Have you ever wondered about using colloidal silver in your garden, to control plant fungus and other infections that can destroy crops, or dramatically limit crop yields? Well, here’s an interesting study demonstrating the fact that antimicrobial silver is not only effective against plant fungus, but also helps increase crop quality and size. Here’s what you need to know…
In this breakthrough study, published in the March 2010 issue of the journal Mycobiology, researchers found that applying varying levels of silver nanoparticles to the roots of green onion plants completely eradicated Sclerotium cepivorum fungal infections known to destroy the plants.
Not only did the application of silver nanoparticles destroy the pathogenic plant fungus, but according to the study authors, it caused no significant harm to beneficial soil microbes needed by the green onion plants for growth, nor was there any negative change in the soil chemistry or composition.
Bigger and Better Crops with Colloidal Silver
What’s more, the nanosilver-treated green onion plants, once harvested, were demonstrated to have grown larger and to weigh more than the non-treated green onion plants.
According to the researchers:
“We applied different concentrations of nanosilver (10 ppm, 23 ppm, 50 ppm, and 100 ppm) at the base of each plant four times each week for up to four weeks.
After five months, the roots of the plants were observed and the dry weight was measured after drying it in the drying machine at 80 degrees.
The fresh weight of the harvested green onion was also measured.
…Both the fresh weight and the dry weight of the treated plants increased. The onions treated with the nanosilver liquid had more weight than the non-treated or controls.”
That’s astonishing, of course, because it means the use of antimicrobial silver actually increased crop weight and therefore crop yield as well.
Do the Plants Know How Much Silver They Need?
Finally, the researchers pointed out that the more they increased the use of nanosilver on the green onion plants in order to test what higher levels of silver would do to the plants, the less silver the plants absorbed.
The researchers stated, “When the amount of nano-silver was calculated in the plants grown in nano-silver treated soil, it was found that the concentration of nano-silver used for treatment and the concentration of nano-silver found in the plants was inversely proportional.”
In other words, the plants themselves apparently reduce absorption of the silver when high levels are used on them to control the plant blight.
This appears to mean the plants only absorbed what they needed for protection and healing, and then stop absorbing the silver after protective levels have been reached.
Staggering Implications
The conclusion drawn by the study researchers was staggering in its implications.
If further studies demonstrate these same results to be applicable to all crops, it would revolutionize farming (and gardening as well).
The researchers wrote:
“This research has shown that nano-silver liquid can increase plant productivity and reduce environmental pollution…
…Nano-silver liquid for the prevention of various plant pathogenic fungi is highly recommended to farmers.
Additionally… it is safe for the environment and agricultural products.
In conclusion, we can say that by using nano-silver liquid, environmental pollution and the excessive use of chemical compounds in the field can be reduced.
It is expected that the application of nano-silver at low concentrations will be economic, eco-friendly, and decrease farm management costs.”
Gardeners have reported great results like this for decades. But of course, anecdotal accounts don’t prove anything. They are just indicators.
It is studies like the above that provide bona-fide documentation of silver’s highly beneficial uses for crop plants.
Why Does the Silver Work So Well?
According to the Journal of Food and Chemistry, the reason silver works against plant fungi is that it’s rapidly taken up by fungal spores, which in turn stops germination of the fungus.
“Silver is taken up rapidly by fungus spores, so that germination can be completely inhibited after a contact time of 1 minute or less.
Only mercury( I) and (II), and to a lesser extent copper, offer serious competition.”
— Miller, Lawrence P., and McCallan, S.E.A. 1957. Toxic action of metal ions to fungus spores. Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 5(2), 116-122.
It’s interesting to note that the above quote is from a study published way back in 1957. This means silver’s effectiveness against fungal pathogens that harm crops has been known for over 55 years.
And yet, because of resistance from the giant chemical conglomerates which supply the potentially toxic synthetic chemicals used in farming, the use of antimicrobial silver to stop plant blight and associated fungal infections has still never been implemented on a wide scale basis in farming.
Of course, the radical anti-silver environmentalists will scream bloody murder and argue that silver nanoparticles should not be used on plant crops because they pose an imminent “danger to the environment.”
