Using carbs... why?

[holystomata]

Everything I've read outside of grower's forums says that using sugar as an amendment only has an effect of the soil, is only good to increase the population of mycorrhiza by giving them something to eat other than what they get off the roots. Even on soil studies show no positive effect, some even show negative effect.

Plants can't take in carbohydrates...

So why use molasses, raw sweet, etc if you are soilless or are using a media hydro setup? What is your reason for using it and has anyone done a side-by-side?

 

[Redbuddz]

It's a good question and I'd like to know the answer as well as I just bought a qt of Botanicare's Berry Sweet and I'm growing in a soilless medium as well.

 

[reg24]

Everything I've read outside of grower's forums says that using sugar as an amendment only has an effect of the soil, is only good to increase the population of mycorrhiza by giving them something to eat other than what they get off the roots. Even on soil studies show no positive effect, some even show negative effect.

Plants can't take in carbohydrates...

So why use molasses, raw sweet, etc if you are soilless or are using a media hydro setup? What is your reason for using it and has anyone done a side-by-side?

Good nic...from my OG days I remember endocytosis, as the explain for the larger molecules
...reg

 

[krunchbubble]

Interested as well....

My understanding is that you use it as food for bennys...

 

[RetroGrow]

Interested as well....

My understanding is that you use it as food for bennys...

BINGO!!!
Mycorrhizal fungi are beneficial and assist in nutrient collection and uptake. Adding carbohydrates to a nutrient solution is an old Cannabis gardening trick for boosting garden performance, dating back to at least the 1960s.

Mycorrhizae (fungus-roots) are found naturally occurring in healthy, 'live' soil. They are caused by mycorrhiza fungi infecting a plant root, and the two together are what is known as 'mycorrhizae'.
Cannabis with well-established mycorrhizae tend to perform better than those that do not. The relationship between mycorrhizae and Cannabis is a symbiotic one; both organisms benefit from their association with the other. The Cannabis plant provides a carbohydrate source for the fungus, and in return, the fungus assists the plants in nutrient uptake, drought resistance, and blocking their environmental niche from pathogenic fungi. Mycorrhizae collect and process nitrogen, phosphorus and a variety of micronutrients, and pass them to the plant. Of particular use is their ability to increase phosphorus uptake, which dramatically increases in non-infected plants.

Most mycorrhiza fall in one of two camps: ecto-mycorrhizal and endo-mycorrhizal. Ectomycorrhizae forms on tree roots. For most other plants, including vegetables and Cannabis, endomycorrhizae is the fungus of choice.

Although commonly already present in healthy soil, mycorrhizae fungus levels can be increased by adding powdered spores (inoculants), available at garden and hydroponic shops. Sterile media and poor soils can be brought from a complete absence of mycorrhizae to abundance with the use of inoculants.

If using mycorrhizal inoculants, apply at the beginning of the season to establish the colonies early. Once established, the infected roots should serve as a host to allow the fungus to spread throughout the root system. Plant improvements from inoculant use are particularly pronounced when used in poor or sterile mediums.

Mycorrhizae thrive on carbohydrates, which is part of what they receive in payment from the plant in exchange for their services helping the plant thrive. One way to boost beneficial microorganisms, including mycorrhizae, is to feed them with a carbohydrate additive.

Carbohydrates (saccharides) are molecules with specific combinations of carbon and water. A subset of carbohydrates are the sugars ending in '-ose'. For example, table sugar is sucrose (C12H22O11), milk sugar is lactose (also C12H22O11 , but the atoms are arranged differently), blood sugar is glucose (C6H12O6), and so on.

Carbohydrates store energy that many life forms can use, people included. The 'sugar rush' from eating a lot of sweets is an effect from over-indulging in sugars. Keep in mind that unwelcome visitors, such as ants, may be enticed to visit if a carbohydrate banquet available, so make sure to clean up any spills promptly. The benefits to adding carbohydrates is mostly indirect; they don't help the plants directly, they feed the beneficial microorganisms that help the plants. These microorganisms use the ready energy available in carbohydrates to thrive and reproduce.

Cane syrup, maple syrup, fruit juice, and molasses can all be used as carbohydrate sources. Dilute to two teaspoons (10mL) per gallon (3.8L) of water. Cleanliness is a must, as these may attract insects and leave a sticky residue. Ants may be attracted to the residue, and if hydrated (mixed with water) and allowed to go anaerobic (stale) these may encourage the wrong sort of fungal growth. Molasses (also known as 'treacle') is a byproduct of sugar refining, and contains not only plenty of carbohydrates to add to your garden, but potassium, nitrogen and iron as well. Many micronutrients are locked in their chelated form and require a chelating agent to unlock them. Molasses acts as a chelating agent (like Humic Acid): it makes micronutrients more readily available for nutrient uptake by the plants.

 

[Buds Bundy]

The carbs feed beneficial organisms in the media which play a role in transforming/transferring chemical more efficiently from the soil to the plant.

The cheapest one you'll find on the market besides straight sugar is Heavy Weight from Nutrilfie. Just straight un sulphured black strap molasses. Any of the powdered ones you're just buying over priced Dextrose/Fruitcose/etc...

 

[Granger2]

There are mycos, and there are 10's of thousands of other strains of beneficials involved, and virtually all benefit either directly or indirectly from sugars. Very complex and science has only just really started trying to figure the Rhizosphere out. Here's a good place to start. http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs143_019188.pdf

-granger

 

[RubeGoldberg]

AN Has a whitepaper (that cites non AN sources along with their studies) Demonstrating plant uptake of Carbohydrates.

http://www.advancednutrients.com/ca...ly_Produce_Bigger_Yields_and_Root_Systems.pdf

 

[GrowerGoneWild]

Marijuana Horticulture: The indoor/outdoor growers book
(kindle edition) Jorge Cervantes..

"Adding sugar duing the last 6 weeks augmented harvest weight of the bud on the right by 20 percent"

If you do a keyword search in kindle.. for molasses, he explains how the sugar helps bacteria and gives the plant an energy boost. The mechanics were not explained but there was a photo to support the theory.

I'm trying it now, not a plain sugar mix but GH's Fruit Fusion or whatever it is. I can hit 1+GPW with a PK booster.. who knows mebby I can up my yield.?.. Worth a shot, the cost isn't that bad.

 

[Little Hill]

I wouldn't trust anything AN says. In fact since they said it I am leaning toward the opposite. Their bud candy/ carbo load or whatever is corn syrup. Watered down and marked up of course. Buy some karo syrup if you want to use it. It is beneficial. I prefer molasses.

 

[RikkiTikkiTavi]

i use molasses right through the grow, from start to finish. first few weeks i do a lighter application and increase to about a tablespoon per gallon by the end of veg.

looking to build a compost tea brewer to expand the diversity of my microbes.