{"product_id":"hy-gen-budlink","title":"Hy-Gen BUDLINK – Liquid Silica Plant Strengthener","description":"\u003ch2\u003eSilica is the cheapest structural upgrade a plant can have\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBUDLINK\u003c\/strong\u003e is Hy-Gen's liquid silica supplement, on the market since \u003cstrong\u003e1997\u003c\/strong\u003e and still the reference product in its category. Silicon is not classed as an essential element, which is why most base feeds leave it out — but plants take it up readily and deposit it directly into their \u003cstrong\u003ecell walls\u003c\/strong\u003e, which is what produces thicker stems, firmer leaves and a physical barrier that chewing insects and fungal spores have to get through first. It works in any medium and any system, and because it is \u003cstrong\u003estrongly alkaline\u003c\/strong\u003e it doubles as a pH-up agent.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eKey Benefits\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBuilds it into the plant, not around it\u003c\/strong\u003e — soluble silica is deposited in the cell walls themselves, so the effect is structural rather than a coating\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThicker stems and firmer leaves\u003c\/strong\u003e — more weight supported without staking, and less lodging under a heavy canopy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA physical barrier to pests and disease\u003c\/strong\u003e — hardened cell walls are measurably harder for biting insects and fungal hyphae to penetrate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCuts water loss\u003c\/strong\u003e through the leaf surface, which matters most in hot, dry or high-light conditions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDoubles as pH up\u003c\/strong\u003e — highly alkaline, so it lifts a low reservoir while it feeds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWorks in any medium\u003c\/strong\u003e — coco, clay, perlite, vermiculite, peat and NFT alike\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWeak Stems That Cannot Hold the Plant Up\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eA plant grown fast on a rich feed puts on more top than its stems were built for, and the result is \u003cstrong\u003eexcessive stretch\u003c\/strong\u003e, drooping laterals and stems that crease under their own weight. Feeding harder makes it worse. Silica is the missing input: the plant uses it to stiffen the structure it already has, so growth that would otherwise flop stays upright. The same hardened cell walls that hold the plant up are what make it harder for insects to bite and for fungal spores to establish, which is why silica is usually the first additive a grower adds after the base feed.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow to Use\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRecirculating hydroponics:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e2.5–5ml per litre\u003c\/strong\u003e of nutrient solution\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRun-to-waste and hand watering:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e3ml per litre\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFoliar:\u003c\/strong\u003e apply to the leaf for fast uptake and a surface barrier against airborne spores and chewing insects\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMix it FIRST:\u003c\/strong\u003e stir it thoroughly into a few litres of water before it goes into the reservoir — added neat to a full tank it will not disperse evenly\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThen correct the reservoir:\u003c\/strong\u003e it raises both \u003cstrong\u003eEC and pH\u003c\/strong\u003e, so set those back to target afterwards, not before\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTiming:\u003c\/strong\u003e usable from cutting right through to the end of the cycle\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"hcs-specs\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTechnical Specifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e soluble silica supplement\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDose, recirculating:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2.5–5ml per litre\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDose, run-to-waste or hand watering:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3ml per litre\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003epH effect:\u003c\/strong\u003e strongly alkaline — also usable as pH up\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEC effect:\u003c\/strong\u003e raises TDS, re-check after adding\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSuitable media:\u003c\/strong\u003e coco, clay pebbles, perlite, vermiculite, peat, rockwool and NFT\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStage:\u003c\/strong\u003e cutting through to end of flowering\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFoliar:\u003c\/strong\u003e yes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hy-Gen","offers":[{"title":"1L","offer_id":53621302362378,"sku":"NUT-HYGE-001-01","price":19.9,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"5L","offer_id":53621302427914,"sku":"NUT-HYGE-001-02","price":51.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"20L","offer_id":53621302460682,"sku":"NUT-HYGE-001-03","price":198.45,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0748\/7127\/5786\/files\/hy-gen-budlink-1l-1.png?v=1788432584","url":"https:\/\/hydrocropshop.co.uk\/products\/hy-gen-budlink","provider":"Hydro Crop Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}