Sun Gro® Horticulture is proud of its exclusive potting mix additive, RESiLIENCE®, our trade name for horticultural silicon (Si), a beneficial plant substance. RESiLIENCE® is an all-natural, water-soluble mineral that is included as an ingredient in many Black Gold® mixes. RESiLIENCE®-enhanced growing mixes are enriched with beneficial silicon—a technology developed by the company’s own research horticulturists.
Potting mixes fortified with RESiLIENCE® could offer gardeners real growing benefits. Numerous trials have shown that plants grown in RESiLIENCE®-enhanced mixes may exhibit:
- Improved Trichome Development
- Earlier Flowering
- Better Root Growth
- Longer Time Before Wilting
- Increased Stem Diameter
- And Quicker Recovery from Infrequent Watering
In some trials, certain species of container- and garden-grown plants were also found to recover better from less-than-perfect watering, which may give your potted plants an edge on hot, sunny days.
Gardeners have had additional questions about RESiLIENCE®. Here are some of the most common FAQs:
What are the benefits of RESiLIENCE®-enhanced mixes?
Time and time again, research at universities, commercial grower trials, and the Sun Gro Horticulture Discovery Center, supported positive growing results with RESiLIENCE®. The results were impressive in over 40 common bedding plants tested, such as red salvia, snapdragons, calibrachoa, verbena, and black-eyed-Susans. The plants tested showed visible increases in plant growth and vigor in addition to better roots and stems, earlier flowering, and delayed wilting.
Do RESiLIENCE®-enhanced mixes benefit all garden plants?
We cannot be certain, but positive research results were shown in a wide variety of common bedding plants. For the plants tested, week-by-week growth data was collected in a controlled greenhouse setting. Tests were conducted using Black Gold®, Fafard®, and Sunshine Advanced® retail mixes as well as Sun Gro’s Sunshine®, Fafard® and Metro Mix® professional lines of peat-based and bark-based growing and propagation mixes. All of the mixes trialed were fortified with the same level of RESiLIENCE®.
According to Janet Rippy, Ph.D., lead researcher of the RESiLIENCE® program at the Sun Gro Discovery Center, “Results may vary by species, growing conditions, and growing practices, but after extensive research and trialing, we are confident that RESiLIENCE® mixes may benefit plant growth in numerous important horticultural plants.”
The research is ongoing, but as we learn more, the benefits become increasingly clear. Silicon-enriched RESiLIENCE® mixes may offer natural growing support to container plants grown indoors or out. Savvy gardeners should seek growing mixes with valuable RESiLIENCE® additive.
Snapdragon ‘Twinny Violet’ grown with and without RESiLIENCE® at the Sun Gro Discovery Center, showing evidence of stronger stems, more compact growth.[/caption]
How do RESiLIENCE®-enhanced mixes work?
Plants take up easy-to-absorb RESiLIENCE® beneficial silicon from the roots and draw it up into stems and foliage. This all-natural, water-soluble mineral may provide reinforcement to make plants tougher and more resilient and help them cope better with environmental stresses. Stronger stems and longer time before wilting can help plants with durability, wind-resistance, and the stresses of drought.
See the RESiLIENCE® difference!
Thus far, the research results have been so impressive that we believe RESiLIENCE® silicon-enriched growing mixes will become the new standard for gardeners. Why? Because we have been able to see the results in carefully conducted studies and trials. When you use Sun Gro’s quality potting mixes enriched with RESiLIENCE® your plants may be stronger, last longer, and recover more quickly from infrequent or inconsistent watering. Try these mixes, and we hope that you will see the difference!
Where can I find RESiLIENCE® mixes?
Selected Black Gold®, Fafard®, Sunshine®, and Sunshine Advanced® products contain RESiLIENCE® technology in addition to many of Sun Gro’s professional products. To find a retailer near you, please visit our Store Finder.