My (rather unhappy) adventures in molasses

[Weedhound]

So I have been using Sweet for awhile but in my last res change switched over to molasses trying to stay in the "organic mode" and here is what i experienced: It sucks:cursing:

The ph rose a full point in about 4 hours and required about 5 times my normal amount of ph down to correct (0.5ml vs 3 ml)....daily at least and sometimes twice a day. The unstable ph by itself has led to growth slowing a fair amount. The stuff is sticky and messy and takes a while to dissolve correctly. It's a hassle to measure out and leaves a cruddy film all over the sides of my res and buckets. I also have to use a ton of it to get the ppms up.. I'll pull the stuff out tomorrow and do an (early) full res change and go back to my Sweet. I can't scientifically prove that the ph insanity is due to the molasses but I certainly didn't have any problems like that before I used it. I'll see what happens when I go back to the Sweet.

Anyone else have issues--either good or bad with molasses in hydro?

[Zandor]

How much did you use?

What was the size of your res?

[xcrispi]

damn weedhound ,
i was just lookin for molases answers from stinky attic or k/p in the rox/rocks thread . soundz like a no no . huh ? i'm a cheap bastard -n- was trying to avoid buying any sweet .
peace
crispi

[stinkyattic]

Oh hey molasses does NOT replace sweet!!!!!! I hope no one got that impression!!!! It's like molasses is the building blocks and sweet is the mortar... you should have BOTH together for the proper effect... kind of like a so-called 'complete protein' like you have to have some grain to get the protein from beans, ya know? Sweet is a synthesizer and molasses is the raw materials. And make sure it's unsulfured!

[MisterE]

I don't mind mentioning that this is over my head, but I'm here reading!
Goodluck, Weedhound. It sounds like at least having some remnants in your res. won't hurt once you add "sweet" (whetever that is :) )

[Weedhound]

Thanks for clarifying that Stinky because that's is exactly what I thought...that one would replace the other. Color me a goober! When I originally changed res I adjust ph as usual to 5.6. Six hours later (not 4-sorry) it was 6.6 and I poured a bottle or so of ph down to bring it down to 6.0. 10 hours later it was 7.1!! End of molasses experiment for me. I had been using it in addbacks for several days without much problem but that was the first time I skipped the Sweet altogether.

Zandor--glad you're back!! Hope your move went well. I had wanted about 100 ppms of molasses which ended up working out to about 1 tsp per gallon so that really isn't alot more than what I use for Sweet but I can't be positive of the amount because the stuff is so thick.

X-C perhaps the more knowledgables can tell you how to use molasses with better results than moi but for me...I am done with the stuff. I'm stilll glaring at the bottle from across the room right now.

Thanks Mr E for the positive vibes.....I don't think the stuff will hurt really--I'm just an old crab. I did notice also that within that day my ppms dropped about 100 points over nite and I think that was due to the molasses settling onto the sides and bottom of the buckets. Can't see how that would really help the growth unless the roots start licking it off or something.

Bear it's about time you showed up. Hope your holidays went well.

[BlueBear]

Hey, what brand did you use, Blackstrap is the most suitable IMO. The amount was about right on, 1 TSP per Gal, but you need to mix the stuff in a glass/bowl of warm water until it dissolves and then add to res.
Well understand if you don't want to go threw it again, it is a pain to have to do damage control on your grow.
Adieu

[LiquidMagik]

Hmm, I was always under the impression Sweet was an acceptable replacement for molasses. Isn't sweet organic as well? Anyway, if you want to stay away from molasses, from what I hear sucanat is as good if not a better substitute. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, as I'm going to start using a combo of sucanat + Sweet in my res soon.

[stinkyattic]

I give my girls Nutra Sweet because they are getting fat asses

[Weedhound]

Personally I am a fat-ass fan when it comes to mj. I always thought that Sweet was pretty much a stand-alone product. Stinky can you explain the process of using the two together for me? I'd really appreciate it and not turn you in to the DEA like I was going to (j/k)

PS Bear...the type I used was Grandma's (unsulphered) Has a very nice photo of grandma on the front....looks like she knows her way around a bud or two but, obviously I was wrong:D

[Weedhound]

So this morning I dumped everything and mixed up a whole new batch. Some of the old stuff coming out seemed to have a slight "algae" type smell by which I was NOT amused. Ph was up around 6.5-7. The roots are only now beginning to come thru the bottom of the farms and there are a few that look brownish and nasty.....others seem fine....:( Checked ph this evening and again way up....started at 5.9 and some were above 7 in about 12 hours. The ones closest to the res seemed to have the least change to them and adjusted down with much less ph down than others.....some took 8mls or so of ph down to adjust....but at least they stayed there finally which was something I couldn't get them to do last night.....think I'll dump everything again in the a.m. and start fresh......oh did add a small amount of H202 to each w/f because of the smell......worries me. :blueknife:

[Weedhound]

So last night I had adjusted my buckets back down to 5.9 which took huge amounts of ph down (8mls or so on one bucket) but when I checked them an hour later the ph was already back up to 6.2 so I dumped everything for the second time that day and put fresh stuff in. The leaves were also beginning to curl downward but I'm not sure if that was due to the ph changes or just the constant water changes. ANYWAY....this morning they were all at about 6.5 BUT adjusted much more easily with much less ph down and for the most part are uncurled. I will check ph again a few times and change if necessary....no bad smell noticed this morning. .....:weedpoke:

[Zandor]

Well your amount is correct but one more question?

