[shaggyballs]

As of now it would seem the only real value of Brix testing is:

Test before a foliar spray and then wait a short period.
Too long and it will be a different time in the light cycle and may screw results........not long enough and the spray has not had an effect on the plant yet.
(any suggestions)

Rates of Nutrients Absorption into Plant Tissue

Nutrient Time for 50% Absorption
Nitrogen (as urea) 1/2 - 2 hours
Phosphorus 5 - 10 days
Potassium 10 - 24 hours
Calcium 1 - 2 days
Magnesium 2 - 5 hours
Sulfur 8 days
Zinc 1 - 2 days
Manganese 1 - 2 days
Iron 10 - 20 days
Molybdenum 10 - 20 days

foliar nutrition PDF

Then test the same exact area of the plant and compare Brix levels to see if your spray had a effect on the plants health by increasing Brix levels.

Can anyone state the value of Brix testing?

[shaggyballs]

High Brix refractometer results log and data thread

[Only Ornamental]

And what did they conclude?

[shaggyballs]

Originally Posted by Only Ornamental

And what did they conclude?

Ya know , it's funny you asked that question.

My conclusion is :
The results of Brix testing in cannabis is largely inconclusive!

[Only Ornamental]

Originally Posted by shaggyballs

Ya know , it's funny you asked that question.

My conclusion is :
The results of Brix testing in cannabis is largely inconclusive!

Na, not funny, I'm just to lazy to read the thing myself LoL!
But your conclusion is kind of what I expected after the first 2-3 posts there...

Originally Posted by Eureka Springs Organics

I have yet to see good application of Brix monitoring in relation to cannabis growing. We just aren't there yet.

You (we), whoever that is, is not there yet because modern agricultural practices have not yet been broadly applied properly to cannabis growing. For many years I thought canna growers were leading edge and actually they are lagging. Milkyjoe is way ahead of virtually all cannabis growers in that respect. By the end of the year I'm sure he'll be ahead of 99.9% of all cannabis growers.

Plus brix simply measures the amount of solids in the sap. It says nothing about how complex the carbohydrate chains are, whether you have non protein N vs complete protein or how much fat you have. The goal for plant health is actually how long the carbon chains are...again my understanding, not an absolute fact.

My opinion is brix is a single measurement that taken alone does not mean all that much. Taken in a broader context it is a guide to how healthy your plant is.

Yeah basically that. If you have a lot of simple sugars and amino acids floating around that the plant is not converting to carbohydrates and proteins then you will have more problems such as pest and disease issues. That also shows you the plant is not functioning at optimal efficiency and is not at peak health. It's pretty simple actually.

[redclover]

Can't everything be narrowed down to well amended living soil, full spectrum, and a good environment. I read the OP and feel brain effed so hard for nothing. Interesting and great effort. Ironically I'm having a glass of medium level Brix.

Now what about high Brix foods in a worm bin?

Originally Posted by redclover

Can't everything be narrowed down to well amended living soil, full spectrum, and a good environment. I read the OP and feel brain effed so hard for nothing. Interesting and great effort. Ironically I'm having a glass of medium level Brix.

Now what about high Brix foods in a worm bin?

Not in my opinion. For the most part brix, along with other sap tests for things such as Ca/K/Na/NO3/EC have been used by top tier agronomists for a long time now. It's an essential part of any comprehensive agronomist consulting program which also includes water, soil and plant tissue testing. There is nothing wrong with testing. Why guess? Science isn't bad and only verifies things.

My opinion is brix is a single measurement that taken alone does not mean all that much. Taken in a broader context it is a guide to how healthy your plant is.

I got a lot of respect for Milkyjoe and his skills/knowledge and agree with this...FWIW. It's not just about brix and brix is not just about sugar.

[shaggyballs]

Originally Posted by NorCalDreaming

Not in my opinion. For the most part brix, along with other sap tests for things such as Ca/K/Na/NO3/EC have been used by top tier agronomists for a long time now. It's an essential part of any comprehensive agronomist consulting program which also includes water, soil and plant tissue testing. There is nothing wrong with testing. Why guess? Science isn't bad and only verifies things.
I agree

I got a lot of respect for Milkyjoe and his skills/knowledge and agree with this...FWIW. It's not just about brix and brix is not just about sugar.
I agree

Could you or Milkyjoe help us understand this complex science and how this is done on a cannabis plant.

I have yet to see conclusive studies published or even good information in the forums that would give me the skill and knowledge to use this invaluable information to my benefit.

I have a good understanding how it works with food, but Cannabis now that is a totally different animal.

[Only Ornamental]

Hi Shag,
I suppose you know how to breed good buds, right?
Now, get yourself a few clones from a plant you know well and treat one as always, and the others differently and measure °Bx regularly. That will give you maybe the best idea.
What you could, do once you see what affects °Bx, push it to the limit like deliberately increase or decrease °Bx with one single thing (for example add sugar or remove nitrogen) in a clone and compare the results afterwards . Now if you have two different ways of changing °Bx in the same way, one might expect the same result because of the same Brix but a different one because of a different strategy (like less light and less nutrients might lower Brix but are unlikely to give the same herb quality, if you see what I mean)...