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

[Homebrewer]

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

I'm recommending a more simple approach by trimming the fat, losing the stuff that's not needed and focusing on the essentials. Feeding with a sugar/carb product is far from essential.

 

[HUGE]

How about moldy molasses? Those big tubs of boyanicare start to mold one me before they are empty. Is it safe to scrape the mold off and use it? I understand some molds release toxins but not sure what mold grows on molasses.

 

[Fresh Start]

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!

I heard that! From a scientific point of view, NPK is NPK. Give your plants a great ratio of NPK + micros and they will never ask you for more.

That being said, Botanicare sweet raw makes the most noticeable difference I've ever experienced.

 

[EclipseFour20]

My $0.02: Studies and personal experiences of many farmers have shown that adding molasses to one's crop will increase the plant's sap brix #s. Now I am not saying or suggesting the increase in brix has anything to do with molasses entering the plant (AS IT DOES NOT)...rather I am stating a simple "cause and effect" that molasses has with brix. BTW, bacteria need food (molasses) and as a result, bacteria will generate a specific level of NPK...and it is all natural NPK!

I buy agriculture grade cane molasses in 5 gallon buckets for less than $25...a whole lot cheaper than Plantations Black Strap ($7 for 915ml)!

 

[Fresh Start]

BTW, bacteria need food (molasses) and as a result, bacteria will generate a specific level of NPK...and it is all natural NPK!

This is true, but allow me to expand on that topic.
Some ( not all) bacteria will digest raw elemental salts and organic matter and make them further available for the plant by either pooping it back out in a more "chelated" form or dying with the matter inside them- consequently holding nutrients in a microbiological web. Bacteria cannot just generate salts and organic matter and produce NPK- besides those that can "fix" nitrogen from the atmosphere!

Not to get us off topic here

 

[EclipseFour20]

This is true, but allow me to expand on that topic.
Some ( not all) bacteria will digest raw elemental salts and organic matter and make them further available for the plant by either pooping it back out in a more "chelated" form or dying with the matter inside them- consequently holding nutrients in a microbiological web. Bacteria cannot just generate salts and organic matter and produce NPK- besides those that can "fix" nitrogen from the atmosphere!

FS, you are almost right. Now ponder these tidbits (from my Raw Milk research)--and I think we will both be right!

1. Soil will have between 3-4,000# of bacteria per acre (this can vary depending on sprays, soil type, temps etc...)

2. Bacteria are 90% protein

3. One can calculate/estimate the amount of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous by knowing the bacteria counts. Typically speaking bacteria counts will result in 10-14% nitrogen, 1% potassium and 3% phosphorous.

4. The bacteria that are most influential in growth live in in the top 6" of the oil.

5. Many thousands of different bacteria live in the soil

6. Bacteria need a balanced nutrition for good growth. Raw Milk is the perfect food.

7. Some of the bacteria will double the counts/weight every 15 minutes with the proper nutrition and temps (55 degrees F or better)

8. It does not take much for the bacteria to naturally put out 140 lb's of nitrogen per acre..and other nutrients.

Interesting, huh!

 

[Extacie]

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!

I know this is a really old thread, but I just wanted to say for people in the future who may read this: you can get grandmas molasses at wal-mart for $3/32 ounces. It is also not diluted like Botanicare sweet so you don't need as high of concentration. I did the math a while back.. If you buy one gallon of botanicare sweet (at $50/gallon) and get the equivalent of molasses from wal mart, the molasses is approx 10-15 times cheaper (can't remember exactly) just wanted to share that

 

[EclipseFour20]

I don't think that is blackstrap variety and isn't the size 12oz? That is what my local Walmart stocks, tiny jar for $3.

 

[Extacie]

I don't think that is blackstrap variety and isn't the size 12oz? That is what my local Walmart stocks, tiny jar for $3.

The Brer rabbit and grandmas molasses from wal mart are both blackstrap, says it on the bottle. You are right though, it is only 12 oz. Bottles, so I guess the same price he listed. But even at that price it is still much cheaper than botanicare sweet since you don't need as strong of concentration for the same results. Botanicare sweet recommends on the bottle 15-20 ml per gallon if I remember correctly (maybe even up to 25 ml/gallon), but I always used it at 2 tsp/gallon. A gallon of sweet at my store list for $69.99. But they usually give it to me for $50. So even if you get sweet cheap and use the bare minimum, you will get 384 gallons of mixture. Molasses is $3/jar (actually 2.89 where I am at, but 3 with tax) it takes 10.66 jars to make a gallon. 10.66x$3 = $31.98/gallon of molasses. And since molasses is more concentrated the most you want to use is 5ml/gallon. At 5ml/gallon it makes 768 gallons. So overall blackstrap molasses comes out to 1/3-1/4th the price of botanicare sweet depending on what you pay and what concentration rate you use it at.

No wonder all the dispensaries use molasses out here instead of sweetners. I have yet to see 1 dispensary use sweetners made by botanicare, GH, etc. Although I'm sure there is some who do hydro set ups that use some type of sweetner.

Also I am sure you can get blackstrap much cheaper at SAMS club/Cosco or somewhere you can buy in bulk.


Thank you for pointing out they are only 12 ounce jars.

 

[LostTribe]

anyone use molasses in hydro? specifically EJ high brix in a hydroton drip?