Growing cannabis is much like growing any other plant, but there are a few important exceptions. One is the desire to have as much resin as possible in the buds. This leads to the use of unusual fertilizer supplements. One such supplement is molasses.
Why Add Molasses to Your Pot Plants Soil
The right kind of molasses adds beneficial nutrients to the soil. Unlike most plant fertilizers, it also directly adds energy in the form of carbohydrates. Here are some of the most important nutrients molasses provides:
- Carbs - These feed rhizobacteria in the soil. The bacteria then make other nutrients available to the plants.
- Selenium - This helps plants make enzymes and antioxidants, thereby reducing crop stress.
- Magnesium – This helps promote chlorophyll production and healthy growth.
- Copper – It helps plants break down food sources and get energy.
- Potassium – This major plant nutrient supports photosynthesis and allows bud production.
- Iron – This essential nutrient is needed for photosynthesis and DNA synthesis.
- Calcium – Contributes to the plant's structural integrity and encourages growth.
What Is Molasses?
Molasses is a byproduct of refined sugar production. After the sugar canes or sugar beets are boiled to liberate their sucrose crystals, molasses is what remains. It is a dark, syrupy liquid that is high in carbs and other nutrients.
Does Molasses Do Anything Else for Marijuana?
Yes, molasses provides a few other very important benefits. It is sugary enough to kill many pests that consume it, so you can reduce your use of pesticides. It removes chemical flavors and fertilizer residues, eliminating sharp and sour flavors from the buds and letting the plant's sweetness come through. Finally, it reduces the buildup of salts and helps prevent nutrient lockout.
Which Type of Molasses is Best for Growing Marijuana?
There are several types of molasses, but only some are good for promoting plant growth. Here are the varieties you may encounter, ranked from best to worst:
Blackstrap molasses: This is the byproduct from thrice-boiled sugar cane or beet juice. It is very thick and is packed with carbohydrates and other nutrients. These nutrients make it the best choice for growing pot. Its texture is like honey.
Medium or dark molasses: For this product, the sugar source is boiled twice. It is deep brown and has a strong taste. It is second-best for cannabis growth.
Light or "white" molasses: This is the result of boiling a sugar source only once. The flavor is mild and sweet. It doesn't have enough carbs or other nutrients to be a useful pot fertilizer.
Treacle: This is made by boiling sugar cane juice rather than entire ground-up canes. After boiling, this syrup is separated from the rest of the liquid. It tastes great, but isn't a good fertilizer.
Sulfured vs. Unsulfured Molasses
When you shop for molasses, you may see two main kinds offered: sulfured and unsulfured. Sulfured molasses has had sulfur dioxide added as a preservative. This kills important soil microbes and disrupts the pH level of the soil. Therefore, you should always choose unsulfured molasses for your plants.
How to Use Molasses to Enhance Marijuana Growth
When to Apply
While molasses is helpful at all stages of growth, you'll get the most bang for your buck if you apply it in the flowering stage. If you're growing in coco or hydro, definitely wait for the flowering stage. This helps prevent nutrient burn.
How to Dilute the Molasses
It is recommended to use one teaspoon of molasses per gallon of water.
Other Ways to Use Molasses with Cannabis
There are several other ways to incorporate molasses into your plants' "diet."
Water the Plants with It
Plants can be watered with the molasses-treated water according to the directions above.
Add Molasses to Compost Tea
If you're a fan of compost tea, simply add a teaspoon of molasses to a gallon of tea to pump it up.
Add Dry Molasses to the Soil
Powdered molasses and grain molasses can be added directly to soil. Then, nutrients are released every time you water. Simply sprinkle the dry molasses on top of your growing mix before sowing your seeds. Once the plants bloom, give them another dose of the dry molasses.
Use it as a Foliar Spray
Mix one teaspoon of molasses into a gallon of water. Then spray it liberally on the pot leaves. Do this once every two weeks. Not only will this give the plants nutrients, it will help keep bugs off of the plants and remove the buildup from other products. It also sweetens the buds.
Pesticidal and Repellant Properties of Molasses Water
Aphids, whiteflies, and lace bugs do not appreciate sugar and will stay away from treated plants. This makes molasses spray a good repellent for preventing infestation by these insects.
When used on the soil, molasses water reduces insect activity in the growing medium. It can kill soil-dwelling spider mites before they can crawl up the plants and damage them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Molasses Enlarge the Buds?
You can expect larger and stickier flowers when you apply molasses to your ganja crop.
How Often Should I Use Molasses?
If you're growing in a soil-like medium, apply it weekly in the vegetative stage and twice a week in the flowering stage. When growing in coco or hydroponically, hold off on using molasses until the flowering stage.
Can I use honey instead?
No, honey does not contain minerals and other nutrients needed to produce an outstanding crop.
How Does Molasses Affect pH?
Unsulfured molasses usually has no effect on pH, which is one of the reasons to choose it over the sulfured variety. Sulfured molasses lowers soil pH.
When Should I Stop Using Molasses?
It is important to know when to stop feeding your plants molasses. In general, you should stop after the final flush. However, if you notice symptoms of nutrient burn, such as yellowing leaf tips, stop immediately.
With these tips, you can cut back on expensive commercial pot fertilizers and have a better crop for doing it. This will let you buy more of our high-quality seeds for your next grow!
