Hello Growers,

      After years of growing I have tried many, many additives.  Most are good, but some make the kind of difference we all search for.  Silica is one of the “big difference” products!  I wrote about silica in my blog “Plant Food Buffet” and the three products I will discuss today all contain Silica in the necessary amount to truly benefit your plants.  The three Products are:

• Botanicare’s Silica Blast
• Dutch Master’s Silica
• Advanced Nutrient’s Rhino Skin

      Silica works by allowing plant cells to build thicker cell walls.  Thicker cell walls have several benefits.  Thicker cells in the leaves make it more difficult for insects to pierce the leaf and thus make those plants a less attractive choice. The thicker cell walls make bigger stems and branches which in turn allow more food & water, as well as plant secretions to move up and down the plant’s Xylem and Phloem (the highways of the plant.)  In addition thicker cell walls mean your favorite plants will be more resistant to environmental stressors such as: extreme heat, drought, and the stress caused by transplanting.  These are just a few reasons to add Silica to your feeding program.  There is even evidence coming out in new scientific studies that Silica treatments can systemically lower if not alleviate your powdery mildew problems!!!  What more do you need to hear?

     If you do decide to add Silica there are two things you should know.  First, most fertilizer is acidic and Silica is alkali (it will raise your pH.)  It is best to add it to your water either first before any other fertilizer or add it last but diluted in water (for example 100ml of Silica in 1 gallon of water.)  This dilution in water will minimize localized chemical reactions (that cloud that appears when you pour concentrated fertilizers or pH adjustment chemicals into your reservoir) which make nutrients bind together and become unavailable to your plant. The Second thing to note is that plants only need a small amount of Silica for all of these benefits so please follow the manufacturer’s instructions.  This is Not on of those things that if a little is good more is better!!!

      No one wants wimpy plants, try some Silica and make your plants HEFTY, HEFTY, HEFTY!!!!