[DocTim420]

When "facts" and "beliefs" collide, this is how some respond--lol, its all good!

[12052]

If you use a organic source of Si like key to lifes silica sourced from zeolite you wont have any issues at all running it through the whole cycle.

[MrBungle]

I'm still wondering where organic came into play? The OP never specified organic or synthetic...

regardless of that... What I read on the NOP (like federal guidelines mean anything to our hobby really) *eyeroll*

"(1) Aqueous potassium silicate (CAS #-1312-76-1)—the silica, used in the manufacture of potassium silicate, must be sourced from naturally occurring sand."

doesn't say anything about how it is to be used only that it must be sourced from a naturally occurring sand....

[Douglas.Curtis]

Originally Posted by 12052

If you use a organic source of Si like key to lifes silica sourced from zeolite you wont have any issues at all running it through the whole cycle.

You've tested this and were looking for frangibility changes? You can gently crush a flower and it breaks into tiny frosty bits?

[mango420]

Dude if your buds are dry enough to break into pieces then its too dry. Has nothing to do with silicate.

[12052]

Originally Posted by Douglas.Curtis

You've tested this and were looking for frangibility changes? You can gently crush a flower and it breaks into tiny frosty bits?

This all depends on strain/environment and quite frankly the grower him/herself. When did dense nugs become a problem? What weighs more, a bag of rocks or a bag of cotton?

[Douglas.Curtis]

Originally Posted by 12052

This all depends on strain/environment and quite frankly the grower him/herself. When did dense nugs become a problem? What weighs more, a bag of rocks or a bag of cotton?

I have no idea what you're going on about. Just about everything comes out of my garden the same way. Dense and frangible.

I'm not talking super dry garbage, I'm not talking powdered bits, I'm talking about the flower breaking down into small pieces with very little pressure.

So, do you have to reach for a grinder to break up your flowers? Should your answer be yes, excess silica in flower is a great place to start looking for the solution. Wonderful for branch and vascular system strength, shit for quality flower.

[HarvestMoon303]

Originally Posted by Douglas.Curtis

Grew without it for over a decade, flowers were always highly frangible. Easily break into tiny, frosty bits of yummy goodness.

Silica scene came around and a couple years ago I played with it. Different times, concentrations, couple of different runs. Use beyond first filling flower res is low-grade to me, hotter/harsher end smoke with tougher flowers. I now use it, where appropriate, and mid-end flower is not it.

Flowers are back to easily broken yumminess.

I've also grown without it, and I'm really happy with the results. When you say "I now use it, where appropriate...", where are you using it that you think it's appropriate? Hydro? What does it do for your final product?

[Douglas.Curtis]

Originally Posted by HarvestMoon303

I've also grown without it, and I'm really happy with the results. When you say "I now use it, where appropriate...", where are you using it that you think it's appropriate? Hydro? What does it do for your final product?

It's awesome in veg. As I stated earlier it builds very strong branches and sturdy vascular tissue systems.

I also add it to the flower reservoir when it's first mixed (I don't dump my reservoir until flower is finished). This helps continue building the strong branches and vascular system through stretch. Once stretch is done the flowers begin forming and I have no further need for silica.

[MrBungle]

When should silica be used in the garden? "Studies show that silica should be used throughout the entire life cycle of the plant, from the seedling or clone stage up until harvest. In order to produce optimal results, silica needs to be continually made available to the plant via the nutrient solution. Once a plant has absorbed the available silica into its cellular structure, it can no longer be redistributed to other parts of the plant. Plants grown in soil are more likely to uptake trace amounts of silica that may be present in the soil, whereas plants grown hydroponically have no direct source of silica unless it is added as a supplement to the nutrient regimen. Plants grown hydroponically without silica will most likely be sub par compared to those grown with it. Cuttings and seedlings that have been fed silica tend to show less shock during root formation and transplanting. Introducing silica early on in the plant’s life is also said to reduce the chances of leaf curl. Cut flowers also benefit from silica, as it has been known to extend flower shelf life. Have you ever added a powder sachet into the vase of water when you buy a bouquet of flowers? That is a nutrient mixture combined with silica!"