This, in spite of the fact that the latest studies have demonstrated there is no ecoloigcal harm whatsoever from silver in the environment. (Not to mention the fact that silver comes from the environment in the first place.)
So you have to look at underlying agenda when you hear these loud and sensational cries against the use of silver coming from radical elements within the environmental community.
Often, those who claim to be “protecting the environment,” are in reality merely protecting the global corporate masters who would lose hundreds of billions of dollars in profits if their synthetic chemicals were no longer being used.
More Research and Personal Experiences
The bottom line is this:
A growing body of research is clearly demonstrating the fact that silver has its place in crop disease management, and should be used in place of the potentially toxic chemicals presently being used, and that are losing their effectiveness against pathogens.
Far from damaging or harming crop plants, silver appears to help save them from plant blight, and even increases the overall quality and yield of the crops without causing harm to the soil or surrounding environment.
Independent research seems to dovetail with the results achieved by the researchers in the above study.
For example, Brooks Bradley, of the Harborne Research Foundations has stated of his experiments with the topical use of colloidal silver on plant crops and shrubs:
“…we performed some limited, plant-oriented evaluations utilizing colloidal silver.
Our initial investigation involved experiments designed to determine if colloidal silver would yield beneficial effects on ‘fire-blight’ associated with pear trees and pyracantha shrubs.
The only effective protocol we had found, prior to our colloidal silver evaluations, was the application of streptomycin (water soluble form) in an aerosol spray.
A solution of 10 ppm strength colloidal silver mixed at the rate of 1 pint colloidal silver to 2.5 gallons of water and 1/4 teaspoon household detergent was applied to affected trees (in various states of challenge, from 10% to 50% foliage involvement).
Visually detectable improvement manifested within 48 hours. Marked improvement and pathogenic stabilization evidenced within 72 hours.
New leaf growth – in former areas of heavy attack – started to appear within 7 days of the initial treatment.
This protocol was repeatable (we performed it 4 times).”
And as Dr. Keith F. Courtenay (U.L.C., USA) has stated in his book, Colloidal Silver: the Hidden Truths:
“For all bacterial, fungal and viral attacks on plants, flowers and fruit, simply spray diluted colloidal silver on the leaves; also, add to water, mixing one tablespoon per liter.
I put silver in my hydroponic system to eradicate root rot. A friend of mine grows very rare orchids; these are sold overseas for a large amount of money. He was getting a fungus growing on some of them and they became worthless.
We came up with the idea that the silver might eradicate the fungus, as it does on humans and animals. So why not give it a try?
It worked and he is a very happy man. He has now put a spray system in and all his flowers are sprayed at regular intervals and have never had any trouble since.”
As house plant enthusiast Lisa B. recently wrote on the Colloidal Silver Secrets Community on Facebook:
“We love our new Micro-Particle Colloidal Silver Generator… love it… love it… I have been using the colloidal silver on all kind of things. The neatest so far was this:
I made a 6 hour batch and sprayed enough to just make it wet on mold that had formed in the earth around a house plant.
All signs of the mold are still gone after 4 days. Before that mold would have killed the plant.”
And as another plant enthusiast wrote on the Colloidal Silver Secrets Community on Facebook:
“I add about 1/2 ounce of colloidal silver to the water when I am rooting plant cuttings. No more stagnant water with rotted cuttings.”
On the WebMD.com website, you’ll find the following colloidal silver and plant testimonial from an avid gardener:
“I use it my garden. You should see how lush my Tomato plants look and my Zucchini plants. Wow!
I even spray it on my roses and it gets rid of the aphids and the roses are brilliant in color.”
My wife Kathy has been experimenting with the use of colloidal silver in her garden for many years now. She’s used it a number of times to eradicate tomato plant fungus, and has noted that the tomatoes on the treated plants always seem to be redder and juicier and plumper than tomatoes on untreated plants.
Over the past couple of years she’s also used it, moderately, in the soil around plants that seemed to be infected or were having trouble growing vegetables. As I wrote several years ago in an article “Environmentalists Claim Silver Nanoparticles a Threat to Plant Life”:
“I know of dozens of people who use nanoscale colloidal silver to keep their plants healthier, and make their fruits and vegetables grow faster and stronger in their home gardens.
