Can molasses cause soil ph problems?

[Dankmarchi]

Im about halfway thru flowering and was probably gunna ease up on pretty much all nutrients and only use molasses and ro water can this cause nutrient lockouts or anything its my first time growing and being about halfway done with flowering id hate to mess them up now when theyre so close to being done. Im assuming it wont do any harm seeing as how its organic and should just hopfully help pack on the crystals

 

[Rasta Roy]

Im about halfway thru flowering and was probably gunna ease up on pretty much all nutrients and only use molasses and ro water can this cause nutrient lockouts or anything its my first time growing and being about halfway done with flowering id hate to mess them up now when theyre so close to being done. Im assuming it wont do any harm seeing as how its organic and should just hopfully help pack on the crystals

While molasses has it's uses in flower, the reason you're going for is a popular misconception. Molasses does provide potassium, which aids flower production, but not a whole lot.

The reason you do use molasses in flower is all about the root and microbes relationship. The plant makes it's own sugars, any extra sugar not used in plant growth is exudited thru the roots where it feeds the microbes. During heavy production periods(flower) however, sometimes there's just not enough sugar left for the microherd. So feeding molasses ensures they stay alive and well populated, doing their part to ensure the break down of matter and uptake of plant nutrients...leading to bigger, more potent buds (strain pending).

You gotta be careful though, the microbes are like diabetic destined children, they love sugar. Too much molasses and they'll only be chowing down on that instead of the organic matter in your soil.

I reccomend applying 1/2 a tbsp a gallon every other week, maybe every 9 days at the soonest. Once you hit you last week or two I would cut it, unless you're doing no til. Rules are probably different then but I'm just getting into that world. Someone else would have to chime in for that angle.

 

[Rasta Roy]

But no I don't see why it would cause ph problems.

 

[Jeffrey Hewett]

Yeah same here.

 

[primabudda]

While molasses has it's uses in flower, the reason you're going for is a popular misconception. Molasses does provide potassium, which aids flower production, but not a whole lot.

The reason you do use molasses in flower is all about the root and microbes relationship. The plant makes it's own sugars, any extra sugar not used in plant growth is exudited thru the roots where it feeds the microbes. During heavy production periods(flower) however, sometimes there's just not enough sugar left for the microherd. So feeding molasses ensures they stay alive and well populated, doing their part to ensure the break down of matter and uptake of plant nutrients...leading to bigger, more potent buds (strain pending).

You gotta be careful though, the microbes are like diabetic destined children, they love sugar. Too much molasses and they'll only be chowing down on that instead of the organic matter in your soil.

I reccomend applying 1/2 a tbsp a gallon every other week, maybe every 9 days at the soonest. Once you hit you last week or two I would cut it, unless you're doing no til. Rules are probably different then but I'm just getting into that world. Someone else would have to chime in for that angle.

that's what it's all about right here ! ^^


question master grower dude ..... is it true the plant stops making sugar altogether in the last 2 weeks, and uses whats stored.

 

[RM3]

question master grower dude ..... is it true the plant stops making sugar altogether in the last 2 weeks, and uses whats stored.

No, unless you force it with a flush

 

[Rasta Roy]

that's what it's all about right here ! ^^


question master grower dude ..... is it true the plant stops making sugar altogether in the last 2 weeks, and uses whats stored.

When you're growing organically, the goal is to create a balanced, living soil. One with everything your plant might need. The microherd and the roots work together, more exudates from the rootzone let the microbes know what the plant needs and the microbes provide. You can't really flush out microbes, you can drown or dry them out to death if you're feeling cruel lol.

And a balanced soil like this is made with castings, compost, and insoluble amendments. All slow release fertilizers, and insoluble so you can't really flush them out. And you're reusing your soil so you don't want to get rid of all the hard work you did making a healthy balanced soil! And a lot of those amendments take so long to break down you don't even see those benefits until after a few grows.

Flushing is a synthetic grow thing, if not properly flushed its the fertilizers you're tasting, not the unused sugars in the plant...ish

Amendments can affect the taste in organic gardening too...using fish bone meal or fish meal tends to bring out plants natural "funk" smell. Overfertilizing (especially with guano) can give you too much of the usually appreciated earthy flavor.

Let me point out that while flushing isn't a thing for organic gardeners...if you're using water soluble organic fertilizers (guano, fish hydrolysate), I would back off any additional ferts the last couple weeks just because it will allow the plant to produce it's most natural flavors.

Think of it like this...a force fed chicken or cow might have more weight on them when they go to market. But the meat will be fatty and not as flavorful as chickens or cows allowed to graze on their own and eat when they need to.

 

[primabudda]

No, unless you force it with a flush

i heard i was true.

that the plant stops turning whatever into sugars and uses it's sugar reserves for the last 2 weeks .... it must have been wrong info.

