Affect on water PH from molasses?

[enonumus]

Haven't been able to find the answer to this on ROI, primarily because so many words related to molasses and growing have PH in it (sulPHured, unsulPHured, PHosPHate etc. etc.), which doesn't work well for searching the forums. I'm wondering how people with the vial and drop test kits determine the PH of their water with molasses mixed in, since the molasses changes the color of the water and the test kit doesn't override the coloring that the molasses contributes? Or more to the point, does anybody know roughly how much 1 tablespoon of molasses affects the PH of one gallon of distilled water?

It's hard enough to measure 1 tablespoon since it clings to the spoon and it's hard tol suck it up into one of those measured droppers since it's so thick, but assuming we have 1 tablespoon and one gallon, and assuming it's Black Strap, or perhaps Grandma's unsulphured (not sure if the type or brand really affects the PH much), anybody have a clue what the PH would be when mixed? If not, does anybody at least know if the molasses raises or lowers the PH?

TIA

 

[Haight1985]

I use grandmas unsulphured robust molasses and my water is 8.3 and when I add 1 tablespoon it comes down to 7.1 this is measured with digital ph pen.

 

[d.s.m.]

All I can say with any certainty is that it lowers Ph. When I started my grow this year, I got really into testing my tap water, my runoff water and all that with a reagent (vial and drops). Once I figured out that I was close enough, I got bored and quit that shit. Wish I could be more helpful, and it's something I've always wondered about.

 

[enonumus]

I use grandmas unsulphured robust molasses and my water is 8.3 and when I add 1 tablespoon it comes down to 7.1 this is measured with digital ph pen.

Thanks to both of you for your replies. @Haight1985 - Was that one gallon of water? Thanks

 

[NateDizity1420]

1 table spoon of molasses seemed to drop my tap water from 8.3-8.5 down to 7.5-7.8. I know when I added 2 tbl/gal of molasses that my ph was around 6.8-7.0. So it does drop mine down around 1-1.5 ph when I used 2tbl/gal. I forget what i used? I used to use Grandmas but switched to the one with the rabbit on the front because it had double the potassium and magnesium in it, it also had more iron & carbohydrates in it than the Grandmas brand.

 

[enonumus]

1 table spoon of molasses seemed to drop my tap water from 8.3-8.5 down to 7.5-7.8. I know when I added 2 tbl/gal of molasses that my ph was around 6.8-7.0. So it does drop mine down around 1-1.5 ph when I used 2tbl/gal. I forget what i used? I used to use Grandmas but switched to the one with the rabbit on the front because it had double the potassium and magnesium in it, it also had more iron & carbohydrates in it than the Grandmas brand.

Ok thanks a lot, at least it gets me going in the right direction and I won't do too much harm if I set my PH to around 7-7.5 and add 1TBSP of molasses. I'm sure anything between 6-7 isn't going to hurt anything for a once a week feeding, I keep it right within range with the other feedings/waterings.

 

[d.s.m.]

1 table spoon of molasses seemed to drop my tap water from 8.3-8.5 down to 7.5-7.8. I know when I added 2 tbl/gal of molasses that my ph was around 6.8-7.0. So it does drop mine down around 1-1.5 ph when I used 2tbl/gal. I forget what i used? I used to use Grandmas but switched to the one with the rabbit on the front because it had double the potassium and magnesium in it, it also had more iron & carbohydrates in it than the Grandmas brand.

It's called Brer Rabbit, and it's the same kind I use for the same reasons.

 

[enonumus]

It's called Brer Rabbit, and it's the same kind I use for the same reasons.

I'll have to pick some of that up. I grabbed the only unsulphured molasses that the local supermarket had at the time. Didn't know of any preferred brands or what to look for in the way of ingredients. Thanks again, + REP for everybody that replied.

 

[Haight1985]

Yes my measurements are 1 tablespoon to a gallon. I use to use regular grandmas molasses until I came across grandmas robust molasses witch does have more of vitamins and potassium, calcium, magnesiem. So if you can find grandmas robust rich comes with green lable and lid. So if you find the molasses that has more of the gooodies in it get it, this will help bring your ph down closer to where you want it if you use the regular stuff go for 2 tablespoons.