What is silicon dioxide and how does it help grow healthier cannabis plants?

Silicon dioxide, also known as silicon dioxide, is the second most abundant nutrient in soil. Although the compound is not an essential plant nutrient for cannabis, the plants contain more of it than other essential nutrients.

Likewise, cannabis plants don’t need silicon to survive, but they do need it to improve anything in their growing stages; potentially increasing the quality and quantity of their flowers.

What is silica

Silica is most likely a word that you have heard countless times without considering the meaning itself.

Soil science describes silica as a hard, colorless and unreactive substance that is made up of sand, sandstone and other rocks. The earth’s crust consists of 59% silica …

Silicon and silicon are sometimes confused to mean the same thing. It’s not like this. Silicon is identified as Si in the periodic table. It is characterized by a hard crystalline solid with a blue-gray metallic luster.

Silicon can only stay pure in an environment without oxygen. However, when silicon is exposed to oxygen, a chemical reaction occurs to convert silicon to silicon dioxide.

There are large amounts of oxygen and silicon in the earth’s crust. So the formation of silica in the soil is inevitable.

Silica and cannabis

You now have a brief understanding of silica and how it is formed. Now to the most important aspects of this description.

Silicate-rich sand benefits cannabis plants in a number of ways. These benefits are supported by experimental facts.

Silica helps cannabis plants grow stronger, have higher resistance to fungal pathogens, pests and environmental pollutants. In addition, silica improves the health of substandard soils.

In general, studies show that silica sand is likely to improve the yield of a marijuana plant.

Deep understanding of the benefits of silica for cannabis plants

Silicic acid improves the absorption of nutrients

With the help of silica, cannabis plants absorb more nutrients more efficiently. In soils with limited nutrients, silica ensures the survival of the plants as it connects the root cock of the plants with the few nutrients available. This way, the plant has access to all of the vital nutrients it needs during its growth cycle.

The main function of silica is to absorb nitrogen, potassium and magnesium; three essentials

Cannabis plants require large amounts of nitrogen for optimal leaf growth and photosynthetic activities; Potassium is needed to prevent mechanical stress and maintain cell wall structure; Magnesium in the right amount promotes plant growth and enables plants to convert sunlight into energy.

Silicic acid strengthens the plant’s defenses against diseases

Cannabis plants are prone to fungal diseases and parasites such as powdery mildew and pythium. These diseases can destroy an entire cannabis crop if not detected early.

Fortunately for cannabis farmers, the use of silica is a perfect preventative measure to prevent these diseases.

Silica can also be used as a corrective measure for these diseases. The plants can release large amounts of silica into the infested areas. This concentration helps strengthen other areas prone to infection.

Silica keeps pests out

Fresh cannabis tissue attracts herbivorous pests such as bugs, flies, and other insects. These insects like to feed on cannabis leaves and flowers.

The presence of silica helps fight off these pests, as does microbes. The high concentration of silica in the cell walls of the leaves creates a hardened barrier that these insects cannot bite or dig in.

Silica prevents soil pollution

The health of the soil is of great importance for cannabis production. Over the years the general soil condition has deteriorated worldwide due to uncontrolled human activity. These activities introduced various pollutants, particularly heavy metals, into the soil; which leads to the uptake of these pollutants by the plants.

The presence of silica has significantly reduced the bioavailability of heavy metals in soils and plants. It also helps mitigate the damage that could occur if cannabis is grown in these soils.

Choosing the Right Silica Supplement

Silica supplements are grouped under two uses. There are different brands of silica supplements on the market, but they don’t work in the same way. Some are more effective than others.

When buying a silica preparation, choose one with a silica concentration of 8% and more. This guarantees a greater absorption of silica into the cells of the cannabis plant. It would also reduce competition in the soil between the plant roots and other microbes. Products with less than 8% silica concentration are neither effective nor sufficient for optimal growth of the cannabis plants.

Getting the Most Out of Silica Supplements

As you already know, silica is very important for the health of cannabis plants. Choosing the right supplement is important, but you also need to know how to use it properly.

It is recommended that cultivators dilute silica with a gallon of water prior to application. Also note that silica must not be added to the plant feed until the other available nutrients have been dissolved. This ensures that all nutrients are activated upon application.

Silicic acid is applied to the plants in the early vegetative phase and stopped two to three weeks after the flowering phase. Some products can be used throughout the growth phase, from planting to harvest. It depends on the detailed instructions that come with the products used.

It is always recommended that silica be stored separately from the other nutrients in order to maintain the necessary pH it needs to remain soluble.

The application of silica must be carried out correctly, otherwise it will not bring any noticeable benefit. Use the products according to the instructions provided.

After all, silica is used after the harvest

Silica packs are used to dry and harden harvested cannabis flowers. They will help reduce the time it takes to remove excess moisture from the flowers.

All you have to do is place these packs between your buds while they dry, and you can smoke your harvest sooner than expected.

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