Biochemical/molecular mechanisms are also induced or re-inforced by Si allowing the plant to improve resistance to biotic stress and include defensive compounds such as phenolics, phytoalexins and momilactones ( Remus-Borel et al., 2005), but also to activation of defensive enzymes such as peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, lipoxygenase and phenylalanine ammonia lyase ( Rahman et al., 2015). According to Cai et al. (2008), Si treatments may increase transcripts levels corresponding to those defense-related genes. Using silica in hydroponic setups remains a rather complicated challenge. Beginner growers might find it overly complicated, but intermediate and advanced hydro growers will happily make the sacrifice to reap the rewards of silica application. Soluble Siliconis translocated to the plant’s cell wall through the roots of a plant. Silica is proven to increase tolerance to abiotic and biotic plant stressors and acts as a carrier in the facilitation, delivery, and retention of essential nutrients such as Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K). Harvest Hero’s Diatomaceous Earth is highly porous and absorbent, promoting increased porosity in the soil matrix while positively influencing water conservation. Some plant stressors silica might help to mitigate are: Silica helps to strengthen cell walls, which gives plants more resistance to mechanical and osmotic stress( physiologic dysfunction caused by a sudden change in the solute concentration, which causes a rapid change in the movement of water across its cell membrane).

Diatomaceous earth improves the retention of moisture in potting mix, soil, and sandy soil by holding a greater amount of fluid and drying at a slower rate. The addition of diatomaceous earth to soil can increase drought resistance, which is particularly beneficial when added to the sand of golf putting greens. Plus, it aids in reducing salinity, promotes a neutral pH, adds matrix to the soil, and improves soil quality. Below is a list of common – and more sophisticated – diatomaceous earth agricultural and horticultural applications to help you become a Harvest Hero.This can lead to a more plentiful harvest as your plant has greater nutrient uptake abilities. Increased resistant to pests and diseases Silica (silicon dioxide) is a natural oxide of silicon. It is found most abundantly in quartz and sand. However, silica is also found in living organisms, where it is used to strengthen cell walls—and therefore the overall organism’s structure—and boost defences against pests. This process is known as silicification. Cannabis and Silica: What Are the Benefits? Soil growers can use silica throughout the duration of the growing cycle. Although some suggest stopping use past the third week of the flowering stage, many growers use it successfully all the way through. A healthier delivery system boosts maturation by delivering maximum nutrients. It allows optimal absorption of crucial minerals like nitrogen, magnesium, and potassium in cannabis. It is important to mention that Si primes defense responses also in Si non-accumulators, i.e., tomato ( Ghareeb et al., 2011): tomato is protected against Ralstonia solanacearum by Si which causes an upregulation, upon infection, of genes involved in ethylene and jasmonic acid signaling, i.e., JERF3, TRSF1, ACCO, as well as genes involved in stress response, i.e., trehalose phosphatase, late embryogenesis abundant protein, ferritin. In this study, the authors also observed an increased expression of a negative regulator of the jasmonic acid signal, JAZ1, together with a ubiquitin protein-ligase: the authors propose that JAZ1 helps in preventing the eventual damage caused by the stimulation of defense-related compounds and that the ubiquitin protein-ligase may degrade JAZ1. In tomato challenged by R. solanacearum, Si also upregulates a MAPK ( MAPK19), a WRKY transcription factor and linker histones ( H1 and H5). These findings corroborate the role of Si in intracellular signaling and suggest its involvement in transcription too ( Ghareeb et al., 2011).

The effect of SNPs was, however, shown to be dependent on the plant species, as in Bt-transgenic cotton they significantly decreased plant growth ( Le et al., 2014). SNPs toxicity may be linked to pH and nutrient adsorption problems. Indeed, in thale cress, SNPs phytotoxicity was triggered when the pH of the medium was not adjusted or silanol groups were not removed from the surface ( Slomberg and Schoenfisch, 2012). The alkaline pH (pH 8 ca.) makes nutrients less available for uptake, while the negatively charged SNPs tend to adsorb nutrients. Si and Fiber Crops Alternatively, using a silica foliar spray avoids this issue, as it doesn't enter the soil or touch the roots. In this sense, foliar feeding is possibly an easier option, as it doesn’t interfere with regular feeding. However, with this method, your plants only benefit from some of the functions of silica.Around 100ppm is thought to be a good potassium silicate level for hydroponic grows. To reiterate, always err on the side of caution. Silica is not essential, but it could ruin your hydroponic grow. At most, add it as regularly as your other nutrients. Can Cannabis Plants Overdose on Silica? These are all the silica additives I could find...prices listed are the cheapest I could find online With hydroponics, yes, you certainly can overdo silica. Therefore, proceed with caution. It’s a fine balance, though, as this is where silica offers the most benefits, too. A versatile boost for diverse plant life : Whether it's the delicate petals of ornamental flowers or the robust leaves of vegetable plants, silica serves as a boon to a broad spectrum of greenery. It's especially valuable for varieties that grapple with environmental stress or have a naturally fragile stature, making them vulnerable to pests and diseases.