A non-published experiment during the last growing season demonstrated that tomato seeds planted in soil treated with small amounts of nanosilver produced 30% more sprouts than the same amount of seeds planted in non-silver-treated soil.
What’s more, the plants grew nearly twice as fast over the first 15 days of the experiment before leveling out and growing normally after that. They started out faster, and stayed larger and hardier than the plants in the non-silver-treated soil. That’s a sign of superior health. Not harm.
My wife sprayed her garden with nano-scale colloidal silver all growing season long last year, at least once every week, and sometimes twice…
…and she won a blue ribbon first-place award for her veggies at the local fair. (Not to mention feeding me week after week all summer long with fresh organic squash, tomatoes, black berries, artichokes, cantaloupe and more!)
What’s more, for the first time in over 10 years of gardening, her garden was still producing crops all of the way through to early November, well after the first frost!
I won’t even mention the pot growers who use colloidal silver to produce more potent pot buds.”
For additional information on using colloidal silver in gardening, see Angela Kaelin’s great article, “Using Colloidal Silver for Healthier Fruits and Vegetables.”
Editor’s Note: This article is reprinted with permission from Steve Barwick of The Silver Edge. Thank you, Steve.
COMMENTS(21)
What about the good pathogens and bacteria in the soil? I guess it must be so smart that it doesn’t harm them. All the research showed that Glyphosate was completely safe too.
Simon, scroll about halfway down the article at the following link, and you’ll find details about the study showing no harm to beneficial soil microbes from silver: http://thesilveredge.com/new-study-silver-nanoparticles-do-not-harm-environment.shtml
This is all fine and dandy information, except for the fact that it leaves out where we are supposed to find this stuff. Silver sulfadiazine 1% has been used for years in the treatment of burns for healing and infection prevention. I even used some expired cream years ago on some facial abrasions from falling onto asphalt pavement. I looked terrible for awhile, especially when the white cream turned gray a few hours after application. However, the skin healed perfectly with absolutely no scarring!
Michael, you can purchase colloidal silver at any well-stocked local health food store. Or you can order it online at Amazon.com, or SwansonVitamins.com, or iHerb.com and many other online venues.
I generally recommend people who are new to colloidal silver usage start out with a brand called Sovereign Silver, which is one of the nation’s top brands and is very well-respected. Another top brand is ASAP Colloidal Silver.
After you’ve experienced the infection-fighting benefits of colloidal silver, you’ll most likely want to start making your own, since it’s very easy to make at home with a small, kitchen countertop device called a home colloidal silver generator. A generator allows you to make your own high-quality colloidal silver for less than 36 cents a quart, compared to health food store prices that can range between $20 and $30 for a tiny, four-ounce bottle. Learn more about making your own high-quality colloidal silver at this link: http://thesilveredge.com/howto.shtml
Colloidal / ionic silver is easy and fun to make with pure silver bullion, distilled water, and a DC power supply.
As I understand the concerns of holistic practitioners regarding nano-silver versus colloidal silver, the reluctance centers around mechanisms of transfer on the cellular level. Colloidal silver particles, though very minute, cannot pass into certain types of cell walls and will be eliminated from our bodies when their work is done. It has been a very respected item in my first aid kit for many years. Nano-silver particles are so small that natural cell defense systems cannot keep them out, nor does there appear to be a way to transfer them out of the organs where they might accumulate. Before I’d disseminate nano-silver throughout my body or garden, I’d want to see more research on what happens after a couple of decades of use and study. I’ll pass this along to practitioners who are watching the issue, Steve. Would like to see more dialog on figuring out how to manage nano-tech. Sandy
Sandy, the latest cancer studies I’ve seen demonstrate that nanosilver selectively targets the weak, diseased cells and pretty much leaves healthy cells along. See for example the clinical study on my site where you’ll see the researchers say “Our in vitro studies showed that colloidal silver induced a dose-dependent cell death… without affecting the viability of normal PBMC control cells.”
