“I’ve normally had to spray my roses for aphids at least once by this time of the year. The only thing different this year is that I used Cascade Minerals Remineralizing Soil Booster. As you can see, no aphids (predators can easily take care of the few that do appear).”

His story is not unusual. Take the case of Tso-Cheng Chang, an organic farmer in Amherst, Massachusetts (read more on Remineralize the Earth’s website, here). According to Chang, simply applying rock dust to his plants every year makes them strong and healthy, and resistant to aphids and Japanese beetles.

The Beetle-Battling Secret Behind Rock Dust

The science behind the solution is silicon. A key component of cell walls, silicon (Si) improves plant structure and increases resistance to pests and disease. Plants that don’t have access to soluble silicon in the soil are stressed out, weak, and unable to resist injuries causes by insects and pests.

After oxygen, silicon is the second most abundant element in the earth’s crust—which brings up the question, “If there is so much silicon in the soil, why do plants suffer from silicon deficiency in the first place?”

The problem lies with the form of silicon that can be absorbed by plants. Only a small fraction of silicon in our agricultural soils is soluble and plant-ready. That’s why it’s so important to supplement the soil with an all-natural and soluble source of silicon, i.e., one that is readily available for plant growth.

The Superior Benefits of Basalt

One of the best sources of such silicon is volcanic basalt, the rock that you’ll find in every bag of Cascade Minerals Remineralizing Soil Booster. Compared to other volcanic rocks, basalt weather quickly which means it breaks down readily in soil. Adding silicon back to soil that has been depleted of this essential element not only makes it easier for plants to ward off plant-eating insects, but it also improves plant resistance to leaf and foliar diseases (like downy mildew).

This year, as you think about pest management, think about silicon—aphids will hate it, but your plants will thrive!

The post How Rock Dust Boosts Plants’ Resistance to Aphids and Other Pesky Pests appeared first on Cascade Minerals.

In this short follow-up video, Rich explains how certain plants—like zinnias and other plants with “rough,” or “scratchy,” leaves—accumulate higher levels of silicon than others. These higher levels of silicon provide an advantage when it comes to warding off plant-eating insects and battling diseases such as dewy mildew.

For best results, add silicon to your soil with an all-natural product like Cascade Minerals Remineralizing Soil Booster. Made of volcanic basalt from Central Oregon, it contains no synthetic materials and is listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) for use in organic production.

The post Silicon’s Contribution to Plant Health and Vitality appeared first on Cascade Minerals.

Listen as agronomist Rich Affeldt discusses how silicon added to soil helps make plants more resistant to pests and disease:

An essential component of the cell wall of all plant cells, silicon is also found in the rough, spiny structures of cucurbits (cucumbers, melons, squash, etc.) as well as in some flowers like zinnias.

In fact, anything with a “scratchy” feeling is likely to be a silicon structure that the plant has produced to ward off predators and pests. What agronomists and horticulturists are learning is that adding silicon to soil or soil media is an excellent way to improve plant resistance to leaf and foliar diseases (such as downy mildew). It also makes it easier for plants to ward off plant-eating insects so they stay strong and healthy.

Last but not least, gardeners can rest assured that there is no danger to plants of adding “too much” Cascade Minerals Remineralizing Soil Booster. Made of all-natural volcanic basalt, the product is listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) for use in organic production and is safe to use around children and pets. That said, a little bit goes a long way in nourishing the soil and ensuring the long-term health and vitality of the plants that grow in it.

The post Add Silicon to Soil to Make Plants More Resistant to Pests and Disease appeared first on Cascade Minerals.