Hi Paul,

The maple syrup/honey idea is an experiment this year. First off, I've always relished the purple bud so I'm especially pleased with this years plant. Another quality I really like in my bud is a lot of sugar-coating (you know, the white, sticky powdery stuff that makes you cough). Those are the trichomes...the little balls of sap that ooze out of the maturing buds and smaller leaves.

I don't know if it's true or not, but I've heard that you can increase the amount and size of the trichomes by watering with a sugar-solution while the plant is budding. It makes sense to me, after all trichomes are sap and in a lot of plant and trees, sap is predominately sugar. Take for instance pine sap...sweet and sticky!

I'm hoping that by adding natural, sugary sap from maple trees (hence my maple syrup concoction) and natural sugars made from plants by honeybees, I'll be able to alter and increase the amount of trichomes on my buds. I'm also hoping the honey and maple syrup will add a bit of flavor to the buds.

Anyway, I plan on adding a pound of organic honey to 2-gallons of boiling water to dilute it enough so the plant can absorb the sugar molecules (letting it cool before I water, of course).

I figure the use of natural, organic sugars from other plants is better than using refined sugar, and after all, what have I got to lose??

If I suceed in boosting the trichomes in my plant, and adding a little 'maple flavor' to the buds, I think I'll call it "Murple Syrup"!!

Wish me luck!