Molasses-How much per gallon Water?

James87

James87

Active Member
Adding sugars is feeding the soil, not the plant. However, while researching cloning, one of the things horticulturists use instead of rooting hormones is regular honey. Wiki says honey "gets its sweetness from the monosaccharides fructose and glucose", and apparently a plant can use this directly. I don't know about through its roots, but it can be added to the water when you're trying to get roots.

I hate to copy paste but I found this on wiki when looking up what kind of sugar blackstrap is.. (its sucrose btw)

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The calorie content of blackstrap molasses is still mostly from the small remaining sugar content.[SUP][2][/SUP] However, unlike refined sugars, it contains trace amounts of vitamins and significant amounts of several minerals. Blackstrap molasses is a source of calcium, magnesium, potassium, and iron.
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Superman44108

Superman44108

Active Member
i never used any kind of sugar in the soil. was scared that it would crystallize and fuck up my babies. but i might give it a shot. happy growing and as always, stay smokey :leaf:
 
James87

James87

Active Member
Its worth mentioning that its only useful in organic soils, where organisms break down stuff (feeding the soil) and that stuff is then useful to the plant. If you're just using soil-less or some kind of mixture of peat/vermiculite/etc then the plant can only benefit from the minerals and the sucrose will build up in the soil.
 
LT1RX7 Drifter

LT1RX7 Drifter

Active Member
James87 said:
Adding sugars is feeding the soil, not the plant. However, while researching cloning, one of the things horticulturists use instead of rooting hormones is regular honey. Wiki says honey "gets its sweetness from the monosaccharides fructose and glucose", and apparently a plant can use this directly. I don't know about through its roots, but it can be added to the water when you're trying to get roots.

I hate to copy paste but I found this on wiki when looking up what kind of sugar blackstrap is.. (its sucrose btw)

===============
The calorie content of blackstrap molasses is still mostly from the small remaining sugar content.[SUP][2][/SUP] However, unlike refined sugars, it contains trace amounts of vitamins and significant amounts of several minerals. Blackstrap molasses is a source of calcium, magnesium, potassium, and iron.
===============
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i can confirm the use of honey as a cloning aid as it was used in my horticultural science course in college, the largest reasons why is its natural antibiotic properties and the fact the simple sugars are as broke down as possible for plant *matabalization(spelling), i must also note its the variety of clover honey that is used
 
Snafu1236

Snafu1236

Well-Known Member
cannatricks said:
Snafu, I have read some Teaming. I agree 100% with your post but didn't want to confuse the issue. NPK is a different issue here because the nutrients from the molasses can not be taken in by the plant directly. So all you reading this going "OO molasses has lots of K, I'm gonna use the a ton!" It won't work unless you are organically growing with an active microherd in the first place.
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Yes, you are correct here.

The general NPK values of molasses that I posted here are essentially for the microherd, giving them a wider array of energy sources. The microherd is really what is feeding the plant.

Hit my signature to see a pretty efficient style of organic growing. My mantra is "For the love of roots". I focus mainly on microherd populations, with a 60/40 fungal/bacterial ratio. It is stated that cannabis prefers more bacterially-dominated soils, however I have found better results in general with a more fungally dominated microherd for cannabis.

Fruiting trees and shrubs, especially tomatoes, thrive much more in a bacteria dominated microherd. Essentially, forests like fugnus, farms like bacteria.
 
BigRedKev

BigRedKev

Active Member
so my question after reading all of this is, since the fox farm line up has stuff to feed the microherd, ( microbe brew ) and the herd itself i think ( kangaroots ) im not sure on that im a novice, so would molasses work with the grow big and tiger bloom since they are not 100% organic, though i also believe fox farm has a more natural fert than others, correct me if im wrong..i know the big bloom is organic, worm castings, guano etc. so i just got molasses again because during my first ever cycle i did a 100% organic soil mix and all products of miracle grow believe it or not, using organic alaska fish and bloom ferts /w the molass and the WW strain turned out incredibley amazing. so is the molasses going to work with the fox farm ferts, and if soil is the reason, my soil is mostly fox farm happy frog which has the microbes in it too..i just also note that microbe brew says derived from and lists a bunch of ingredients, and molasses is one.
 
A

az2000

Well-Known Member
BigRedKev said:
so would molasses work with the grow big and tiger bloom since they are not 100% organic,
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I think so. I grow "organic'ish." Pro-Mix HP has myco. My nutrients aren't organic but have organic components. I add 1-2ml/gal molasses to every watering, even in veg. Just to provide some carbs to the root environment (rhizosphere). I don't do 15ml (tablespoon) doses in flower. Just a continuous small dose.

@churchhaze posted recently (<<link) that sugar can create a hypertonic condition (osmosis) where water flows out of the plant. So, I don't think I'd do large doses. Just a little taste for the organisms in the soil.

