purveyors of exorbitantly priced alternatives to Potassium Silicate.

I would encourage you to read the article about silicates. The author is the guy behind hydrobuddy and a chemist by training.

https://scienceinhydroponics.com/2023/02/common-questions-about-silicon-in-nutrient-solutions.html

Click to expand...

I'm re listening as we speak.
Episode 98

Exactly if..If you dont know if the plants roots are excluding or more importantly you cant tell any difference when you use it or not, why bother unless you need to increase pH of your nutrient solution. Do a few cycles without it and see if you see any difference in anything.

Roguedawg said:

Exactly if..If you dont know if the plants roots are excluding or more importantly you cant tell any difference when you use it or not, why bother unless you need to increase pH of your nutrient solution. Do a few cycles without it and see if you see any difference in anything.

Click to expand...

Instead of spewing opinions on forums you could do a literature search. With it becoming legal there's now actual research and silica is dose dependently absorbed into tissue.

I would guess plant takes it since when you give it too much it starts showing too much silica simptoms