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Molasses vs Botanicare Strapped vs Botanicare Sweet Raw vs Humoldt Honey ES

forge

New member
I am currently using the full Fox Farm nutes (Big Bloom, Grow Big, Tiger Bloom, KangaRoots, Microbe Brew, and the three solubles; ChaChing, Open Sesame, and Beastie Bloomz) and Botanicare Cal/Mag Plus for my first grow (in soil).

I was looking to add a Carbo (molasses) for flowering. Most people mention one of four soltutions: (all prices taken from amazon.com)
1. Grandmothers Straight Black Strapped Molasses, original un-sulphured
- $9 for 32 oz ($0.28/oz) - thanks jPinkham
- No added microbes/nutes
- No added Flavor
2. Humoldts Honey ES LINK
- $20.75 for 32oz ($0.65/oz)
- .45-.25-1.8 Derived from: Pure Cane Molasses, Volcanic Ash, Yucca extract, Seaplant Extract, Quillaja saponaria, and Montmorillonite.
- Honey Flavored
3. Botanicare Sweet Raw LINK
- $22.95 for 32oz ($0.72/oz)
- Several Trace minerals, amino acids and Derived from: Magnesium Sulfate
- No added Flavor
4. Botanicare Strapped (for soil only) LINK
- $7.00 for 64oz ($0.11/oz)
- No added nutes
- No added flavor

I was wondering what peoples opinions are. If money isnt really an issue, which solution would you pick? Suprisingly, Grandmas Original Molasses isnt as price effective as some people lead others to believe.

Does anyone have experience with most or all the products above? Would love to hear your thoughts. I am not interested in added flavor, otherwise the Humboldts Honey ES would look the best on paper.

Thoughts? Opinions? got a better solution that doesnt involve a chemistry set?

Thanks! :smoke:
 

forge

New member
Watts, any difference between straight molasses and earth juice hi-brix? I cant find anything added to it.
 
T

TribalSeeds

Earth Juice Hi-Brix has added K (0-0-3) and will drop your PH way down and it doesnt rise back up. Earth Juice Catalyst will drop your PH even lower, but it will slowly rise and have shit floating in your res. Its more for making a brew.
Molasses will slightly lower your PH and you will spend time diluting it and waiting for it to mix, then you will have to clean it up. Sweet wont drop your PH and it is super clean. It doesnt seem to get my tes going as well as molasses though.
Liquid Karma is loaded with carbs and other goodness, but I wouldnt use it late in flowering. Sugars are high in Mg, and you dont want too much of that late. I dont know the FF line, but Id bet a bunch of those bottles have some sort of carbs in them. Id recommend learning to get by without a few of those nutes.
 

forge

New member
Thanks for the info, Tribal. After i get a few grow under my belt, i will be switching to organic growing. But, being my first and reading how well noobs do with following the FF feeding schedule, i figured it would be a good place to start.
 

forge

New member
also reading another forum, they stated that molasses and Honey make everything sticky, PH issues, and didnt see much difference (other than price) switching to Honey or straight Molasses.

I think for my first try, I will go with Botanicare Sweet Raw.
 

stasis

Registered Non-Conformist
Veteran
I use SWEET Berry up to flush, sparingly. About 50% and in soil, even less.... Every other feed. If used overmuch on several strains, people who know will tell you they all have an underlying common taste from the Sweet Berry.

Sometimes, after week 3, I alternate with AN Carbo Load (instead of Sweet) about 4ml/g. Seems to beef 'em up a bit more.
 
I use it up to the last week when I flush. It doesn't really make the weed smell like whatever flavor you're using but I see a lot more resin production and the smell of the strain is stronger
 

Izoc666

Member
IMHO, I use Molassess for my ogranic grow to feed the microbes only, few times in flower stage thats it...I dont think it make any difference for taste or aroma...it's actually in the genetic that will make certain smell, aroma, potency etc.

I do have several sweet bottles from botaincare and AN s Bud Candy. They dont perform well in the dirt..but i cant say for hydro because i havent exprience with hydro.

As for the effective and save money, the grandma molassess is the best !! :D

Happy growing and peace
 

Blaz3

Member
I have to say,I really like the price of a 5gallon of Botanicare Strapped..5gallon of mollses is ALOT of damn mollases,BEATS the living hell out of buying those tiny 3 dollar bottles at the grocery store.I'd use the strapped simply for the price alone...
 

Talonted

Active member
hes in soil watts.

I use sweet all the way through in every feed. i mix 18l jugs and add 60ml of sweet per jug. i use the sweet berry. good stuff and not expensive at all if you buy 4l of it at a time for 50 cdn
 

CannaBus

New member
Sweet Raw

Sweet Raw

I use SWEET Berry up to flush, sparingly. About 50% and in soil, even less.... Every other feed. If used overmuch on several strains, people who know will tell you they all have an underlying common taste from the Sweet Berry.

Sometimes, after week 3, I alternate with AN Carbo Load (instead of Sweet) about 4ml/g. Seems to beef 'em up a bit more.

I also noticed an underlying common taste from the Sweet Berry so I switched to Sweet Raw...problem solved :)
 

Homebrewer

Active member
Veteran
I am currently using the full Fox Farm nutes (Big Bloom, Grow Big, Tiger Bloom, KangaRoots, Microbe Brew, and the three solubles; ChaChing, Open Sesame, and Beastie Bloomz) and Botanicare Cal/Mag Plus for my first grow (in soil).

I was looking to add a Carbo (molasses) for flowering. Most people mention one of four soltutions: (all prices taken from amazon.com)
1. Grandmothers Straight Black Strapped Molasses, original un-sulphured
- $9 for 32 oz ($0.28/oz) - thanks jPinkham
- No added microbes/nutes
- No added Flavor
2. Humoldts Honey ES LINK
- $20.75 for 32oz ($0.65/oz)
- .45-.25-1.8 Derived from: Pure Cane Molasses, Volcanic Ash, Yucca extract, Seaplant Extract, Quillaja saponaria, and Montmorillonite.
- Honey Flavored
3. Botanicare Sweet Raw LINK
- $22.95 for 32oz ($0.72/oz)
- Several Trace minerals, amino acids and Derived from: Magnesium Sulfate
- No added Flavor
4. Botanicare Strapped (for soil only) LINK
- $7.00 for 64oz ($0.11/oz)
- No added nutes
- No added flavor

I was wondering what peoples opinions are. If money isnt really an issue, which solution would you pick? Suprisingly, Grandmas Original Molasses isnt as price effective as some people lead others to believe.

Does anyone have experience with most or all the products above? Would love to hear your thoughts. I am not interested in added flavor, otherwise the Humboldts Honey ES would look the best on paper.

Thoughts? Opinions? got a better solution that doesnt involve a chemistry set?

Thanks! :smoke:

Can I make a valuable suggestion which could shave years off your learning curve? Simplify! Forget the carb products and the high phosphorus bloom formulas and look for a relatively complete one-part plant food with a solid dose of nitrogen. Supply a good environment and good watering practices and the plant will take it from there.

Good luck!
 

Granger2

Active member
Veteran
Homebrewer,
You're recommending against using sugar sources? Not my recommendation. To each his own. -granger
 
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