Flushing, can you still use molasses?

I am flowering now on my first grow so am wondering if I can use molasses in my water when flushing for the last week or two. If so, how much and how do you mix it with the water? Sorry am a newb. Also any recommended flushing agents? Am using Botanicare and a good local organic soil. Am in the NW for brand availability.

ya you can use the molasses all throughout.
i think fox farm makes a good blackstrap molasses mix. i dont remember the name tho.

carbo load from advanced is the same thing. pretty gud stuff

Why would anyone flush an organic soil after spending the time to build microbe colonies that service various plant requirements? Is that just a carryover habit from hydro growing?

No. Never grew hydro. Soil is really rich and the flavor carries over if not flushed for the last week. My imaginary friend who grows trainwreck with it always has a soil flavor. I like my bud to taste as clean as possible, but I hear that the molasses helps add some nutes and adds sweetness.

the carbohydrates will add a little weight and density but I doubt it will help the taste. It is a gud idea to flush if your using nutrient so that you wont get that bad taste but If you dont use that much nutrient like myself and I water 1 gallon of water to every 3 gallons of soil, I have never really flushed at the end and my shit is str8 fire.

newb1egrower said:

No. Never grew hydro. Soil is really rich and the flavor carries over if not flushed for the last week. My imaginary friend who grows trainwreck with it always has a soil flavor. I like my bud to taste as clean as possible, but I hear that the molasses helps add some nutes and adds sweetness.

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If that theory was correct my cannabis and vegetable plants should taste like the decomposed cow manure I use in my soil mix and they don't. I suggest you take a look at how microbes supply plant needs and what that process involves. It is a fascinating process.

madodah said:

If that theory was correct my cannabis and vegetable plants should taste like the decomposed cow manure I use in my soil mix and they don't. I suggest you take a look at how microbes supply plant needs and what that process involves. It is a fascinating process.

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I agree, no need to flush if your just using good soil. but its all the other shit that people put in the soil that builds up and needs to be flushed.

MrStickyScissors said:

the carbohydrates will add a little weight and density but I doubt it will help the taste. It is a gud idea to flush if your using nutrient so that you wont get that bad taste but If you dont use that much nutrient like myself and I water 1 gallon of water to every 3 gallons of soil, I have never really flushed at the end and my shit is str8 fire.

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Thanks. I use just the karma and pro grow/pro bloom.

MrStickyScissors said:

I agree, no need to flush if your just using good soil. but its all the other shit that people put in the soil that builds up and needs to be flushed.

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Which, if the growing media is properly prepared and includes provisions for water and air retention from normal watering to feed the microbe colonies, are completely unnecessary.

The general public does love its advertised name brands. Most don't have the slightest clue as to what's actually happening in their soil.

I don't remember OP saying this was an organic grow, but I didn't dig around for a journal or anything. As far as I know, molasses feeds the bacteria in your soil. If you've been using chemical nutes, then your soil probably has little to no microbial life in it, so molasses would be pointless or only bring pests if bacteria aren't there to break down the sugars.

dankboss said:

I don't remember OP saying this was an organic grow, but I didn't dig around for a journal or anything. As far as I know, molasses feeds the bacteria in your soil. If you've been using chemical nutes, then your soil probably has little to no microbial life in it, so molasses would be pointless or only bring pests if bacteria aren't there to break down the sugars.

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Is supposed to be, but i had to spray 'em early. Next batch will be. Nutes are organic liquid for soil.

I flush once two weeks before, then one week before and when I water in between I use Black Strap molasses at the same rate per gallon I use all the way through 1 Tbs

to madodah, no i don't have any idea what is happening in my soil. I am new to this as my name should indicate.
sorry for asking a question and not having a botany degree

CanniMed. good to know. are you also using organic soil and nutes?

When i say flush
i guess i mean water without nutes. My soil and nutes are organic. Botanicare as i said in OP. Any other thoughts?

madodah said:

If that theory was correct my cannabis and vegetable plants should taste like the decomposed cow manure I use in my soil mix and they don't. I suggest you take a look at how microbes supply plant needs and what that process involves. It is a fascinating process.

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not necessarily true as it will taste of chemicals if you aren't using organic nutes
if cows eat lots of onions their milk taste like onions.
i am new, but i know what dirt tastes like although i may not be certain on why.
that's why i am askin

newb1egrower said:

not necessarily true as it will taste of chemicals if you aren't using organic nutes
if cows eat lots of onions their milk taste like onions.
i am new, but i know what dirt tastes like although i may not be certain on why.
that's why i am askin

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Cows aren't plants. Plant photosynthesis with microbes servicing plant requirements has nothing in common with the digestive process of a mammal.

Flushing is necessary if using chemical nutrients to remove salt buildup deposited by those chemicals. If you have an organic growing media there is no salt buildup or need to flush. You've created a living soil that replenishes itself and plants use that living soil for all requirements. In large organic agricultural operations no nutrients (fertilizers) are applied, AACT brewers in 2500 gallon and up sizes are used to generate new microbe colonies from various ingredients that are delivered to the soil to supplement existing microbe colonies in the living soil for higher yields. Personal sized organic grows of cannabis and vegetables are merely a scaled down version of that process.

I suggest reading Teaming With Microbes to better understand what's going on in your soil. It's a small book, written in layman terms and easy to understand, and it will make your growing experience a lot more fun as you won't be dependent on word of mouth speculation or advertising hype. At $16, it costs less than one bottle of 'nutes'.

good to know, thanks

newb1egrower said:

if cows eat lots of onions their milk taste like onions.

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preposterous

DankShasta said:

preposterous

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tis the truth