Organic Silica

[Clackamas Coot]

YG & JK

The organic rice hulls that are available at my usual supplier come out of California - Lundberg Farms specifically.

Like JK said - they're certainly cheap enough. I charred a couple of cubic feet and I'm adding it to my potting soil mix. Like JK noted - a good item to use for bio-char since you don't have to break anything up when it's done 'cooking' as such.

RE: pyrophyllite clay - I got mine from a pottery supply house. Their specific product comes out of North Carolina which is one of the few organic sources according to what I was able to determine but I could be wrong of course. I bought 10 lbs. for $7.50 and I'm adding about 1/4 cup to 1 c.f. of potting soil.

CC

 

[Yankee Grower]

The organic rice hulls that are available at my usual supplier come out of California - Lundberg Farms specifically.

RE: pyrophyllite clay - I got mine from a pottery supply house. Their specific product comes out of North Carolina which is one of the few organic sources according to what I was able to determine but I could be wrong of course.

CC

Organic vs inorganic clay? Seems like someone is just paying OTCO or OMRI for that designation. The clay source I'm talking about comes from the Crater Lake region. They have their own 'mines'.

When you drive along I5 there's a few locations where the rice hull piles are like 50' + high...free for the taking if you call ahead. Also if you ever get down near Martinez there's a place that has expanded shale and you can load up a truck for free to test the stuff out. Now that stuff seems better than perlite.

 

[Clackamas Coot]

Organic vs inorganic clay? Seems like someone is just paying OTCO or OMRI for that designation. The clay source I'm talking about comes from the Crater Lake region. They have their own 'mines'.

When you drive along I5 there's a few locations where the rice hull piles are like 50' + high...free for the taking if you call ahead. Also if you ever get down near Martinez there's a place that has expanded shale and you can load up a truck for free to test the stuff out. Now that stuff seems better than perlite.

Yankee Grower

Organic was the wrong term - what I should have said is that the clay source in North Carolina is minimally processed. The clays in North Carolina, in general, are interesting from the perspective of a potterer and because of the quality of several varieties of clay, there has been a long history of artisan pottery folks going back to the late 19th Century.

Believe it or not, California is the largest producer of rice in the US followed up with Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas. The yield from an acre of rice would blow your mind when compared to crops like soybeans, corn and such. Even higher than grains used in the west like wheat, rye and spelt.

CC

 

[apartmentblower]

does organic silica raise PH alot? i used GH rare earth @ label dosage and i'm having severe problems i think related to high PH. any info?

 

[John Deere]

Azomite and Diatomaceous Earth are VERY good organic sources of silica...

I like diatomaceous earth. It kills unwanted pests and gives a silica boost to the plants = win/win.

 

[bushdriver]

granite....

 

[SupraSPL]

I use granular diatomaceous earth instead/in addition to perlite. It is silica based but I have no idea if the silica is actually available to the plant or not. Calcined DE is 90% SiO2, 6.5% Al2O3, 2.3% Fe2O3. When marketed for use in potting mixes the claim is made that the silica is available but that is over my head.

 

[amannamedtruth]

So rare earth should not really be considered organic, since its mined?

 

[hash head]

granite....

++++


depending where you live this is naturally what makes up a lot of the soil around you... wouldnt hurt adding a few cups per gallon of it to your mix

 

[hash head]

So rare earth should not really be considered organic, since its mined?

There are different definitions of organic


one is something that contains or once contained carbon (was once alive)


another definition is organically grown as in not using chemical pesticides, fertilizers, and fungicides etc etc..


the word chemical has several meanings as well.. everything we know has a chemical structure to it.. so everything is made of chemicals.. but in regards to organics, chemicals usually mean synthetics and store bought fertilizers. (some containing un natural sources for N etc.)

Just because something is mined doesn't mean it can't be used in an organic grow.. theres no reason for that..


but if you're talking organic as in "it contains carbon" then yeah its not going to be "organic"

 

[Pinball Wizard]

I use granular diatomaceous earth instead/in addition to perlite. It is silica based but I have no idea if the silica is actually available to the plant or not. Calcined DE is 90% SiO2, 6.5% Al2O3, 2.3% Fe2O3. When marketed for use in potting mixes the claim is made that the silica is available but that is over my head.

it's over my head, too...

but...if it is a good source of silica?...I'm thinking it would need to be in the very beginning vegging soil?
it would stay close to the rootball?...the whole grow, with normal transplants, later.

