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?

Weedhound Reviewed by Weedhound on 01-02-2007. My (rather unhappy) adventures in molasses 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 Rating: 5

[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