 

[Rasta Roy]

i heard i was true.

that the plant stops turning whatever into sugars and uses it's sugar reserves for the last 2 weeks .... it must have been wrong info.

i heard i was true.

that the plant stops turning whatever into sugars and uses it's sugar reserves for the last 2 weeks .... it must have been wrong info.

I'm not sure if plants have a point where they stop doing photosynthesis in a controlled environment. Outside I can see it, but it would be more from the environment not being conducive to the plant doing it (when it gets too cold), not because of the plant's maturity.

But I'm not a botanist. This might be a question for your nearest agriculture college.

I just know the "use up it's reserves" concept that makes people flush, is not why you'd flush.

 

[iHearAll]

you can use it 1:100 in water to day if harvest but add microbes in equal parts to this. im and EM enthusiast so for sake of sharing 40mL EMe, 40mL molasses, 1 gallon of water. ot if you have a 5gallon brewer just use 2/3cup molasses and 2/3cup EMe. any microbes will work though. more sterile more better

 

[D port Growth]

like @Rasta Roy said the microbes get fat and lazy and stop doing their jobs. as much as people push molasses as a wonder product the fact of the matter is that Molasses is the microbial equivalent to a LEAD BLANKET. do microbes feed off of it? Yes. is it the optimal food for them? No. People use it because its cheap and Jorge Cervantes said so. would you let your kids eat crap filler like Mcdonalds everyday? Or a fully balanced diet that has all they need to thrive? if you feed them carbs and sugars ALONG with carbon matter and trace minerals as well as proteins. Your soil life will thrive and be running on overdrive in turn so will your plant.

 

[testiclees]

like @Rasta Roy said the microbes get fat and lazy and stop doing their jobs. as much as people push molasses as a wonder product the fact of the matter is that Molasses is the microbial equivalent to a LEAD BLANKET. do microbes feed off of it? Yes. is it the optimal food for them? No. People use it because its cheap and Jorge Cervantes said so. would you let your kids eat crap filler like Mcdonalds everyday? Or a fully balanced diet that has all they need to thrive? if you feed them carbs and sugars ALONG with carbon matter and trace minerals as well as proteins. Your soil life will thrive and be running on overdrive in turn so will your plant.

I agree with all that and In my view the constant addition of K is not doing you any favors. It's far better to keep the Ca high and steady than to force Ca to be battling the ever increasing K levels.

 

[D port Growth]

I agree with all that and In my view the constant addition of K is not doing you any favors. It's far better to keep the Ca high and steady than to force Ca to be battling the ever increasing K levels.

everyone forgets the Ca! It's my 2nd favorite nutrient. @testiclees knows whats up.

 

[greasemonkeymann]

Im about halfway thru flowering and was probably gunna ease up on pretty much all nutrients and only use molasses and ro water can this cause nutrient lockouts or anything its my first time growing and being about halfway done with flowering id hate to mess them up now when theyre so close to being done. Im assuming it wont do any harm seeing as how its organic and should just hopfully help pack on the crystals

yes, molasses can cause lockouts, of calcium in particular
I avoid using molasses unless it's for a microbe tea

 

[Rasta Roy]

like @Rasta Roy said the microbes get fat and lazy and stop doing their jobs. as much as people push molasses as a wonder product the fact of the matter is that Molasses is the microbial equivalent to a LEAD BLANKET. do microbes feed off of it? Yes. is it the optimal food for them? No. People use it because its cheap and Jorge Cervantes said so. would you let your kids eat crap filler like Mcdonalds everyday? Or a fully balanced diet that has all they need to thrive? if you feed them carbs and sugars ALONG with carbon matter and trace minerals as well as proteins. Your soil life will thrive and be running on overdrive in turn so will your plant.

Give em that carbon! My god give em that carbon.

 

[D port Growth]

Give em that carbon! My god give em that carbon.

liquid carbon extract from Nectar for the gods is amazing! not sure if you have tried it but straight amazeballs.

 

[greasemonkeymann]

liquid carbon extract from Nectar for the gods is amazing! not sure if you have tried it but straight amazeballs.

what on earth is liquid carbon extract?

 

[dandyrandy]

Mt Dew

 

[D port Growth]

copied from Nectar for the gods website
Aphrodite’s Extraction

Aphrodite’s Extraction provides a rich blend of sucrose, glucose, and phosphate to promote a thriving microbial population and strong, healthy plant growth. In addition to calcium, microbes need carbon in order to manufacture complex proteins for normal growth and reproduction: low carbon equals low microbial activity. Sucrose is one of the most available forms of carbon for a plant. When sucrose and glucose are blended with proteins, it becomes a microbial feast.

 

[Rasta Roy]

liquid carbon extract from Nectar for the gods is amazing! not sure if you have tried it but straight amazeballs.

Mulching with wood or straw will give carbon for a lot cheaper dough!