Anyone using Silica (Potassium Silicate) as pH up?

[the_bot]

I do, I use Armor Si as a PH Up, but I have noticed some incompatibility when mixing (and i always add it before anything else to my tap). Im looking for substitutes as Ive also read that potassium silicate is a low solubility source of silica.

these are two nice thread to check for silica as PH up

What is your favourite silicate product?

AgSil 16H has been my favorite so far

@monkeyman

I agree that silica is a great ph up, and your plants will love it - it improves resistance to fungal and bacterial pathogens, strengthens cell walls, promotes plant growth, increases resistance to insects and pests, as well as heavy metals, improves tolerance to drought and heat stress. But, be aware that too much silica can make the leaves very tough to the point that they may become brittle. I generally use about 1/4 ml per gal at each watering and stop using it a couple of weeks before harvest.

Also, check your ingredients of your silica and be aware of the difference between potassium silicate and monosilicic acid. Many growers think that they’re applying silica products when they’re really applying silicon products, however, not all silicon products are silica. Here is a breakdown to make it easier to understand:

• Silica: aka silicon dioxide (SiO₂). Found in the mineral quartz and a major part of sand.
• Silicic Acid: a general term for compounds that contain silicon (Si), oxygen (O), and hydrogen (H)
• Monosilicic Acid: aka orthosilicic acid Si(OH)₄
• Silicates: compounds containing oxygen and silicon - including potassium silicate and calcium silicate
• Silicon: a chemical element (Si)

Plants can’t take up or use potassium silicate. It must be converted to monosilicic acid by bacteria . Applying potassium silicate does not have the same effects as applying monosilicic acid.

Also, the pH of a solution impacts the form of silicon in solution. Moderately basic (a pH above 8), monosilicic acid will react with minerals which causes the silicon to precipitate out as a solid. So, if you are using silicon to lower the PH of anything above 6.0 you may suffer from precipitation.

Sorry to hijack the thread for a minute, but I felt it was important to discuss the possible dangers of using silicon to lower the ph of any water above 6.0, and to clarify the differences between different “silica” products to avoid confusion.

[Osogreen]

@the_bot
So is that why bloom yb silica says to adjust silica water mix to 7 before adding anything else

[the_bot]

could be, I honestly dont know why bloomy asks for that extra step. My tap is already 7 tho.

All other silica products only warn about not mixing directly to nutrient solution, and to add it to plain water instead before anything else (no ph warnings in relation to compatibility or solubility, but I may be wrong).

And honestly, their instructions are a bit weird for me:

How to use and apply Bloom Silica?

- The pH value of the water must be adjusted to 7 in a container with water BEFORE it is added to the nutrient solution.

- If Bloom Silica is used to raise the pH of the nutrient solution then, you only have to lower the pH to the desired level on the final nutrient solution.

I think they ask to level ph to 7, because it is extremely alkaline and they just want you to have a neutral solution to add. but thats just guessing on my part, the video on their site also hints to that…

this last bit in their instructions, makes me think they want to minimize user error, so they ask you to stabilize it to 7 so you are not having ph issues after applying it… but again, just guessing:

Bloom Silica is highly alkaline and has an important handling method to get the best result.

[GramTorino]

Here’s more techno…

https://manicbotanix.com/silicon-in-hydroponics/

Hmmm. After adding ArmorSi to my res, I only mix and recirc for about 5 minutes before proceeding. No 2 hours!
In my early days I muffed up on PH and created cloudy precip mixes.

[Osogreen]

@Gram Torino
I was told yr ago it was in my trichs also, but I also was told to foliar becouse its more available an affordable so I use foliar on light feed days because I can use less to stabilize my mix.

[Osogreen]

The bloom was given to me from the wc rep
If anyone needs I can get shipped at cost to u just email her your order bam.
The aptus no shit was a free 1 from aptus just last week so no idea on how to use it

[Osogreen]

After talking to Aptus they say to use there Fascilitator in first to also help reduce stretch in first 2 weeks flower using there measurements