Silicon is not a very mobile element in plants. Therefore, a continuous supply of this element
would be required for healthy and productive development during all growth stages. Silicic acid
products are especially effective when used as a foliar spray, however the concentration required
is higher and these are generally used at 1mL per 1L of water.
Despite the scientifically recognised fact that plants take up silicon equivalent to some
macronutrients, it is still not widely recognized as an essential element. The lower acceptance
of essentiality of silicon for a plant nutrient could be due to the non-availability of any product
having a defined concentration of OSA.
The soluble silicon concentration is different to the total weight of the stand-alone silicic acid
molecules. This is because that a silicic acid molecule is a lot heavier than just elemental silicon.
The differences between mono-silicic acid and ortho-silicic acid are purely in the names of the
two substances. In essence, none of the silicic acid products that are sold in the market contain
molecules as simple as Si(OH)4. Most of the products contains chains of silicon elements coupled
with loads of oxide and hydroxyl groups.
SILICA - why it is so important for your plants?
WITH SILICON
Cuticle
Can NOT penetrate
the cuticle
WITHOUT SILICON
Can penetrate
the cuticle
Small particle
silica compounds
Upper
Epidermis
When talking definitions, ortho silicic acid is a rather peculiar name. In general, people refer to
ortho silicic acid when they talk about water soluble or plant absorbable silicon compounds.
In chemical/historical/linguistical terms, ortho silicic acid would mean something as “the true”
silicic acid, or something that is readily available. Mono silicic acid is the name for a single silicic
acid molecule. But since silicic acid has various forms in which it exists, this term is rather strange.
Other mineral trace elements are often used in the manufacturing process to isolate and stabilise
the mono-silicic acid compounds. These usually include molybdenum, boron and sodium in very
small amounts. These trace elements may also be beneficial for plant growth.
In closing I’d like to stress the importance of
including silicon in any fertiliser regime. These
essential compounds allow for a plethora of growth
benefits in almost all plant species whilst potentially
improving the quality of your soil. For our favourite
fruits or flowers it can drastically improve the
quantity and the quality of the final harvest.
If you’re hesitant to change your existing nutrient
regime, try foliar spraying half of your crop with
a mono-silicic acid product like SuperSi. Spray at
night, twice per week during the vegetative growth
period, and you can be the judge as to the results of
a serious silicon superstar!
82
WWW.STEALTH-GARDEN.COM
Silicon