If you go to the next page (of that link) I posted something (<<link) I found about sugar-mineral exchange. How the plant will translocate carbs (from the leaves) to the rhizosphere to feed the myco, and in return receive more nutrients. So, I think it makes sense to supply a little sugar to assist that symbiotic relationship so the plant doesn't have to give up as much.

I agree with the poster who said synthetic-nute users shouldn't bother because synthetic nutes depress soil biology. But, I don't think it's an either/or proposition. It's common for synthetic growers to feed water-only to help the soil biology to recover. But, I agree that if a synthetic grower wants to feed the soil biology they should probably consider nutrients with more organic sources. That would probably have more effect than tossing 15ml of molasses in the soil.
 
BigRedKev

BigRedKev

Active Member
az2000 said:
I think so. I grow "organic'ish." Pro-Mix HP has myco. My nutrients aren't organic but have organic components. I add 1-2ml/gal molasses to every watering, even in veg. Just to provide some carbs to the root environment (rhizosphere). I don't do 15ml (tablespoon) doses in flower. Just a continuous small dose.

@churchhaze posted recently (<<link) that sugar can create a hypertonic condition (osmosis) where water flows out of the plant. So, I don't think I'd do large doses. Just a little taste for the organisms in the soil.

If you go to the next page (of that link) I posted something (<<link) I found about sugar-mineral exchange. How the plant will translocate carbs (from the leaves) to the rhizosphere to feed the myco, and in return receive more nutrients. So, I think it makes sense to supply a little sugar to assist that symbiotic relationship so the plant doesn't have to give up as much.

I agree with the poster who said synthetic-nute users shouldn't bother because synthetic nutes depress soil biology. But, I don't think it's an either/or proposition. It's common for synthetic growers to feed water-only to help the soil biology to recover. But, I agree that if a synthetic grower wants to feed the soil biology they should probably consider nutrients with more organic sources. That would probably have more effect than tossing 15ml of molasses in the soil.
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great info az, ill check out the link you are talking about and i might try the smaller dosage route instead of a tablespoon every other watering.


Diabolical666 said:
I been growing the same 8 stains perpetually for 3 years...tried the mollasses for the entire flowering and noticed zero difference. In the trash it went.
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however you didnt give any info as to if you are synthetic or 100% organic which is what we are basing the effect of molasses on..
 
B

bbxww

Well-Known Member
cannatricks said:
This whole thread is filled with hearsay and myths...

Molasses is used to encourage microherd growth in organically grown soils. If you are using chemical nutrients the molasses is doing just about nothing. Molasses works by feeding microorganisms in your soil with sugars and organic matter, in turn the extra growth of bacteria can break down the organic materials in your soil; releasing the nutrients from the organic compounds.

If you are doing an organic grow, do a ton more research. Understanding the microherd and the relationship between fungus-bacteria-soil-plant is essential if you want to do it right.

If your growing with a nute line, skip the molasses, your plant doesn't need carbs, nor does it need sugar to attract bugs.
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Feed the soil and the soil feeds the plant. ORGANICS!
 
KLITE

KLITE

Well-Known Member
I use molasses every 2nd or 3rd watering from week 2 of flowering onwards at 1 tbsp per gallon and at 2 tbsp per gallon the very last watering. I have in the past tried using 2 tbsp per liter the whole grow with no added benefit. I also begin at 0.5 tbsp the first time i give molasses.
This will only work right if you use no bottled nutes ime.
 
Dr. Who

Dr. Who

Well-Known Member
Snafu1236 said:
You must've read Teaming:) My man!!!

Though you have pointed out probably the biggest reason on the benefits, molasses does provide more than a carbohydrate energy source to the soil food web.

Averaging an NPK of 1-0-5, molasses contains potash, sulfur, and quite a feww trace minerals; it can serve as both an excellent chelating agent and a soil conditioner.

It is interesting, however, that oatmeal isn't used more. Powdered baby oatmeal is actually a more stable carbohydrate source for fungal mychorrizae. Molasses has a wider spectrum for both bacterial and fungal applications, however.

Funny how some people are like: "molasses made my buds taste soo sweet". LoL.

Glad to see some truth here...+rep
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I add Baby Oatmeal to my soil building at 1 cup per Cft. Goood stuff!

cannatricks said:
Snafu, I have read some Teaming. I agree 100% with your post but didn't want to confuse the issue. NPK is a different issue here because the nutrients from the molasses can not be taken in by the plant directly. So all you reading this going "OO molasses has lots of K, I'm gonna use the a ton!" It won't work unless you are organically growing with an active microherd in the first place.
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Not exactly true......The use of synthetic nutrients do not kill off the micro heard....completely..It can with severe over use....sure don't do it any good! Water, feed, water, feed - helps a bit to keep the herd alive......use an AACT tea once a week to put the lost herd members back in play......I don't run that way, except for a very small percentage of a few plants - strain specific much anymore.....It does work though - for me - when I do.....
So actually Molasses does help in a limited way in synthetic runs too.....I would NEVER add more then 1tsp per gallon.


