Growing Science

Advanced Tips

How Silicon Promotes Plant Growth
Although silicon is not considered an essential nutrient—plants can grow without it—it significantly boosts plant strength and stress resistance. For cannabis, silicon contributes to development of the terpenes and phenolic compounds that growers prize. Here's why supplementing your feeding program with silicon might be beneficial. Benefits of silicon Silicon improves plant health and growth in several important ways. Physically, this beneficial nutrient help plants form a strong layer of hydrated amorphous silica, or opal, in their cell walls. This silica layer acts as …
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How Suboptimal Fertilization Affects Yield
Fertilizer is a crucial component of crop production, but simply adding fertilizer to the system is no guarantee a crop will get the nutrients it needs. Inadequate nutrient availability, nutrient incompatibility, and subpar nutrient formulations can result in under-fertilized plants, also known as suboptimal fertilization. Without the right nutrients in the right concentrations and ratios, plants cannot achieve optimal yields or maximize crop quality. For cannabis, suboptimal fertilization can also impact cannabinoid profiles and concentrations. Consequences of suboptimal fertilization In one study, researchers …
Grower Spotlight

Enzyme-Based Biofilm Cleaners
Biofilms are a common problem in cannabis grow operations. These slimy layers of microbial colonies can clog the irrigation system, spread plant diseases and reduce oxygen levels in the nutrient solution. One way to eliminate biofilms is with enzyme-based cleaners. Enzymes are biological catalysts, or biocatalysts, that trigger and accelerate chemical reactions in living things. They offer a practical, non-harmful approach to degrading and removing biofilm. How enzymes degrade biofilms Enzymes are proteins that catalyze specific chemical reactions. They are involved in all …
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Cannabis Life Cycles
In the wild, cannabis goes through three phases during its life cycle: (1) seeds germinate and seedlings sprout from seed; (2) the young plants grow vegetatively, marked by the proliferation of roots, stems and leaves; and (3) the plants mature, budding and flowering or ripening, until they reach sexual maturity, when they drop seed.[1] Understanding the crop life cycle is important for commercial cannabis production. Unless a grower grows an auto-flowering variety, light is the main driver of the “flip” between …
https://www.ekobiogen.eu/the-role-of-silicon-in-plant-growth/Advanced Tips

Silicon: The Truth
Silicon is the second-most abundant element in the Earth’s crust, and it bonds with oxygen to create silicon dioxide, also known as silica, the main component of sand, clay, granite, amethyst, quartz, glass, computer chips, and fiber-optic cables. Silica is also the form of silicon, when it finally comes to rest in plant tissues such as stalks, stems and leaves, that delivers plant benefits. But first silicon must take a long road, going through many chemical conversions—from silicate to silicic acid …
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A Little Goes a Long Way
Hydroponic nutrients need to be applied in the right concentrations at the right times in the crop life cycle. They also need to be formulated in the right ratios, so that the various essential nutrients complement and balance one another rather than work against each other. Plants need at least a minimum amount of every nutrient essential to plant life. Even if a plant gets more than enough of every essential nutrient except one, it might not thrive. If even one …
Growing Science

Plants can’t tell the difference: Understanding the pros and cons of organic and inorganic hydroponic fertilizers
Download pdf Inorganic fertilizers have a bad rep. Often called “synthetic,” “chemical” and “artificial,” many believe inorganic fertilizers are full of dangerous ingredients that are harmful to humans and the environment. This perception has driven many growers to choose organic fertilizers instead. Many view organic fertilizers as safer, cleaner and better for the environment. Some may believe that if the fertilizer is organic, they can label their plants organic too.  But the truth isn’t so black and white. There’s no evidence that plants grown with …

Inside silicon supplements: Making Sense of What’s inside the Bottle
Silicon packs a powerful punch, increasing crop quality, strength and resilience. Yet the fertilizer market is flooded with misinformation about silicon supplements, including confusing labeling and misleading marketing claims with no basis in science. This poses a challenge for growers seeking to choose the best product. With every nutrient company touting the superiority of its silicon-based product, it’s no wonder growers get confused and struggle to make an informed choice. Even the terminology—silicon, silica, silicic acid, silicate—is often used interchangeably in …
Growing Science

Heavy Metals: Time to Face the Music
In agriculture as in music, heavy metal has a bad-boy reputation. And for good reason. Lead poisoning has made headlines as a public health concern for generations, and heightened regulation and consumer demand have slowly but surely eradicated lead from the surfaces and appliances we interact with. Mercury poisoning, too, has entered the public consciousness, motivating consumers to dramatically reduce their canned tuna intake.1 Exposure to many other heavy metals still put people at risk of potentially devastating health consequences. …
Growing Science

Superior nutrients, superior plants: How the right nutrients help plants reach their genetic potential
Every seedling carries its potential within its genes. Just as a person might inherit the capacity to become an outstanding sprinter or an operatic virtuoso, a plant’s genes provide the foundation for its future performance. But the children of world-class runners and singers still have to eat well and train hard if they want to follow in their parents’ footsteps. Similarly, for plants to be the best they can be, they need to be fed and cared for properly. Growers often ask …
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