When planting or transplanting : Mix Dust to Dust into the soil at a ratio of 1 puff per gallon of soil.

All in all, adding silica to a cannabis grow is well worth it. This is especially true for soil grows. For those trying out hydroponics, perhaps skip silica until you’ve got the basics down, otherwise you could end up doing more harm than good. With soil, though, administering silica should produce good results. Compartmentation of toxic ions is an important process in heavy metal tolerance. Si improves heavy metal retention by roots, with an obvious accumulation in the endodermis ( Keller et al., 2015). At the shoot level, accumulation of Mn was mainly observed in epidermis in response to Si treatment ( Doncheva et al., 2009). Iwasaki and Matsumura (1999) reported that Si increases Mn accumulation in the leaf trichomes. Controversial data are available in the literature regarding co-precipitation of Si with heavy metals. Keller et al. (2015) did not detect Cu and Cd in phytoliths and the absence of Cu-Si coprecipitation was also noticed in maize by Collin et al. (2014). He et al. (2013), however, identified a mechanisms of co-deposition of Si and Cd in the rice cell walls via a [Si-wall matrix] Cd complexation, which may explain a Si-induced decrease in the Cd influx in cells. Ma et al. (2015) considered that a hemicellulose bound form of Si with a net negative charge is responsible for inhibition of Cd uptake leading to a downregulation of Nramp5 coding for a transporter involved in Cd transport. Kim et al. (2014) also reported a downregulation of other heavy metals transporter ( OsHMA2 and OsHMA3) when Cu/Cd-treated rice was supplied by Si. Silicon (Si) is considered non-essential (or quasi-essential, Epstein and Bloom, 2005) for plant growth and development. Plants develop well in its absence, although in some cases, e.g., the silicifier horsetail and rice, the absence of Si triggers increased susceptibility to fungal infection ( Datnoff and Rodrigues, 2005; Law and Exley, 2011). When supplied to the growth medium (as silicic acid, vide infra), plant vigor and resistance to (a)biotic stresses increase ( Azeem et al., 2015; Coskun et al., 2016; Guerriero et al., 2016a). Si is taken up by plants as silicic acid Si(OH) 4 via aquaporin type channels (Nod26-like intrinsic proteins, NIPs) ( Ma et al., 2006; Grégoire et al., 2012; Deshmukh et al., 2013). A specific 108 amino acid spacing between the conserved NPA domains determines Si(OH) 4 permeability ( Deshmukh et al., 2015). Plants are classified into accumulators, excluders and intermediate type ( Mitani and Ma, 2005), depending on the amount of biogenic silica found in their tissues. Among the accumulators are Equisetales, Cyperales and Poales: in Graminae, rice is the highest silicifier where Si (in the form of biogenic silica, vide infra) accounts for up to 10% of the shoot dry weight ( Ma et al., 2002). Tomato is among the excluders, while Urtica dioica (i.e., nettle) is an intermediate type ( Trembath-Reichert et al., 2015). This is often the easiest type of silica you can get your hands on; meaning that it’s easily accessible. Unfortunately, it’s not entirely bioavailable, which is what may veer you away from choosing this type of silica. This means that if you add a certain amount to your plants, you can never be sure how much of the silica they have received. Over time, it may also not be as effective, which is another downside to this type of silica. However, in terms of price and ease of usage, we would highly recommend it. It’s quite basic, which is great for gardening beginners Mono silicic acid Because you can’t apply silica alongside other nutrients, the supplement works best with a specifically rigged ebb and flow system. Set up an additional nutrient reservoir with a silica solution to ensure no other nutrients are present when bathing your roots with the supplement. Dilute your solution according to the product instructions.