Find out how and when to use silicon for citrus recovery from the citrus experts at UF/IFAS.
With all the damage caused by the cold and freeze conditions in Florida at the end of January, “Silicon (Si) is getting a lot of attention from citrus growers as a tool to help trees handle stress,” says a UF/IFAS Tip of the Week article. According to the article, silicon “toughens up plant tissues, strengthens cell walls, and helps trees better handle stress when it is applied at the right time.” The article shares how and when to use silicon for citrus recovery. See the details below.
How and When to Use Silicon
The article shares the following information concerning how and when to use silicon:
When: The article shares that “The most important thing to remember is that Si works as a preventive tool, not a last-minute fix when a freeze is already in the forecast.”
It adds these points:
- “Si applications for freeze protection should start well before winter arrives. In North and Central Florida, the best time to begin is late summer to early fall, typically August through September.”
- “At this time, trees are still actively growing and can take up Si through both roots and leaves. Si builds up slowly in plant tissues, so giving it several weeks or months before cold weather is critical if you want to achieve real benefits.”
- “After a freeze event, Si can be very helpful as part of a recovery program.”
How:
- “For citrus, a combination of soil (drench or fertigation) and foliar applications at 200 parts per million (ppm) of Si has proven to be most effective.”
- “Soil applications help establish a baseline level of Si in the tree roots, while foliar sprays reinforce leaf and stem strength. Products containing monosilicic acid tend to be more readily absorbed by the plant.”
- After a freeze, “Foliar plus soil applications at about 200 ppm, applied every 15 days for three to four times, followed by monthly treatments, can help reduce stress, support new growth and prepare trees for any additional cold events later in the season.”
Griffin Fertilizer is committed to helping both growers and ranchers make sound agronomic and economic decisions in order to maximize the health of their grove and pasture. As a full-service custom dry & liquid fertilizer blender and crop protection product distributor, we will continue our mission to further advance Florida agriculture. For questions or concerns about your farm or pasture, contact us and one of our team will be in touch.