So exactly how do the ladies use molasses?

[calstar]

[FONT=&quot]Bear with me as I'm new to this game. I've read the molasses thread in the nutes forum but still do not quite understand how the plants use the carbos. Does the molasses feed the microbeasties which then feed the plant? Is the plant utilizing the trace minerals directly from the grow medium? What is the botanical biology that allows the sweetness and stickiness as stated in the molasses thread to be transferred to the taste and feel? Thanks in advance for any enlightenment[/FONT]

 

[DocLeaf]

Hi

Bacterium surround everything in nature. Bacterium surround the plants root system and the micro-nutrients in the soil. Through a complex set of exchanges the bacterium on the roots exchange plant sugars with the bacterium in the soil.

These bacterium in the soil, thrive on carbohydrates as a source of food stuff. This in turn increases the micro-heard activity (population) and promotes the breakdown of available minerals and micro-nutrients in the soil.

Feeding the micro-herd within the soil (or homemade fertilizer) with carbohydrates, then helps plants attain the most available goodness from the growing medium, makes soils (and in turn plants) healthier, and sometimes the flowers taste sweeter at harvest.

A cheaper alternative of carbohydrates is cane sugar,, while more expensive alternatives include honey and maple syrup.

Always remember that we are aiming to feed the soil not the plant!

Hope this helps

 

[calstar]

Always remember that we are aiming to feed the soil not the plant!


Thanks a lot Doc, this makes it much clearer for me. I'll do some side by sides and see what happens.

A few more questions(please, anyone with knowledge feel free to jump in).

Quite a few posts on the molasses thread indicate using it close to harvest greatly increases resin production, is this the case?

Since cane sugar is less $ it is strange no mention of it is made. Is it because its more refined than molasses and therefore has fewer trace minerals or....?

 

[DocLeaf]

Quite a few posts on the molasses thread indicate using it close to harvest greatly increases resin production, is this the case?

NO. Resin production is mostly genetic, and environmental (correct heat and wealthy light source) IME. The correct balance of nutrients (at different stages of flowering) generally improves healthy and is important,, but does not increase or effect overall resin production or resin profile displayed.

The subject of sugars in complex... (long),, much depends on composition and methods of production.. but HONEY is best and most natural.. since the waxes contain anti-fungal properties!!!

Here's an approx break down...

Refine Cane Sugar = 99.9% sucrose 0.01% water (often sulphonated!!!)

Honey = fructose and glucose from NATURAL sources

Maple Syrup = sucrose, fructose and glucose

Molasses = sucrose 50% water ,, and some glucose and fructose,, (sometimes sulphonated!!!)

Choosing which carbohydrate to use is a matter of preferance,,

personally we use guano and wormcasts in teas,, so the trace elements provided by molasses are not that important in the method because the worm cats n gauna are loaded with goodness.

Cane sugar is also a much cheaper alternative,, works as quick

Hope this helps

 

[Phedrosbenny]

Doc,...would you say that honey is better to use than molasses? And would a good measurement for mixing honey water be something like 1 tablespoon to a gallon of water?

 

[CFL_Grow]

Very interesting. I have a few mason jars of natural honey from a local beekeeper.

 

[calstar]

Thanks again Doc. Any chance you'd share you wormbat tea recipe? I'm using Roots 707 soil outside in containers and I'd like to improve it. I have 30 gallon containers so about a gallon each to start?

 

[durka_durka420]

thanks for that info docleaf i was wondering what the sugars we use in growing really do besides feed microbes and beneficial bacterias...great information ty OP for asking this question also!

 

[DocLeaf]

Doc,...would you say that honey is better to use than molasses? And would a good measurement for mixing honey water be something like 1 tablespoon to a gallon of water?

Personally yes... perhaps 1-2 spoons per gallon

- - -

Basic worm-bat tea:

A bucket of water.
An air-stone.
A cup of worm casts
A few tablespoons of guano
A few tablespoons of sugar/honey
A cup of urine*

Allow the ingredients to ferment for several days/weeks in a dark warm place.

* It is important to avoid female urine that is subject to contraceptive pill! these chemical steroids can effect the tea and thus plant life.

Hope this helps

 

[Tripp35]

Doc... Urine? Then again, there is bat crap in there too...

Is human urine best or just the easiest to get a hold of?

Does anyone else think that's an extremely odd question?

Also, is this really any better as a growth improvement then Miracle Grow, or just the organic way out?

 

[DocLeaf]

The worm-bat tea works OK without the urine,, just slower and slightly weaker. Sure the worm-bat tea is better than mirical grow.

Urine = ammonia nitrate, which converts to nitrogen. great for veg. and early bloom.

The urine is sterile,, and used as an accelerant since it reacts with the sugars and speeds up the fermentation process... it's ancient horticultural practise.

Wet bar cave guano is normally saturated in bat urine anyway

Hope this helps

 

[Tripp35]

Well it answers my questions, thanks man.

 

[CANNATOPIA]

Great Thread! TY for the info!

 

[calstar]

Always remember that we are aiming to feed the soil not the plant!

Thanks for the recipe Doc.

 

[calstar]

Here's another souuce of sugars/carbs, probably look for the same qualities as the molasses on the label

"Sorghum is an annual grass that is extremely drought tolerant, making it an excellent choice for arid and dry areas. Sorghum has special adaptations to weather extremes and is a very stable source of nutrition as a result. Sorghum is most commonly red and hard when ripe, and it is usually dried after harvesting for longevity, as the grains are stored whole. It can be harvested mechanically, although higher crop losses will result if the sorghum is too moist.
Another type of sorghum, sweet sorghum, is grown for the manufacture of sorghum syrup. In the case of sweet sorghum, the stalks of the plant are harvested, rather than the seeds, and crushed like sugar cane or beets to produce sorghum syrup. After crushing, the syrup is cooked down to concentrate the natural sugars and packaged for sale." taken from a google search

 

[whodair]

any other bodily fluids or secretions we should be fertilizing with ?? a protein shake perhaps ??

 

[DocLeaf]

Cool info.