Molasses ~ When & Why ?

[reddy1]

Dry molasses is a viable alternative. It runs about $20.00 for 50 lbs. at a feed store.

It's sure easier to sweep up dry molasses than mopping up liquid molasses. To say the least.

sounds like a great alternative! molasses is very messy.

anyone know the nutritional data or equivalent portions on the dry stuff?

 

[herbal essences]

Can I use this in coco? Is it worth it?

 

[hoosierdaddy]

You can use it in any medium. It flushes out well, and can actually tell you when you are flushed by color.

 

[BongCalledYoda]

Just bought Grandmas cause I had read on another forum that was the best.... Saw some discrepancy on that fact here and would love a clear answer. I have not opened it yet, should I take it back and get Brier Rabbits? thanks in advance

 

[hoosierdaddy]

It doesn't matter what brand you get, it is the "blackstrap" grade of molasses you want. Both Grandmas and Brer Rabbit sell blackstrap.

 

[Billy Burroughs]

and if you live in a small town you can go to your local feed store and buy sulphured molasses which is exact samething just has sulphur which willnt harm your plants one bit and for the 34 dollars i spent for a gallon of the unsulphered food grade blackstrap molasses was outrageous luckfully it was food stamps but anyways my brother has used to sulphered kinda from feed stored for bout 5 years and never had a problem id be using it here if there was a place that sold it it goes for about 4 dollars a gallon this way instead of bout 34 a gallon in the grocery

 

[wvkindbud38]

I use molasses a few times in flowering.....I get it from Wal-mart and it does good

 

[MOneYMiKe]

"BLACKSTRAP" fellas.....

 

[Billy Burroughs]

oh ya blackstrap of course thats all a feed store would sell is sulphured black strap molasses if you notice the blackstrap you buy at the natural foods store it says unsulphered and is the exact samething as used for animal feed its mostly used to get horses n cattle maybe pigs or sheep to take medication

 

[hoosierdaddy]

LOL...you are full of all kinds of info billy.
Molasses is used in livestock feed as a normal fill. It has nothing to do with getting the animal to take medication. Where did you dream that up?

FWIW, the blackstrap in the bottle at the grocery is not the exact same thing as feed grade molasses. It is much much cleaner and consistent than feed fill.

If your grocery doesn't have it, they can easily get it. It is a staple for many cookie recipes. You can also order it online.
I don't suggest buying sweets from the hydro store, as they are big time rip-offs, as are $34 gallons.

 

[Gold123]

I once had a horse that loved molasses on her oats as a treat. Gave it to her all the time.

 

[PiffGuru]

So is it a bad idea to use molasses in an active hydro system?

 

[eglider]

I'm not doubting anything anyone has said on this thread, because all I know is blackstrap molassas on pancakes is a touch bitter.
I have heard everything from great to crazy to use. Sweet buds to foaming resevoirs and general goofiness in between. This seems to be an anecdotal paradise.

Try as I might I cant seem to find any real hard , fast science for its use in soil-less hydro. I can see where complex sugars could cause runaway microbe growth that would use up the nutes that the plants need.

Is this only for soil growers? Any horticultural science guys that can send me to a science site showing benefits to hydro growers on a comparitive basis?

Wicked awesome buds dude... Doesnt quite qualify what I'm looking for. I want to make happy plants...not bug soup.
Anyway I'm tending towards Brer Rabbitt cuz Grandma looks a bit shifty to me.

 

[eglider]

PS link in start of thread invalid....at least to me ;(

 

[eglider]

Jeez now I feel stoopid ... Found 3lb's excellent art on molassas elsewhere. Thanks hoosier, you are indeed correct about the chelating effect. I needed to understand that concept further. It aids all metal salts as well as organic ferts. Good no matter what u use as a main fert, chem or organic. Confusion over. Stop. Now I go read how not to make bug soop.

Sorry for trying your patience. Noobs....Its what we do ...lol.

 

[hoosierdaddy]

In hydro it makes a big mess that needs cleaning each grow.

 

[tRuKemist]

Believe it or not! If it didn't work this thread would be buried deep in the forums! I started playing around with Molasses about 5 years ago. I could tell just by looking at the label that I had found exactly what I needed!
For the price of Molasses, which here is $2.89 for 12 oz's Grandma's Blackstrap or $3.29 for 16 oz's Brer Rabbit's Blackstrap, you just cannot find anything better!
I buy both brands, I just mentioned and mix them together in a large mason jar! I use one tablespoon per gallon H2O and feed throughout flowering! This adds K, Mg, Fe, and many other trace elements, as well as acting like a chelating agent to boost the plant's absorption rate. Don't forget about the added levels of sugar that this will also add to your plant's flavor!
Molasses does the same thing as Honey ES from Humboldt, Sweet Leaf from AN, or even FloraNectar from General Hydro.
Seriously, read the description on their webpages of the above mentioned products and they will all sound exactly like Molasses!
The only thing missing is P so I will also mix in a little Big Up Powder from Humboldt to boost the Phosphorus levels within the last 4 weeks of the plants cycle.
In hydro setups, less is more!
Molasses is tried and true! Listen to HoosierDaddy, he steers people in the right direction and he does it for free!
peace,
tRu

 

[Aeroguerilla]

started using molasses 3 crops ago and all i got to say is my nugs have never tasted so clean, sugars help extract excess salts that build up make smoke less harsh. also adds weight, last week of adding to rez and the colas start toppling over heh good stuff would highly recommend

 

[Gold123]

I'm sold too I used to use AN Sweet Leaf and switched when I ran out a few weeks ago and my nugs are so heavy now they are toppling over. I'm only using 1 tsp/gal though.

I'm going to start to flush for finish do you recommend using right up to the end or do you stop adding molasses at some point? Do you use any thing else during flush?

 

[tRuKemist]

I use Molasses up to harvest but I add FloraKleen by GeneralHydro within the last two weeksish! I will use it at four weeks if I think too much salt is building up, which rarely happens in my experience! It works really well in my soil mix and IMO it works really well, period!
I don't think you have to use it, but it definitely doesn't hurt! And as for the FloraKleen, that's my preference but any leaching agent will work so pick anyone that works best for you or none at all!