Growth Technology GT Silica

Silica is ‘Nature’s Bodyguard’. A natural powerhouse nutrient abundant outdoors but missing indoors. Adding GT Silica to your feeding routine gives indoor plants the protection that nature would normally provide, making plants stronger, both physically and by supporting stronger defenses against pests, diseases, and environmental stresses.

Best plant match:

As a protectant for any plant not already getting silica naturally or where soil water is deficient. To strengthen sensitive plants and plants prone to weak stems, browning, and wilting. To help defend plants prone to attack by pests, fungus, and other diseases.

What's in the bottle:

A concentrated blend of silicic acid and potassium hydroxide (called potassium silicate). Considered the superior form of silica for plants.

For environmental stress:

Plants deposit silica in their cell walls, strengthening roots, stems, and leaves, acting as a protective barrier between the plant and the environment.

Silica increases physical strength for plants prone to weak stems and browning, drooping, or wilting leaves.

The protective barrier helps plants handle water and temperature extremes, reducing the impact of under- and over-watering as well as extreme hot or cold temperatures.

For pests:

Silica is part of nature's defense system against pests that feed on roots, stems, and leaves, such as fungus gnat larvae, mealybugs and root mealybugs, aphids, thrips, and spider mites.

Silica makes the external barrier harder for pests to penetrate and feed, and also makes plants less palatable and harder to digest, slowing insect growth and reproduction.

Silica more quickly blocks the flow of sap when a plant is under attack from sucking insects like aphids and mealybugs.

Plants have been shown to continue to send silica to damaged areas after the threat is gone, assisting with faster recovery.

For browning:

Following the Professor Monstera Method in New Zealand: Professor Monstera recommends silica to strengthen plants and "help you keep the whites from browning." Following the method, add GT Silica first and wait 20 minutes before adding the rest of your nutrients, every time you feed.

How to apply:

Mix up to 5ml GT Silica per 1 litre water to maintain 20ppm silica.

Although the second most abundant element in the earth’s crust, a component of most rocks, the concentration of silica in soil water is not that high (rocks aren’t very soluble). Silica concentration in soil water generally doesn’t get above 20ppm, the level recommended to use GT Silica.

Silicates are alkaline in their concentrated form in the bottle. Either wear gloves when handling, or take care not to spill on your skin or clothes. See safety data sheet.

Add GT Silica separately to your nutrient solution, or add first, wait 20 minutes, then add your GT Focus fertiliser of choice before watering roots.

How often to apply:

For best results, add GT Silica every time you water.

Available sizes:

250ml and 1 litre