Silica Supplements in Dripping Systems

[Grapefruitroop]

What up y all?
I got another question for you Automated Coco Heads...
Is it ok to add silica supplements, in particular im using Aptus salicylic acid, to the res?
Or could create problems like clog the drippers....precipitations....weird ph swings....
Im not using any Potassium Silicate cause it always messes up my potassium feeeding shedule....

I was usin it it soil....of course like the rule of thumb says....add first to clean water and let it mix well for 10 min....
Thanks

 

[Orange's Greenhouse]

Salicylic acid is a PGR inducing ASR. It contains no silicon.
Silicic acid is a plant available form of the element silicon. It strenghthens cell walls, prevents mould etc.

Potassium silicate is fine to use. Just dissolve it first, at high pH, before adding other fertilizers. The potassium content is negligible.

 

[Grapefruitroop]

Sorry i got confused i meant Silicic Acid

 

[Orange's Greenhouse]

Why would you waste your money on that? They give no concentration. The only datasheet I find for it lists zinc as ingredient which isn't listed in the copy.

All these stabilized or otherwise 'special' silicon amendments have no benefit over potassium silicate but are significantly more expensive.

 

[Grapefruitroop]

Yeah right...its expensive....
i started using it cause i was runnin into K toxicity using potassium silicate , plus i had to use much more ph down....but this was few years ago using maxibloom or megacrop if i remember correctly....so i found this pricey one and never looked back...considering i was getting base nutes for cheap (masterblend) i decided to give it a try....
Anyway....maybe i shoul give to the potassium silicate another chance and see whats up.....its dirt cheap also in powder...next round...now i have the little pricey bottle heheh

 

[aCBD]

Why would you waste your money on that? They give no concentration. The only datasheet I find for it lists zinc as ingredient which isn't listed in the copy.

All these stabilized or otherwise 'special' silicon amendments have no benefit over potassium silicate but are significantly more expensive.

Mono-silicic acid (Si) 2,5%
Boron (B) 0,2%
Molybdenum (Mo) 0,004%
That's printed on the 100ml bottle.
Is that bad?
Always willing to learn something new.

 

[G.O. Joe]

I wonder what the difference is between this and Fasilitor. For sure it doesn't have the problems of silicate - whether any form of Si will noticeably improve noncommercial growing is the questionable part.

 

[Grapefruitroop]

The results on the stem thickness, and general feel when you touch the plant are unquestionable....
It really give the plants a "Rhino lining" and it totally streightens up the cells....

BUT....i noticed that everytime i used it all the way thru flowring till harvest, i always got slightly less yield....
So i convinced myself that would b beneficial to use it only during veg stage, also due to the cost of it and the fact i didnt get any extra results by using it also during flowering...

 

[LJ farming]

I have tried a handful of Si additives. I ended up choosing Power Si and not for any particular reason. I run it Veg-week 6. It is by far the most expensive part of everything I use. I run my version of Jacks 3-2-1.

I have ran 3-4 times without Power Si and I think there is a difference.

I run COCO DTW and as DHF taught me it’s baby shit easy after a few runs.

I’m way too lazy these days and my current veg looks like crap but should be ready to go by Christmas with a lil TLC and luck.

Peace

 

[Orange's Greenhouse]

Mono-silicic acid (Si) 2,5%
Boron (B) 0,2%
Molybdenum (Mo) 0,004%
That's printed on the 100ml bottle.
Is that bad?
Always willing to learn something new.

At their recommended rate (15 mL/100 L) that adds 3.75 ppm Si, 0.3 ppm B and 0.006 ppm Mo.
The MSDS I found for it also lists zinc chloride as an ingredient. This would add 2-3 ppm Zn at the recommended rate which is rather high. I don't understand why they would add it but not label it or why they would use so much.

Neither Mo or B are a concern. It's a low increase compared to Hoagland solution which is a good reference. The Si is rather low. You can add 10 or 20 ppm without much detriment but probably some benefit. With a different additive that would be economical to do. With this stuff the amount of other trace elements would be on concerning.

I have tried a handful of Si additives. I ended up choosing Power Si and not for any particular reason. I run it Veg-week 6. It is by far the most expensive part of everything I use.

I got myself potassium water glass from the art supply store. It has a density 1.25 g/mL (20.8 % SiO2 by weight).
I prepare a ready to use solution by dissolving 4 g KOH in a liter of water, add 10 mL of the water glass.
When preparing a new reservoir I add the KOH/Si solution to 60 L water. Add 4 mL half concentrated sulfuric acid to neutralize the base and add my three part fertilizer afterwards.
That gives me 20 ppm Si for little cost.

 

[aCBD]

@Orange's Greenhouse
Thanks for your detailed reply.
I share your thoughts about the Zinc. No clue why they would not put it on the label. Makes me want to write a mail and ask.

 

[LJ farming]

You guys done lost me with the chemistry and math??

For me .5ml / gallon of power si in COCO DTW is about the sweet spot. I can make 50-1 two stroke gas with my eyes closed!

However when it comes to plants and playing Mother Nature indoors! Only runs under your belt and mistakes have taught me the little I know?

Lastly ENVIRONMENT trumps everything indoors! If you get it dialed and have the lights that will push the ladies the nutrients are the last piece of the puzzle! The nutrient rabbit hole cost me a lot of money when it would have better spent elsewhere IMO!

The only people I know that made life changing money with hippie lettuce either bottled NPK and sold it for 500 times what it cost to make to the grow stores. Then the grow stores add 50-75% tax on top of that.

If you are running any multi fertigation hydro style 20-50% of what any nutrients say! soil and what the dirt farmers do (which has merit and creates incredible terps) is a lot different environment than a coco DTW grow trying to irrigate/dry back 8+ times in 12 hours.