Humboldt Roots smells like rotten eggs!WTF

I bought a bottle to try, first bottle was leaking so I flipped a bitch and went back. I got the second bottle but had to pay more because all of the other little bottles were leaking too! WTF. I got home and opened up the bottle of Humboldt Roots. BAM! A foul ass odor comes ripping ou. Smells like rotten eggs or a stink bomb. Anyone use this stuff? If so, what does it smell like? Im trippin because I think its a no good bottle and need to apply something soon.

not like rotten eggs man...sounds like you got some stuff that wasnt stored correctly. id take that shit back. By the way Humboldt roots is pretty good stuff. I think it may actually be better than rhizotonic...just so you know.

I'll bet their all the same...

Probably supposed to smell like that..

Another reason why im going back to chems.

Welcome to the world of organic fertilizers man!! All organic ferts smell like that because theyre basically made the way nature makes it, by fermenting and composting different things and extracting the juices (minus the extracting part! haha). Definitely don't use any organic stuff in hydro unless your prepared to battle the stench and foamy shit that happens in a dwc (with airstones). But yah I have some of the humbolt roots, and Im prettyy sure its made from seaweed or kelp or something. Imagine taking a bunch of seawead and letting it sit and ferment for a while in a container, then blending it up really nicely and thats basically what that stuff is!

diet103 said:

Welcome to the world of organic fertilizers man!! All organic ferts smell like that because theyre basically made the way nature makes it, by fermenting and composting different things and extracting the juices (minus the extracting part! haha). Definitely don't use any organic stuff in hydro unless your prepared to battle the stench and foamy shit that happens in a dwc (with airstones). But yah I have some of the humbolt roots, and Im prettyy sure its made from seaweed or kelp or something. Imagine taking a bunch of seawead and letting it sit and ferment for a while in a container, then blending it up really nicely and thats basically what that stuff is!

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Thanks for the welcome. Ive been useing organics for quite some time now. Ive used Roots Excellerator and that does not smell lioke that. I own AN's Cutting Accelerator. That doesnt smell like that. I know that when I brew compost with humics and seaweed, it doesnt smell like that. Does your bottle smell rotten also?

The worst smelling chemical additive I use it "DM™ Zone©", it smells strongly of copper and cleaning products. I use an organic product called "Earth Juice™ Catalyst©" and it smells like the sump of a garbage transfer station in summer. Organic nutrients usually smell like essence of rotting fish or two week old dead cow ass. I find that once its mixed into the water its fine but I've foliar fed with organics and stunk out my grow room for days.

Rusty Crutch said:

The worst smelling chemical additive I use it "DM™ Zone©", it smells strongly of copper and cleaning products. I use an organic product called "Earth Juice™ Catalyst©" and it smells like the sump of a garbage transfer station in summer. Organic nutrients usually smell like essence of rotting fish or two week old dead cow ass. I find that once its mixed into the water its fine but I've foliar fed with organics and stunk out my grow room for days.

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You know it!! And organics does not give you bigger yields than chemical.

So, WTF?

You can use clearex on a chem grow and get a fantastic taste and potency.

No more organics for this dude..

No more organics for who? I'll be sticking with organics. Cant say Ive smelled nutes like this before, that doesnt at all mean Im not sticking with what I have. Just wanted feedback on a smell, not tryin to change a successful regimen. I agree, you can use synthetic nutes and flush and get great results. I do it all the time but, what does that have to do with the posted question?

sagensour said:

Thanks for the welcome. Ive been useing organics for quite some time now. Ive used Roots Excellerator and that does not smell lioke that. I own AN's Cutting Accelerator. That doesnt smell like that. I know that when I brew compost with humics and seaweed, it doesnt smell like that. Does your bottle smell rotten also?

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Yup it does smell rotten, a seaweed type of rotten or something along the lines of that. but ya its the only organic fert ive used so I havent smelled many other ones except my caregiver's which all smelt quite rotten.

If it smells EXACTLY like rotten eggs, toss it! Anaerobic bacteria have gained control. But organic fertilizers should have a natural stench, like Diet103 mentioned.

afrawfraw said:

If it smells EXACTLY like rotten eggs, toss it! Anaerobic bacteria have gained control. But organic fertilizers should have a natural stench, like Diet103 mentioned.

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I bought some for the first time just yesterday from my local shop. The reason why the bottles leak (even though they are in metal bottles) is because they were shook and the gasses made the seals break, it's the same reason for the sulfur smell. The person at my hydro store made it very clear to me to not shake this product. The smell is from the reaction of the bacteria after being activated (the shaking). If it's smelling like that I'm going to take a guess and say the shipment to the store was a rocky one or someone in the store just bounced around boxes not knowing what will happen to the Humboldt Roots bottles. Anyways, it does create a bit of sulfur gas when it's added to my hydro because of the bacteria reacting but it goes away shortly.

I would not recommend ever having this stuff shipped to you. Always pick it up at a shop.

It should smell like highly concentrated organic bacteria when you open it up. I wicked earth smell. The rotten eggs smell should only happen after it's been put into your hydro but it shouldn't be too strong to knock anyone out. If it's smelling like sulfur after opening then I assume it's reacted already and the product won't work as well. I highly doubt it will harm your plants though.

by the way, this stuff will hammer your PH levels. Don't even bother reading the PH until it has time to react and settle down after being put into hydro. Check PH levels often after using this. It also creates heat from the reaction so that will mess with the PH readings as well. Use cooler water than normal.

I really wouldn't use this stuff for more than the first couple of weeks of veg to be honest. Can't imagine using it longer than that.

update......

just opened the bottle up for the first time since I first used it last week and it smells like sulfuric gas. For those that know the smell of pouring sulfuric acid into your pipes (not a good idea by the way), it's like that but much milder. Some gas is let off when it hits the water but I can't say I smell it much outside the room.

I know that a biproduct of highly active bacteria that is concentrated like this is sulfur gas but I'm wondering if Humboldt overdid this and will suffer in sales. Can't see too many people liking the smell and the only reason why I may use this more is because it didn't harm my plant in the least over the past week and I could be hallucinating but I think it's really done some nice work on the roots. I've never grown Jack Herer before so I can't say with experience what is going on but the roots really took off and the plant has a very sturdy trunk. I'm now using this stuff at 1/2 tsp (2.5ml) per 3-4 gallons right now in bubblers. 5 clones that have already rooted well will be my test study.

so, to the guy that first started this thread, this appears to be the norm with this stuff. I'll give another update in a week or so and tell ya'll how the clones did.

ps - I came to this board looking for info on Humboldt Roots and couldn't find any so I thought I'd register and give some info to help out. Lots of good info by the crowd in here to read.

last update.....

I emailed Humboldt Nutes and they told me it shouldn't smell like sulfur and they don't know why that happened. They were nice to offer me a new bottle or a credit at the store, however.

Something is awry with this product, that's for sure. I think I will go back to using Root 66.

any other experience with this stuff in hydro?

Its still on the shelf. Roots Eccell works good.