Silicon (Si) has been used for years in agriculture because of its many, well-documented benefits to plants. Si enters plant roots as silicic acid. Once inside the plant, it travels rapidly to active growing points, where it enters the cell walls, making them stronger. Stronger cell walls lead to stronger plants. Reported benefits of silicon to plant growth and development include increased tolerance to heat, salt, and drought stress, disease and pest resistance, stronger and thicker stems, and shorter internodes.

What is Silicon?

Si exists in the Earth’s crust, in an abundance that is second only to oxygen. Many plants accumulate it in large concentrations, in amounts similar to macronutrients. Plants grown in mineral soils (natural environments, field soils or gardens) have ready access to it. On the other hand, Si is not prevalent in peat moss, bark, or any other components of the soilless substrates that are commonly used today for producing containerized horticultural crops.

Sun Gro’s Silicon Research Program

As the North American leader in horticultural soilless substrates, Sun Gro launched an extensive research program to evaluate the benefits of incorporating Si into their professional and retail growing mixes. This project encompassed trials to evaluate Si sources and incorporation rates, as well as plant growth responses of over 40 commercially important annuals, perennials, and vegetables.

Plants were trialed in seed and cutting propagation experiments, and in finished production, from transplant through post-harvest dry down. For all of our growing trials, substrate pH and EC were monitored weekly or bi-weekly. The degree of rooting was rated on a scale of 1-5 at about 4 weeks after transplant. The number of days from transplant to various developmental stages was recorded. When plants reached the market stage, several shoot-growth parameters were measured and plants were placed into a post-harvest dry down in which the time was recorded from the last watering to wilt.

Si can be added to a substrate in several forms, and can be obtained from many sources. (Sun Gro previously held the patent on substrate incorporation of Si, in any form.) In our initial trials, several Si sources and rates were evaluated. Based on concentrations of Si in media and leaf tissue, and overall plant performance, we zeroed in on an optimal Si source and rate.

Sun Gro’s Silicon Trials

At that point, it was time for a trial blast! We tested Si in fourteen commercially important spring annuals grown in peat- and bark-based mixes. Seed germination trials with vegetables, annuals, and ornamental grasses were also conducted. Positive results from these proof-of-concept tests lead to the creation of Si-containing RESiLIENCE™ mixes!  RESILIENCE™ is Sun Gro’s brand name for growing mixes enriched
with silicon.

In the next set of trials, summer annuals, perennials, vegetables (direct-sown in jumbo 6-packs), and poinsettias were grown in RESiLIENCE™ mixes that were made on the line at Sun Gro’s manufacturing facility in Anderson, SC. Testing also included plug-production trials with seeds and cuttings in Resilience™ germination/propagation mixes.

Although growth responses to Si varied among plant species and even cultivars, there were some general trends that were prevalent in most plants. Annuals and vegetables that exhibited positive growth responses in RESiLIENCE™ mixes were compiled. Compared with our standard mixes, and based on a root rating scale, the RESiLIENCE™ grown plant roots were visible in up to 40% more of the substrate. Better rooting enhances nutrient uptake and provides greater support for the shoots (Figure 1). Plants grown in RESiLIENCE™ took up to 77% more hours to wilt after water was withheld (Figure 2). This translates into increased shelf-life in retail settings. RESiLIENCE™ mixes promoted thicker stems and earlier flowering: up to 12% increase in stem diameter, and up to 13% earlier flowering (Figures 3 and 4). In finished production, earlier flower development equals fewer days to market. In addition to these typical responses, RESiLIENCE™-grown poinsettias and snapdragons also had stronger and thicker branches and were more compact with denser foliage than those grown in the standard mixes (Figures 5 and 6).

Plug production is inherently different than finished plant production. Growth measurements were evaluated on the entire plug tray rather than individual plants. Germination percentage was obtained on the seed propagation trials at ten days. For both seed and cutting propagation trials, other measurements were taken when the trays were at market stage. Stand (% yield) was assessed on entire trays. Root growth ratings and stem diameter were also collected.

Germination percentage was equal between standard and RESiLIENCE™ mixes. Similar to what we saw in finished production, RESiLIENCE™ plugs had up to 97% better rooting and up to 33% thicker stems. Plugs are considered to be market-ready when the whole plug can be easily pulled from the tray – intact. Since roots help hold the plug together, enhanced rooting equates to fewer days to market. Thicker stems mean less damage to young plants during shipping and transplant.

Satisfied that RESiLIENCE™ mixes worked well for most peat and bark based mixes, we turned our attention to mixes containing coir or high amounts of vermiculite and organic mixes. Also, we trialed Resilience™ mixes with the addition of biologicals and with plant growth regulators to be certain that Resilience™ mixes would not interfere with these commonly used products or cause interactions that could be harmful to plants.

Sun Gro’s Silicon Research Conclusions

At this point, numerous commercially important horticultural crops have been trialed in several different soilless substrates in many types of plant production schemes. Most of this work has been accomplished at the Sun Gro Horticulture Discovery Center. Additionally, there have been several RESiLIENCE™ mix trials conducted independently at universities and with professional growers who have seen the same results of better rooting and thicker stems.

After such thorough evaluation, we are confident that RESiLIENCE™ mixes enhance containerized plants by providing them with the beneficial element, Silicon. Sun Gro offers RESiLIENCE™ mixes to both professional and retail customers. Various mixes are offered that take plants from seed and cutting propagation to finished production.