Potassium bicarbonate

Blackbeard

Well-Known Member
Try a local Homebrew store they will have it in the wine section.
Didn't realize when op posted this but if anyone's in a pinch, this is where they can find it locally.
 

xtsho

Well-Known Member
The potassium bicarbonate? Yes as well as beer making places.
Does anyone know a cheap source of potassium silicate rather than buying something like power si?
It doesn't take much and I am still using the 1 pound container of Agsil 16H I bought years ago. I have close to half of it left. Like everything prices have gone up but it's $25 a pound for water soluble powder with free shipping on Amazon. It's a different brand than Agsil 16H but same stuff just different bag.



Also is it better to apply silicate foliar or to the pots rather than mess with the resevoir?
Some people use it at the root zone. That provides some systemic resistance. I don't use silica products other than as a foliar spray myself. I'm not a believer in adding silica to my feeding regimen.



  • (a)
    In an experiment on pot-grown plants, the efficacy of root-applied 1.7 mM potassium meta-silicate (pH = 6) was compared with one foliar potassium meta-silicate spray at different concentrations of 10, 20 or 30 mM (pH = 5.5) on powdery mildew and on the production of pathogenesis-related proteins (PRs), in two cucumber cultivars with different resistance to powdery mildew. The conclusion was that foliar-applied Si can effectively control powdery mildew infections, because an effective physical barrier of Si is deposited on the leaf surfaces, and/or the osmotic effect of the applied silicates. The foliar spray did not enhance the systemic acquired resistance, while continuously root-applied Si did enhance the defense reaction through increased levels of PRs such as peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase and chitinase [31].
  • (b)
    One or two foliar KSi sprays (28 and 56 mM KSi) were applied to cucumbers plants grown on rock wool. All KSi sprays reduced the powdery mildew infection rates by up to 87% with very little difference between the two KSi concentrations [32].

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6027496/
 

Nugbender

Active Member
It doesn't take much and I am still using the 1 pound container of Agsil 16H I bought years ago. I have close to half of it left. Like everything prices have gone up but it's $25 a pound for water soluble powder with free shipping on Amazon. It's a different brand than Agsil 16H but same stuff just different bag.





Some people use it at the root zone. That provides some systemic resistance. I don't use silica products other than as a foliar spray myself. I'm not a believer in adding silica to my feeding regimen.



  • (a)
    In an experiment on pot-grown plants, the efficacy of root-applied 1.7 mM potassium meta-silicate (pH = 6) was compared with one foliar potassium meta-silicate spray at different concentrations of 10, 20 or 30 mM (pH = 5.5) on powdery mildew and on the production of pathogenesis-related proteins (PRs), in two cucumber cultivars with different resistance to powdery mildew. The conclusion was that foliar-applied Si can effectively control powdery mildew infections, because an effective physical barrier of Si is deposited on the leaf surfaces, and/or the osmotic effect of the applied silicates. The foliar spray did not enhance the systemic acquired resistance, while continuously root-applied Si did enhance the defense reaction through increased levels of PRs such as peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase and chitinase [31].
  • (b)
    One or two foliar KSi sprays (28 and 56 mM KSi) were applied to cucumbers plants grown on rock wool. All KSi sprays reduced the powdery mildew infection rates by up to 87% with very little difference between the two KSi concentrations [32].

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6027496/
Yeah it doesnt take much, I have a biogenic silica called recycle sil from rice hulls that ive been using. Also have an old bottle of pro tek and green cure.

Just made a batch of JWA (Jadam Wetting Agent) and green cure and going to alternate to silicate here in the next few days. Found a couple spots over night, my fan was running lower than usually and the humidity dropped which most likely caused it. Good thing is that these babies are in veg, bad thing is that I just cleaned my tent and will need to do another deep clean after this run and keep fans at a higher level while maintaining right humidity
 

MidnightSun72

Well-Known Member
It doesn't take much and I am still using the 1 pound container of Agsil 16H I bought years ago. I have close to half of it left. Like everything prices have gone up but it's $25 a pound for water soluble powder with free shipping on Amazon. It's a different brand than Agsil 16H but same stuff just different bag.





Some people use it at the root zone. That provides some systemic resistance. I don't use silica products other than as a foliar spray myself. I'm not a believer in adding silica to my feeding regimen.



  • (a)
    In an experiment on pot-grown plants, the efficacy of root-applied 1.7 mM potassium meta-silicate (pH = 6) was compared with one foliar potassium meta-silicate spray at different concentrations of 10, 20 or 30 mM (pH = 5.5) on powdery mildew and on the production of pathogenesis-related proteins (PRs), in two cucumber cultivars with different resistance to powdery mildew. The conclusion was that foliar-applied Si can effectively control powdery mildew infections, because an effective physical barrier of Si is deposited on the leaf surfaces, and/or the osmotic effect of the applied silicates. The foliar spray did not enhance the systemic acquired resistance, while continuously root-applied Si did enhance the defense reaction through increased levels of PRs such as peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase and chitinase [31].
  • (b)
    One or two foliar KSi sprays (28 and 56 mM KSi) were applied to cucumbers plants grown on rock wool. All KSi sprays reduced the powdery mildew infection rates by up to 87% with very little difference between the two KSi concentrations [32].

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6027496/
I am more interested in the Si for strengthening the stems and making the plant tougher as Bugby puts it. Some strains I got feel like could do with thicker better branches.
 

