Make your own Sweet for less than 1 dollar a gallon

HeartlandHank said:

Maybe it's just me... but when a company tries to sell me a sugar and epsom salt solution for $64.. I question the company and the product.

Do these sugar additives really work? Can plants uptake sugar? My understanding was that plants make their own glucose through photosynthesis. Also, that they make and store more than they will actually use.

Click to expand...

I'm no scientist but Think of a Maple Tree; in the spring one taps the leafless tree to obtain the sap that flows and then boils it down to make maple syrup, essentially pure sugar. The roots can suck it up out of the soil so it makes sense to me.

It's my understanding that even chelated, sugar molecules are too small for a plant to take up. Sugar in growing is for feeding beneficials

^^ correct, except I think it is the larger complex carb molecules that plants can not take in directly; these types of sugars need to be digested by microorganisms.

I have a theory that might be true- maybe since plants exudate small, low molecular weight sugars (those created in the plant through photosynthesis) through the roots, and then reabsorb them (in competition with microorganisms) - that providing the larger complex carbs in effect keeps the microbes fed and reduces this competition for reuptake of the small sugars, allowing the plant to maintain a higher sugar content.

I still don't understand how different 'flavors' can be fed to the plant and be absorbed to create that flavor in the finished product... I'm leaning toward malarkey on this aspect...

MrPuffTuff said:

^^ correct, except I think it is the larger complex carb molecules that plants can not take in directly; these types of sugars need to be digested by microorganisms.

I have a theory that might be true- maybe since plants exudate small, low molecular weight sugars (those created in the plant through photosynthesis) through the roots, and then reabsorb them (in competition with microorganisms) - that providing the larger complex carbs in effect keeps the microbes fed and reduces this competition for reuptake of the small sugars, allowing the plant to maintain a higher sugar content.

I still don't understand how different 'flavors' can be fed to the plant and be absorbed to create that flavor in the finished product... I'm leaning toward malarkey on this aspect...

Click to expand...

As the plant matures the root zone opens up a bit and the reasoning falls on ATP. The added sugars drive this metabolic process driving terp production and aromas into the realm of dank.

pinner420 said:

As the plant matures the root zone opens up a bit and the reasoning falls on ATP. The added sugars drive this metabolic process driving terp production and aromas into the realm of dank.

Click to expand...

Why does the root zone 'open up'? during maturation? ...so you are saying the plant somehow becomes able to uptake complex carbs at some point? I can't find anything anywhere else that corroborates this.

I like how the guy in the video says toward the end that the products ALSO feed the microorganisms... I'm still wondering if that is ALL it does...

Pretty sure there's 2 or 5 thousand circular debates on it. Take a look at Harley Smith director of Npk university. At the cost of making your own it may or may not break the placebo notion. I will say it's best in coir or soil. Don't try in rdwc. Another guy you may have heard of that has 13 Guinness book records John Evan's CEO Bountea.

Correction: Should read:

It's my understanding that even chelated, sugar molecules are too large for a plant to take up. Sugar in growing is for feeding beneficials

Click to expand...

wondering if substituting molasses for cane sugar is 1to 1? or if it is not refined enough for this ?

also if ya look at that label it says 0.1% cane sugar .... the magnesium sulfate is the real key here ....

im about to try this recipe cause why not . and all i can say about botanicare sweet being snake oil or not is that when i use it vs when i dont use it, or any substitute for it,is that my flowers always have a way stronger nose. time and time again ive done this experiment bc it seems like a waste of money , especially when the reps dog that product.... but when i dont use it my flowers are not as terpy. however , ive learned magnesium sulfate is what is doing most of that so i been using just epson salt but was curious about mimicking the sweet product and that lead me to this thread..