Silicic Acid is very important for optimal plant health. Countless studies over the last couple decades from around the world show how Silicic Acid helps growers build stronger plants, optimize crop nutrition, plus increase yields and quality.
Stabilized Orthosilicic acid is a small group of silicic acid molecules suspended in solution. When added to water, these molecules break apart into monomer form — this is how silicon becomes immediately and rapidly available to plants!
Why use SILAMOL?
Silicon (as silicic acid) strengthens cell walls, increases nutrient uptake, and increases immune response. Other silicates are not bio-available and take time to become available. This makes SILAMOLthe fastest option for delivering silicon. Silicon also has a synergy with calcium. Many growers see increased calcium usage and response when feeding with SILAMOL.
What is orthosilicic acid?
Silicon is the second most abundant element in the earth’s crust. It is now known to be essential for optimal plant growth, health, and production. Silicon in the soil isn’t available (as various silicates). Plants can only absorb silicon as monosilicic acid (individual molecules). Orthosilicic acid is the stabilized form that transforms into mono silicic acid when mixed with water. Silicon chemistry is quite tricky so the purity of ingredients and manufacturing excellence are necessary to get a stable and effective product to you.
Can’t I make my own with something like other Silicon type products for WAY cheaper?
This question is coming up a lot. This isn’t an attack on Other Silicon type products –simply an explanation of the differences. There are several forum posts talking about how easy it is to make your own silicate product. You can but it won’t be in plant available form, here’s why…
Other Silicon type products are pH basic. Silicate anions in Other Silicon type products are in polymer form (long chains)—unavailable to the plant. They could get very complicated depending on pH and the ratio of SiO2/M2O. When the pH of a liquid silicate drops below 10.7, fun things start to happen!
Liquid metal silicate will destabilize and become silica gel when the pH drops enough past the threshold! This silica gel is immobile and more or less permanent—it’s what hardens the cell wall and gives the benefit we all want. This effect is awesome in the plant, but not in your nutrient reservoir!
Also, the solubility limit of amorphous silicic acid is around 100 ppm. Above this concentration, silicic acid undergoes auto polycondensation to form colloidal silica and eventually to silica gel. This condensation process is spontaneous and immediate. It also means that there is a limit to solubility in solution.
While it is correct in saying there is silicic acid formed at higher pH levels, there is an issue with silicic acid chemistry that it doesn’t address. In weak acid or basic solutions, the silanol groups carry a negative charge, making them ionic and not passable through the cell membrane. Only in extreme acid solutions of <1 does silicic acid stay in the non-ionic monomer form—the bio-available form everyone talks about.
This chemistry is tricky even to the chemists, which is why there is still open debate and research into the exact natural silicification process in natural soils.
In summary, Other Silicon type products are not just a “cheaper version of the same thing.” Nor is any other off-the-shelf potassium silicate or silica dioxide product. These compounds eventually will undergo the transformation in proper conditions—like the acid environment created by certain microbial exudates. In longer term soil applications this potassium silicate can be effective. Much like crude oil versus gasoline, silicates must be “refined” before they can be used.
How does SILAMOL compare to other silicic acid products?
SILAMOLis manufactured by Qualified chemists in Belgium with internationally sourced ingredients. This means lower cost, fresher product, and more quality control. Silicic acid is tricky to make since it requires complex chemical reactions to produce a stable product. SILAMOLis shelf-stable and matches concentrations of other competitive products but at a lower price.
Isn’t this the same as a cheap potassium silicate?
Not at all. SILAMOL is the difference between a person eating spinach or grass. They are both green leafy plants but humans can’t digest grass without the help of cows! Potassium silicates (and other silicates) must be transformed into silicic acid before usable by plants. This process takes time and microbial-rich soil. Indoor growers demand speed and efficiency–both achieved with SILAMOL.
How do I know if it contains silicic acid?
Many silicate products on the market claim silicic acid since it’s a trending technology. The best indicator for a grower is the pH of the solution. Just drop a clean pH meter into a small amount of a silicon product (not directly in the bottle) and check the reading. If the pH is close to 7 or above, it is NOT silicic acid. Quality silicic acid products have a pH≤3.