 

[Clackamas Coot]

If one is looking for the proven benefits of using liquid silica you'll be hard-pressed to get the same results in rock dusts, diatomaceous earth, etc.

Unless you can wait for 6 to 8 years. Just because an agent contains silica doesn't translate into plant availability.

Just a thought.

CC

 

[NSPB]

You make a good point Clackamas.

But there are MANY reasons to use such things in the garden aside from just the silica addition.

That is also why I use THREE good providers of it...and compost properly. Out of the three: greensand, diatomaceous earth, and azomite...I'd have to say I noticed the best response from azomite.

Having grown using liquid silica products, you can REALLY see the difference that silica makes in the garden...and helped me know what to look for in regards to the plants response.

Azomite DOES get silica to the plants. No question about it.



NSPB

 

[Clackamas Coot]

NSPB

I wasn't making it an either or about using whatever rock dust/mineral vs. liquid silica. They do different things.

I add a mineral mix available at a couple of the organic farm supply stores in Portland which is equal amounts of Azomite, Canadian glacial rock dust (Gaia Green's product), soft rock phosphate, greensand (they could have left that one out) and limestone. It runs about $22.00 for 50 lbs.

I add about 1 cup of this mix to 1 c.f. of potting soil with and additional cup of the Canadian glacial rock dust.

And I use liquid silica for rooting, irrigating and as a basic ingredient for foliar applications of kelp meal tea, neem seed oil and/or neem seed meal teas, AACT, etc.

HTH

CC

 

[dank.frank]

I think we have all heard of the equal parts of glacial/soft/greensand/limestone...I'm not really sure who started that whole combination of things as a mineral restoration for depleted soils...I've never heard of anybody using Azomite in that same mix as well...kinda cool and I'm sure is a GREAT addition!

Yeah, I didn't think you making a vs. comment...but I figured I had posted in this earlier, and to really give significance to the post you made, I thought it would be nice to know which product I named that I really get the most silica benefit from.



dank.Frank

 

[bushdriver]

i take that back granite is very alkali

 

[durgahands]

Hey,
It's been a long time since I have been here
and can't help but cruise through the threads about silica.

I adore dynagro protekt, but like to go cheap so supplement my garden and worms with comfrey tea.
It has fast available silica plus all kinds of other benificial compounds and elements.

The price of buying the dried herb at $9/lb made me look for local plants which was actually kind of challenging.

I like the assortment received of 1, 2, 3, and 4 yr old roots from Coe's Comfrey. I bought 16 plants thinking I never want to run out of comfrey again ever!

Well the plants Coe's sent were freaking huge.
I have been able to propagate it myself and give it away!
It's also helped me by drinking the stuff as long as its soaked less than 24 hrs after which it starts to taste nasty.
Am making syrup and drying leaves for winter.
Yay,comfrey rocks!
I find it helps with the plants ability to resist disease and the PM was everywhere recently with all the heat. Those I sprayed regularly with comfrey didn't get touched by the PM.
And my tomatoes are gigantic!
Happy growing!
Dh

 

[OrganicBuds]

Does silica have a place in ACT's? Just wondering because I like to add silica as well, but would love to apply during a ACT feeding. Can it be added without effecting the bio life?

 

[ClackamasCootz]

OrganicBuds

I'd better not answer your question but I did want to give you (and others) the cheapest source of Potassium Silicate (KSiO2) that I've found.

CustomHydroNutrients.com

Potassium Silicate - 1 lb.
32% K2O (Soluble Potash)
52.8% SiO2 (Silica)

$12.00 per lb.

.7 grams in 1 gallon of water yields 98 ppm SiO2 and 49 ppm K which means absolutely nothing to me but those are the numbers from their information. The link will give you the MSDS and a couple of articles that may be helpful.

CC

 

[jrmedic]

And how does this product compare to botanical/fermented horsetail?