Silicon 101: Unlocking Plant Potential with a New Biostimulant

Wednesday, February 12, 2025, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

This 3-hour webinar will focus on the use of silicon in greenhouse production. Greenhouse producers, nursery growers, and others interested in the use of biostimulants in ornamental plant production are encourage to attend. This event is sponsored by SoluSil LLC.

Time: 9 AM – 12:00 PM, there will be time for Q&A

Host: Mina Vescera, Nursery/Landscape Specialist, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County

Silicon: A Plant Beneficial Nutrient for Horticultural Crops
Muhammad Shahid, PhD, Assistant Professor of Horticulture/Plant Physiologist, University of Florida/IFAS, Horticultural Science Department, NFREC Quincy

Biostimulants have been known by different names such as plant strengtheners, agricultural biostimulants, organic biostimulants. Silicon is one of many different biostimulants which improves plant growth, development, disease-insect resistance, and abiotic stress tolerance. We will explore some of these effects and talk about ways you can add silicon to your plant health management systems for sustainable ornamental production.

Success Stories of SoluSil
Sean Mehta, Owner, SoluSil LLC.

The owner of SoluSil will discuss his years of diverse experience and knowledge in Silicon and review the 25+ years of evaluating silicon in horticultural production.

Managing Plant Stress in Ornamental Crops Using Silicon
Jennifer Boldt, Research Horticulturist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service

Silicon can be used to manage abiotic and biotic stresses in crops. This talk will highlight some of the research that our lab has conducted to evaluate the use of supplemental silicon in greenhouse crops for post-harvest handling of cuttings, heavy metal toxicity, chilling injury, and powdery mildew control.

Using Silicon to Improve Stress Tolerance of Floriculture Crops
Neil Mattson, Professor, School of Integrative Plant Science Horticulture Section

Neil will review research that evaluated use of silicon nutrition in preventing Pythium in Snapdragon and New Guinea impatiens. He will also discuss trials where silicon use improved abiotic stress tolerance (salt, drought, and heat) of several floriculture crop species including petunias, poinsettias, and New Guinea impatiens. Neil will also discuss practical implications for applying silicon as a substrate amendment or water-soluble fertilizer.