Adding silica to your hydroponics system is a simple way of avoiding many nutrient, temperature and pest problems that are associated with hydroponics, one of the areas which is over looked in hydroponics, being the lack of soluble-silicon, naturally accruing mineral particles, that is very much lacking in most hydroponic growing systems.
This mineral has been used in the cut flower industry for some years now, and you?ve probably used it without even knowing it, or maybe just presumed that what you?ve been given is supplemental nutrients maybe, yep you may have guessed already, that little bags- sachets that come with almost all cut flowers is nutrients with added silicon..
The benefits of silicon to plants has been known for many years within the horticultural world and is one of the most abundant elements in soil, and is essentially the main substrate for almost all plants. The benefits of silicate come in many important ways especially for super markets, and now for you too, soluble (si) provides greater tolerance of environmental stresses, such as cold, heat, drought, salinity, mineral toxicity or deficiency, improved growth rates and resistance to insects and fungi.
Potassium silica is a very much over looked liquid that provides supplemental potassium and silicon. Promotes natural fungal defense mechanisms in plants, significantly reducing and, in many cases eliminating entirely, the need to use fungicides.
Silicon deposited in epidermal cell walls makes plants resistant to small sucking insects, like spider mite the well known member of the group (Tetranychus urtcae) common name red spider mite or two spotted mite, which is common in warm temperatures and also glass houses (green houses) The resulting increased mechanical strength in epidermal cell walls.
The resulting mechanical extra strength of the plant cell walls also stem strength, metabolic functions-plant growth.
? Also Increases Resistance to Pathogens
Ever had problems with powdery mildew! Once its taken a hold, its normally to late to treat affectively, rust, or any other fungal infections, that most people have and can be expensive to eradicate too. Silica acts as a barrier against the penetration of fungi.
Following an attack or fungal infection, greater deposits of (si) have been found around the part of the plant that?s been under attack, this show that the plant selectively accumulates in and around the site. Although silicone will be extruded out of the plants within twenty-four hours so a continua?s supply by either adding to feed or a foliage spray is needed, if concentrations above the natural concentrations in the environment, and in hydroponics the only silica available is what you supply
? Foliage spraying with silicate
In many plants foliar spraying with soluble silicon have show very effective results, as plants absorb far more though foliage spraying than from the roots, the extra effectiveness is probably due to silicon deposits on the leaf surface act as a barrier to them little suckers such aphids and mites.
? Increased Resistance to Stress and Faster Metabolic Rate
Silicon that?s deposited within the cell walls, forms a protective barrier that in the process reduces transpiration from the plant, leaving most plant able to tolerate temperature above 90f, meaning plants wilt less, enhanced reproductive growth and an increased tolerance of excessive manganese, phosphorus, aluminium and sodium, will also wilt less, be more heat tolerant too.
? CO2 uptake
Higher levels of soluble silicate within the leafs have shown the plants are able to tolerate lower and higher levels of light that?s available, by optimizing what?s available, and what?s more interesting is higher levels of the enzyme rubp carbonaceous in leaf tissue, which regulates the metabolism of carbon dioxide enabling the plant to absorb higher concentrations of the gas.
Try (si) for your self, add to half of your crop, and see for your self, and if you?ve only on hydroponic system, then spray the foliage of half your plant, and leave the other half as your control, have a go and let us no.
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