Nugbender

Active Member
I am more interested in the Si for strengthening the stems and making the plant tougher as Bugby puts it. Some strains I got feel like could do with thicker better branches.
Oh yeah great for strengthening stems, you could lower the dose and add it for most feeds and like ever other watering or a couple times a week. If you know your going to HST or planning for a heavy harvest
 

MidnightSun72

Well-Known Member
It doesn't take much and I am still using the 1 pound container of Agsil 16H I bought years ago. I have close to half of it left. Like everything prices have gone up but it's $25 a pound for water soluble powder with free shipping on Amazon. It's a different brand than Agsil 16H but same stuff just different bag.





Some people use it at the root zone. That provides some systemic resistance. I don't use silica products other than as a foliar spray myself. I'm not a believer in adding silica to my feeding regimen.



  • (a)
    In an experiment on pot-grown plants, the efficacy of root-applied 1.7 mM potassium meta-silicate (pH = 6) was compared with one foliar potassium meta-silicate spray at different concentrations of 10, 20 or 30 mM (pH = 5.5) on powdery mildew and on the production of pathogenesis-related proteins (PRs), in two cucumber cultivars with different resistance to powdery mildew. The conclusion was that foliar-applied Si can effectively control powdery mildew infections, because an effective physical barrier of Si is deposited on the leaf surfaces, and/or the osmotic effect of the applied silicates. The foliar spray did not enhance the systemic acquired resistance, while continuously root-applied Si did enhance the defense reaction through increased levels of PRs such as peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase and chitinase [31].
  • (b)
    One or two foliar KSi sprays (28 and 56 mM KSi) were applied to cucumbers plants grown on rock wool. All KSi sprays reduced the powdery mildew infection rates by up to 87% with very little difference between the two KSi concentrations [32].

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6027496/
How much do you typically water?

min a week my room usually uses between 216 gallons and 300gallons a week when packed. It ends up costing a shit ton in nutes and additives lol. So I try to run the least complicated nute regime cuz I hate measuring and mixing and checking PH. I use floraflex cuz the A and B mix and in minutes ans PEKacid as Ph down and to keep my lines clear of calcium build up. And the resevoir stays super stable. That's why I don't want to add the Si to reservoirs. Think I would just hand water it in. I feel like I would go through the stuff like crazy.
 

MidnightSun72

Well-Known Member
It doesn't take much and I am still using the 1 pound container of Agsil 16H I bought years ago. I have close to half of it left. Like everything prices have gone up but it's $25 a pound for water soluble powder with free shipping on Amazon. It's a different brand than Agsil 16H but same stuff just different bag.





Some people use it at the root zone. That provides some systemic resistance. I don't use silica products other than as a foliar spray myself. I'm not a believer in adding silica to my feeding regimen.



  • (a)
    In an experiment on pot-grown plants, the efficacy of root-applied 1.7 mM potassium meta-silicate (pH = 6) was compared with one foliar potassium meta-silicate spray at different concentrations of 10, 20 or 30 mM (pH = 5.5) on powdery mildew and on the production of pathogenesis-related proteins (PRs), in two cucumber cultivars with different resistance to powdery mildew. The conclusion was that foliar-applied Si can effectively control powdery mildew infections, because an effective physical barrier of Si is deposited on the leaf surfaces, and/or the osmotic effect of the applied silicates. The foliar spray did not enhance the systemic acquired resistance, while continuously root-applied Si did enhance the defense reaction through increased levels of PRs such as peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase and chitinase [31].
  • (b)
    One or two foliar KSi sprays (28 and 56 mM KSi) were applied to cucumbers plants grown on rock wool. All KSi sprays reduced the powdery mildew infection rates by up to 87% with very little difference between the two KSi concentrations [32].

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6027496/
How much agsil do you use per litre or gallon?
 

xtsho

Well-Known Member
How much do you typically water?

min a week my room usually uses between 216 gallons and 300gallons a week when packed. It ends up costing a shit ton in nutes and additives lol. So I try to run the least complicated nute regime cuz I hate measuring and mixing and checking PH. I use floraflex cuz the A and B mix and in minutes ans PEKacid as Ph down and to keep my lines clear of calcium build up. And the resevoir stays super stable. That's why I don't want to add the Si to reservoirs. Think I would just hand water it in. I feel like I would go through the stuff like crazy.
I'm nowhere near the scale that you are. I wouldn't add it to the reservoir either. If you have things running smooth it's not worth messing around.

I only use it as a foliar. I've used it the root zone before and any benefits were not significant enough for me to bother with it and it did have me fiddling with the reservoir and a few soil grown plants had issues I had never had before or since. I know many people swear by it. I'm not one of them. It is very effective as a foliar against PM and that's all I use it for.

I also use PeKacid for pH down. It's easy to use and I like that it comes in a powder. I don't have anything that comes in a bottle as a liquid. I'm surprised more people aren't using PeKacid as pH down.
 

MidnightSun72

Well-Known Member
I'm nowhere near the scale that you are. I wouldn't add it to the reservoir either. If you have things running smooth it's not worth messing around.

I only use it as a foliar. I've used it the root zone before and any benefits were not significant enough for me to bother with it and it did have me fiddling with the reservoir and a few soil grown plants had issues I had never had before or since. I know many people swear by it. I'm not one of them. It is very effective as a foliar against PM and that's all I use it for.

I also use PeKacid for pH down. It's easy to use and I like that it comes in a powder. I don't have anything that comes in a bottle as a liquid. I'm surprised more people aren't using PeKacid as pH down.
Pretty sure I got pekacid based on your advice. I bought a $100 bag and it will last me like 3- 5 years at this rate. It's awesome shit.
 
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