Also, there’s a lot of good info in the article “New Study: Silver Nanoparticles Do NOT Harm Environment” at this link: http://thesilveredge.com/new-study-silver-nanoparticles-do-not-harm-environment.shtml
Be careful!
From a Mayo Clinic article:
“Colloidal silver isn’t considered safe or effective for any of the health claims manufacturers make. Silver has no known purpose in the body. Nor is it an essential mineral, as some sellers of silver products claim.
Colloidal silver products are made of tiny silver particles suspended in a liquid — the same type of precious metal used in jewelry, dental fillings, silverware and other consumer goods.
Colloidal silver products are usually marketed as dietary supplements that are taken by mouth. Colloidal silver products also come in forms to be injected or applied to the skin.
Manufacturers of colloidal silver products often claim that they are cure–alls, boosting your immune system, fighting bacteria and viruses, and treating cancer, HIV/AIDS, shingles, herpes, eye ailments and prostatitis.
However, no sound scientific studies to evaluate these health claims have been published in reputable medical journals. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration has taken action against some manufacturers of colloidal silver products for making unproven health claims.
It’s not clear how much colloidal silver may be harmful, but it can build up in your body’s tissues over months or years. Most commonly, this results in argyria (ahr–JIR–e–uh), a blue-gray discoloration of your skin, eyes, internal organs, nails and gums. While argyria doesn’t pose a serious health problem, it can be a cosmetic concern because it doesn’t go away when you stop taking silver products.
Rarely, excessive doses of colloidal silver can cause possibly irreversible serious health problems, including kidney damage and neurological problems such as seizures. Colloidal silver products may also interact with medications, including penicillamine (Cuprimine, Depen), quinolone antibiotics, tetracycline and thyroxine (Levothroid, Levoxyl, Synthroid) medications.”
Mayo clinic makes money selling drugs – it is a business first – you should see the new news at http://www.naturalnews.com (the health ranger), that chemo drugs originated from the stock piles of WWI nerve agents… At this point – who knows what to believe anymore…
Linda, that’s the usual litany of abuse heaped upon colloidal silver by members of the orthodox medical establishment who haven’t studied it thoroughly but instead rely on the FDA’s propaganda sheets.
Toxicity studies have shown colloidal silver to be quite safe. See for example this article about one of the most recent toxicity studies in which researchers found that animals overdosed on 5,000 ppm concentration colloidal silver sustained no harm whatsoever: http://www.thesilveredge.com/colloidal-silver-nanoparticles-non-toxic-to-animals-even-at-5,000-ppm.shtml
Also, see “Is Silver a Toxic Heavy Metal?” at this link for more good info: http://www.thesilveredge.com/is-silver-a-toxic-heavy-metal.shtml
The author of the Mayo Clinic piece also says there “no sound scientific studies published in reputable medical journals.” Yet in my research I’ve discovered and posted over 60 bona-fide clinical research studies on The Silver Edge web site, at this link: http://www.thesilveredge.com/studies.shtml.
And frankly, I’ve found dozens more studies that I just haven’t gotten around to posting yet.
Check out what medical authorities, science authorities and clinical researchers who have actually studied colloidal silver say about it on the “Expert Quotes on Colloidal Silver” page at this link: http://www.thesilveredge.com/experts.shtml.
As for the charge that long-term colloidal silver usage can lead to argyria (i.e., skin staining) that’s actually true. Of course, you have to take super-large daily dosages or super-high concentrations daily, for months or even years on end to get enough silver into your system to create this kind of condition. An estimated 10 million people use colloidal silver regularly, yet argyria is extremely rare. You can read more about my warnings on argyria and how to avoid it in the following two articles:
Avoiding Argyria and Other Side Effects When Taking Colloidal Silver: The Simple Solution
http://www.thesilveredge.com/argyria2.shtml
Is Colloidal Silver Safe to Use?
http://www.thesilveredge.com/Is_CS_Safe_to_use.shtml
The bottom line is that there’s not a substance on the face of the earth that’s not problematic at some dosage level. As Paraceles said back in the 1500’s, “The dose is the poison.” In other words, at some dosage level, anything you put in your mouth can be harmful. Colloidal silver is like any other nutritional supplement. If you take it reasonably, with moderation and common sense, there’s no harm. It’s irrational usage (i.e.., excessively high doses or concentrations taken regularly for long periods of time) that can cause problems.
