silica during bloom phase

[phil_333]

Hi everyone, i was wondering if among you there's anyone that had experience with silica during the flowering phase. I think we all know the benefits of providing silica integrators during the veg phase, but I didn't find any solid opinion about providing silica during the bloom phase, some people say that it's bad, others say it's good, some fertilizer companies even sell specific silica based products for the first half of the flowering period.

Specifically, the 'benefits' in the bloom phase' i'm looking for are :
-Bigger yelds
-Increased resin production
-increased density of the buds (sometimes my flowers are a bit "inconsistent")

I usually prefer to grow in soil. Do you have any advice?

 

[sallyforthDeleted member 75382]

I’m of the opinion it’s not needed in flowers. I have used it and ended up with hard and tough flowers and the flavour was off. It’s great on the other hand as the way you’ve used it up to end of stretch and this will benefit the flowers in the long run.

 

[flylowgethigh]

I add agsil 16 in veg and stretch for stronger stems by top watering (soil). No idea if it works.

 

[Mithridate]

I stop adding silica supplements once stretch is done. I don't have any science to back how/why I do it..

But I find that when I added it all the way through flower, it gave my buds some kind of outdoor look hah

 

[troutman]

I add a tiny amount in the vegetative phase.

 

[Rodehazrd]

Hey folks I use it in my original tea when first mixing media and setting it aside to work then again at the stretch. I think having enough silica ready in the plant keeps away some PM

 

[nono_fr]

Hello,

I use Aptus Regulator which use silice to make beautiful plant . And it makes the job

This is not an an advertisement but the begin of information :

edit :I use it during bloom time :

++

 

[mexweed]

my current regimen gives armor si 1/2 tsp/gal every other stopping at week 2 flower

 

[Vandenberg]

The Monosilic acid version of silica products are readily available to plants within hours instead of weeks as the chart above points out, even sooner when applied to the leaves by foliar spray during the vegetative stage.
I use a product called " Bloom Yellow Bottle Silica" which claims to be 53.2% silica with an advertised 31.2% Potassium Silicate and an impressive 21% Monosillic Acid content. This is an Australian manufactured product that is available in the U.S. and is probably available by mail order internationally, I would guess.
I use at a 1/2 ml. per gallon on up through the second-ish week of flowering to help ensure strong branches and vector resistance.

Vandenberg

 

[pjlive]

I use silica straight through to the finish, albeit in moderately reduced doses deep into flower. I made this decision long ago. I used to amend with silica providing elements but then switched to a soluble alternative. My thinking at the time was that if the plant's trichomes are packing with silica right up to the ripening phase when they've become filled with as much as they're going to be filled with, why should I discontinue it? When ripening begins with some amber discoloration seen at the calyx globules I'm, what, two or three weeks from harvest anyway? It was always in the media as an amendment through to harvest before the switch to a soluble alternative, so why not have it available to the plant via fertigation right up to harvest? Sure, silica helps with overall strength and robustness, but it also is used by the plant to fend off quite a few environmental threats including certain bugs, molds, and mildews (important for end of life periods in the more humid environments).

I might be wrong, but I'm not going to change the way I use silica as of right now. I want silica in and available to the plant at all times right through to harvest. Plus, I'm keeping it simple. It's low cost, easy to apply to media or as foliar spray, and does not diminish from the end product as long as my dry and cure processes are on par.

 

[DunHav`nFun]

I was taught many many yrs ago , let me rephrase that , had it beat into my head that potassium silicate was essential to stemwall strength as well as overall plant health start to finish with Botanicare Silicablast @ 5 ml per gal back when I ran SWC recirculating , then ......

When I switched to ebb and flow buckets I kept my same feed regimen with dialed success , and the only other setup I`ve ever run since was / is Coco DTW and STILL I wouldn`t dare keep from usin my Silicablast.....the reason ?.......

I was told to and I did what I was told , and guess what.....the shit works and it`ll always be in my stable till I croak.....

Peace.....DHF.......

 

[f-e]

I have not seen any gain from it myself. Perhaps because my beach grown coco already holds some. (It seems to contain everything else off the beach, though I'm still waiting for condoms)

Perhaps if I were using RO in pure hydro then I might have some control over it.

To be honest, I did run in blind and just buy some. I even used a bit as pH up, on them rare days I overshot with the down. I did use it where there is always a bit of rot, and saw it made no difference. Which is the ultimate test imo. An established amount of rot expected, with calendar accuracy, unaffected.

 

[AllStuff420]

One of the numerous advantages I see is that it will help them repel insects and diseases, stay strong against strong winds, and even protect them from heavy metals.

 

[flylowgethigh]

Anybody use or have thoughts on Agsil 16H. Potassium Silicate.

 

[Douglas.Curtis]

Great for building the transpiration network, easily noticeable when used in excess during flower. Don't believe me, try a plant without it during flower yourself and have someone sensitive test it.

Edit: Has a very negative effect on frangibility, with excess causing the need for scissors to break up the dry flowers. My flowers break up in frosty piles with little pressure.

 

[trichrider]

Anybody use or have thoughts on Agsil 16H. Potassium Silicate.

see post #11
AGSIL16H
Compare to Pro-Tekt, Rhino Skin, Silica Blast and all other Silica Bottled products. There is no secret ingredient, all are made from potassium silicate.

 

[Desert Dan]

I use a 1/4 tsp per gallon with every feed, mainly to buffer the pH with RO water… Otherwise I would be using an outrageous amount of pH up.

I do this in veg and flower all the way to flush without any negative results. Cheaper than pH up with added benefits I guess.

-DD

 

[Cerathule]

~~20ppm monosilicic acid organically derived, its positive effect on nutrient translocation should be beneficial in flower as well

 

[flylowgethigh]

With all the perlite I use in the system, there should be plenty of 'silica'.

 

[Vaporizando192]

Hey folks I use it in my original tea when first mixing media and setting it aside to work then again at the stretch. I think having enough silica ready in the plant keeps away some PM

May you share ur Original Tea Recipe when you mix media ?