Do you run a small pump on its side to keep your nutrients moving at all times this not only ad's oxygen but it keeps them mixed up completely as well and when you use RAW ingredients that is a must?

Personally Sweet is over rated in my opinion. Carb load is a better choice with molasses if you want to have the flavor and add real weight and not just water that will evaporate when you dry your final bud.

[Weedhound]

Ahhhhh....Bingo...they are the waterfarms so do drip continously but I couldn't say if that qualifies as "recirculate" but I would guess not.....frankly I'm afraid to deviate from my regular nutes at this point.....certainly was not a smart move on my part to change things in midstream....live and learn....(they live...I learn....):)

[the yeag]

I do not know much about hydro...I like to keep it simple with soil....but with soil I love using mollases..I have never experianced a problem all i have done is boil a cup of water on the stove add to an empty gallon jug add i tablespoon of mollases fill up with h2o and feed between my regular watering with nutrients.

[Weedhound]

Isn't that funny because I struggled with soil for quite a while and never did well with it.....in hydro I love looking at all my little numbers and calling it "gardening". I am going to recommend to a friend of mine who grows outside to try the molasses in her grow......I just went about it in the wrong way by not studying it correctly before I jumped in.

[stinkyattic]

.....in hydro I love looking at all my little numbers and calling it "gardening".
.

ROFL you are the first person who has actually admitted to that aspect of hydro!!! hee hee
you rock

[Weedhound]

Lol Stinky. Hydro actually reminds more of stuff like lab tests etc and seems easier to me than soil....working with soil is so much more subtle. Yes you watch your plants of course but if something seems weird you can run a bunch of "labwork" and usually discover the problem.....soil just leaves me scratching my head (not a pretty sight to be sure):D

[Weedhound]

Forgot to update.....plants seem about 90% back to normal....have been changing solutions in the buckets twice a day as it was taking a fair amount of ph down every few hours which was still better than before......today everyone seems pretty happy and the ph rose at a much slower level---was able to adjust with a very small amount of ph down only three times (down from every 3 hours). I noticed that the three plants that seemed the worse off spent yesterday and today really sucking up water and leaving the nutes behind which actually started to lead to it's own problem. Luckily I noticed and diluted the solution and they perked right up. :) All that nursing care with patients who can't talk made me think I was at work, lol.

[Zandor]

well I am glad they are doing better Weedhound :)

[kindprincess]

pix?

[Weedhound]

Thanks Zandor. Hindsight is always my best trait so now of course I have figured out that if I had flushed everything and gone with a lighter nute solution for awhile (which I thought about but vetoed) I probably would have made things alot easier on all of us:). KP, I just topped all the little buggers yesterday since they finally seemed recovered so give me a few days before I snap them....intend to turn them by the end of this coming week so will grab some photos first :D.

[Cyclonite]

ROFL you are the first person who has actually admitted to that aspect of hydro!!! hee hee
you rock

I currently have a WW mother in soil that went through flower to clone, I have 2 much younger clones in hydro. Ill post pics soon but soil is harder to me than hydro....I'm all numbers and science.

[Weedhound]

Cyclonite....exactly! I found that in soil you have to "read' your plants pretty well...in hydro if something "looks weird" then to me that's all I read out of it... it looks weird. That's why I love my numbers because some number somewhere is going to provide the answer (hopefully!). I just ordered some WW seeds and can't wait to try them. Any "number" tips?

[Cyclonite]

I found WW to burn very easily....kinda picky for a plant so just go real easy on the nutes. I use GH 3 part....My plants burnt around 1000 ppm that's with 170 ppm tap water. Lower the GH general dose my 20% or so and they do good...just up it until they show small signs of nute burn then back off a bit and there ya go. One of my plants was much more sensitive than the other as well so keep that in mind.

[Weedhound]

Thanks for the heads up.:) They are in the mail!

[BlueBear]

Sorry WeedHound I didn't post this at the start of this thread, but been busy. http://boards.cannabis.com/showthread.php?p=1008998#post1008998 it is a guide to growing with the sticky goo that does acctualy help, LOL.
Adieu

[Terramoto]

/bump
sorry, but whats that sweet that you're talking about? I've been trying to find something to replace the molasses. How many good replacements are there?

[LOC NAR on probation]

This is about a 4 year old thread. You could ask in a new thread.
Weedhound has since passed on.

Here is a place that has it you can find their web site for more info.

Botanicare Sweet Berry Qt :: Fertilizer Additives :: Plant Fertilizers :: Horizen Hydroponics - Hydroponic Systems Equipment Supplies, plant grow lights, Digital Electronic ballasts, Organic Fertilizers for indoor hydroponic gardening (http://www.hhydro.com/Botanicare-Sweet-Berry-Qt.html)