If you haven’t done so already, you might want to obtain a FREE copy of the Colloidal Silver Safe Dosage Report at http://www.ColloidalSilverSafeDosageReport.com
Great article. Colloidal silver is well known by people who use it, so it is nice to see well written articles like this. The exact mechanisms of silver’s action are not completely known, but there are many theories and mechanisms that have been well documented. If you want to use colloidal silver, the best solution is to make it yourself. Now we can have generators in our homes for $150 that make a pure, powerful colloidal silver (CS) that costs us virtually nothing and is very easy to make.
Here is a technical article that is written by trusted experts.
(4) 9 volt batteries and a 10 cent resistor with two wires and an alligator clip will make you a generator just as good as the 500 hundred dollar ones from what i see.. self sufficient means spending less dough… at least to me
James, the 9-volt battery method won’t make colloidal silver “just as good” as the more expensive colloidal silver generators (see Transmission Electron Micrographs of conventional colloidal silver vs micro-particle colloidal silver, here, to see the profound difference in particle size: http://thesilveredge.com/mp5.shtml). But you’re correct; for purposes of being self-sufficient, I’d rather have the 9-volt battery setup than no setup at all. The 9-volt battery setup is extremely easy to put together, and will work even without a resistor; see my short video here on the easiest way to make an emergency home colloidal silver generator: http://thesilveredge.com/video-how-to-make-an-emergency-colloidal-silver-generator.shtml
How do you make colloidal silver “The right way” – there is so much wrong info out there it is hard to get the the actual method. Thanks.
James, I know this is awfully self-serving on my part. But the “right way” to make colloidal silver is to do so with the right equipment. In my previous answer to your previous post, I included a link showing how to make an Emergency Home Colloidal Silver Generator. But if you want to know how to make high-quality colloidal silver with super-small particle size that the body can assimilate, utilize and afterwards excrete without any problems (such as over-sized silver particles accumulating in the body’s tissues and organs) then the commercial route is the best way to go. Here’s an article explaining the difference between conventional colloidal silver generators, and the top-of-the-line model: http://www.thesilveredge.com/how-the-worlds-no-1-best-selling-colloidal-silver-generator-compares-to-all-the-rest.shtml
Again, however, as a prepper myself, I must emphasize that it’s better to have any colloidal silver generator – even a simple battery operated setup as the one shown in my video at the link in my previous comment – than to have no colloidal silver generator at all. I even keep a stock of 9 volt batteries so that, during an emergency when there’s no electricity to run my Micro-Particle Colloidal Silver Generator, I can still make colloidal silver in under an hour. It won’t be the best stuff in the world. And I wouldn’t want to drink it every day, for the long term, due to the possibility of gradual accumulation in the tissues and organs over time. But in the case of an infection during some kind of emergency when doctors might not be available, it will still do the trick, and would likely only need to be taken for a week or so anyway.
Thanks – but as a prepper I am on a meager budget and cant buy every device out there. I’m sure it costs pennies to make that generator – either way, no one gets out alive.
I didn’t see where you said how much Silver your wife used per gallon to spray with. Mind sharing? Thanks
Did you ever get a reply? I would like the amount of silver to dilute for garden use as well.
Hi ive used colloidal silver for many years. I learnt of this through a video YES Vhs tape of Bob Beck.. using the 9v battery method this has successfully healed golden staff in a friends leg after an operation.also a young girl whose leg was destined to be surgically removed due to a spider bite (most likely a bacterial infection )amongst many other ailments.im most interesred in the generators providing a smaller particle size and have been researchimg this thanks for your help and information.
Michael. I have been using this source for almost 10 years.
https://www.purestcolloids.com/mesosilver.php
This is a nano silver product. You can buy this in various sizes from 1/2 liter to 5 gallons.Concentration 20 PPM. Good company. They stand by their product. I use it on everything from cuts and burns to sore throats, conjuctivitis(sp?), etc. I have no monetary affiliation with this company.