Unless I was making an AACT tea with it..

I think kelp extracts work better for many things that many people think molasses works well for in synthetic runs!

Doc
 
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E

Extacie

Well-Known Member
cannatricks said:
This whole thread is filled with hearsay and myths...

Molasses is used to encourage microherd growth in organically grown soils. If you are using chemical nutrients the molasses is doing just about nothing. Molasses works by feeding microorganisms in your soil with sugars and organic matter, in turn the extra growth of bacteria can break down the organic materials in your soil; releasing the nutrients from the organic compounds.

If you are doing an organic grow, do a ton more research. Understanding the microherd and the relationship between fungus-bacteria-soil-plant is essential if you want to do it right.

If your growing with a nute line, skip the molasses, your plant doesn't need carbs, nor does it need sugar to attract bugs.
Click to expand...
Finally some good accurate info. Ive noticed increased yields and my plants seem super happy when I feed them molasses (in AACT) at 1tsp/gallon even when using synthetic nutrients. Could this be since i am feeding them a tea which has beneficials in it, or maybe because I keep beneficials artificially high with GWS? Although I did notice it helps out that much more in my organic grows.
 
E

Extacie

Well-Known Member
Dr. Who said:
I add Baby Oatmeal to my soil building at 1 cup per Cft. Goood stuff!



Not exactly true......The use of synthetic nutrients do not kill off the micro heard....completely..It can with severe over use....sure don't do it any good! Water, feed, water, feed - helps a bit to keep the herd alive......use an AACT tea once a week to put the lost herd members back in play......I don't run that way, except for a very small percentage of a few plants - strain specific much anymore.....It does work though - for me - when I do.....
So actually Molasses does help in a limited way in synthetic runs too.....I would NEVER add more then 1tsp per gallon.


Unless I was making an AACT tea with it..

I think kelp extracts work better for many things that many people think molasses works well for in synthetic runs!

Doc
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This is what I've been reading a lot recently. That synthetics generally don't kill off ALL of the micro herd, but just makes it a poor environment for them and makes it hard to thrive so the population decreases instead of thriving. I actually read in one article that you would litterally have to give the plant so much synthetic nutes to kill the plant before it would wipe out all micros. As far as if that's true or not, I don't know? correction?

I've been reading about probiotics in humans recently.. It's crazy how similar plants and people are, especially when talking about beneficials/microbes.
 
P

peteski72

Active Member
I'm a believer molasses has it's place during flower stage because it improves smell, taste and gives you a smoother smoke. It contributes to the micro nutrients as well as many other ( expensive ) flushing products. It only needs a table:hug:spoon per gallon once a week or every other watering schedule. Ah sweet stuff making it sweeter. With all fertilizer regimen always start with 1/2 to 1/4 of recommended applications. Remember with every grow cycle we learn a little more what amounts work with a varying dosages. Instinctual sense of wonder. Put on a happy face and have fun with Mother natures treats.:sleep:
:wall: bongsmilie:bigjoint:
 
hybridcheef

hybridcheef

Active Member
yea i defiantly think molasses has a place in soiless media's no matter how many people wanna say it wont help with synthetic nutes i disagree. i use GH base with some molasses and MPK and i can defiantly tell a difference in my flowers and iv been doing it for years. if i stopped i can garauntee my buds wont be as big.
 
Dr. Who

Dr. Who

Well-Known Member
Unless you have living bio's in the media.
It's not doing much of anything - at all.

It's used in making AACT to feed the living bio's so they reproduce in large amounts.
In any direct contact media use (including soil), the amounts of any plant usable nutrition is so low after mixing in your molasses. That it's not making any real effective difference.

The use of molasses to increase bud size, or more commonly heard, flavors. Is an old school hippie myth started in the 70's. Bout the same as "flushing"....

In reality, molasses should never be added to hydroponic grows..... Ed R. says so, even Jorge agree's...
 
chemphlegm

chemphlegm

Well-Known Member
LT1RX7 Drifter said:
i can confirm the use of honey as a cloning aid as it was used in my horticultural science course in college, the largest reasons why is its natural antibiotic properties and the fact the simple sugars are as broke down as possible for plant *matabalization(spelling), i must also note its the variety of clover honey that is used
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considering all of these cloning methods work very well for me.....
Scrape and poke into damp soil, honey, aloe vera, knox gelatin, willow water, clonex, agar....honey doesnt have anything special that makes my cloning experience any better, only stickier, tastier to fungus gnats and ants though for sure. I once sprouted a seed in a wet sponge....must be a good way to do it......nahh
 
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