agave nectar

[DOZEE]

any thoughts on using agave nectar for a carb boost instead of molasses?
its pretty much un fermented tequila and you can get it at heath food store.

[guest]

any thoughts on using agave nectar for a carb boost instead of molasses?
its pretty much un fermented tequila and you can get it at heath food store.

I have doubts about it's usefulness vs. molasses. I believe I have read that agave nectar can be anti-microbial or anti-fungal (tho I could be mistaken).

I would suggest sticking with tried and true unsulferated black strap molasses. And if you find a type with >80% brix that's the jam :)

Also, isn't agave nectar much more expansive than feedstock molasses from an AG store?

HTH If you do try it let us know what happens :)

[DOZEE]

pretty sure his name is Dr. Andrew wiel
Originally Posted by Wiz View Post

The "medicine man" from High Times, Adrew H. (his last name isn't a secret, but I forget it), teaches a course at the THC foundation here in Portland, which I took. It costs $70 and consists of seven individual two-hour lectures, with demonstrations and participation too (making clones and making/trying bubble-hash and honey-oil, etc.). Most states that have medical marijuana programs also have THC foundation clinics, so if you're lucky enough to live in one of those states, I highly recommend using them to help become a medical marijuana patient, and expert grower. Getting back to the subject: the "medicine man" teaches that molasses builds-up too much iron and potassium over time, so he recommends using agave instead. Agave actually has much more concentrated carbs than molasses, which has had most of it's carbs (sugar) removed during processing. Sucanat (Sugar Cane Natural) is raw sugar before having the molasses removed, so it can be used instead of molasses - it has more sugar and so provides a better boost. Agave may be a better source of carbs than sucanat though, and I've started using it instead, because the "medicine man" recommended making the switch, plus it makes sense to me scientifically. Our local "People's" cooperative has organic raw light agave in bulk, and that's what my babies get for a carb boost now. I stop using compost solution (which is all I use for nutes) at about week 5, and start using "hygrowzyme" as a catalyst, continue using "Earth Juice" for a catalyst, and start adding agave for a carbohydrate boost, which results in bigger, sweeter buds. The last couple of waterings I only use slightly acidified water to flush the soil really well, per medicine man's recommendation. That means the hygrozyme and agave is only used for 2-3 weeks during weeks 5-7, but that's enough to make a difference!! I suppose using more hygrozyme and agave a bit earlier in flowering might boost them more, perhaps alternating with compost solution during the first few weeks might be a good strategy. ANYways, that's how I'm doing it now, but I've constantly adjusted the way I grow during the last ten years, since I first became an Oregon Medical Marijuana Act program 'patient'. We have a medical marijuana awards each year, and clones of the winning strains are made available to patients - how cool is that? If you don't have a medical marijuana program in your state, please contact your local NORML organization to help make it happen - it CAN happen! It happened here in 1998 - Oregon was the second state after California to approve a medical marijuana law, but it only happened because "we the people" MADE it happen! Medical marijuana is opening the door for cannabis hemp, which will soon become the most powerful economic engine in the world (it's already begun), as it helps us transform our society to locally based food, education, and commerce. Cannabis will save the planet, but that's a different subject..."

I just used it seemed less thick than molasses, no harm done ...
switched to this from sweet leaf ...

Posted by:bohdiseeds
info:

Inulin
Inulin is a natural dietary fiber that is extracted from the root of a chicory plant through hot water extraction. Inulin has been shown to have prebiotic properties – a nutrient to the “beneficial bacteria” (particularly Bifido-bacteria and lactobacillus) located in the large intestine. The bacteria growth helps maintain and produce balanced intestinal flora. Healthy intestinal flora provides many benefits including:

Nutritionally support digestive transit time and thus support regularity
Assist and strengthen the immune system
Help protect the intestine through the barrier effect of Bifido-bacteria
Assist in controlling the formation of free radicals which are linked to cancer.

It may look like "insulin," but that isn't a typo in the title. In fact, inulin is a carbohydrate – a long-chain sugar – that is used to store energy in the roots of certain plants, like starch stores the energy in potatoes.

Unlike starch and most other carbs, however, inulin isn't broken down in the digestive tract, which means it has only a small impact on blood sugar - and very few calories. Inulin also improves the health of the colon by feeding healthy bifidobacteria in the intestine, helps with mineral absorption, and may even combat cancer
__________________

[c-ray]

let's see a side by side comparison

I had a similar thought as the bodhiseeds guy a while back, that fructo-oligosaccharides like inulin might be good for feeding good bacteria

[guest]

Hey guys,

I wrote a pretty in depth thread about inulin in the organics or advanced sub-forum, I can't remember which one. I put together what should be a doable DIY method to extract inulin.

I'm not sure that using inulin or other oligosaccharides is the usable idea. It seems they would be more likely to select for certain microbes than molasses which is very non-selective.

Dozee, have you found any info about anti-microbial properties of agave?


Re: "medicine man"

The sugar he is referring to is cane sugar, sugar in the raw (correct?). Does he offer citations or reasons why he states Fe and P are too high from molasses? As we are growing cannabis I find it hard to believe molasses would add 'too much' Fe and P.

My point about the brix level of molasses is kinda important imo. Over 80% brix and the molasses feeds the greatest number and variation of microbes (that's from Elaine for ACT, or Vinny for AEM, I can't remember off hand, either way it is still seems relevant). Brix over 80% or so, is considered 'high quality'.

I wonder how often the medicine man applies molasses. It seems most cannabis growers way over apply molasses, thanks in no small part (I think) to the 3 Little Birds. And IMO that's a shame, molasses only needs to applied occasionally, as microbial food with ACT, etc. It seems most growers consider it a product for the plant...

The fact is about 25% of the carbs the plant produces from photosynthesis are transferred to the roots and into the rhizosphere to feed the microherd. Once a microherd is strong, the plant should be proving all the carbs needed.

All that said, I totally agree with C-ray, a side by side would be cool.

:)

[DOZEE]

update (agave necter brix :76.0-77-5,ph 3.7-4.3,carbs 99.45-99.8)
(molasses brix: 85.0, ph 6.0-6.3, carbs 60.80-74.73)

[c-ray]

are you using it yet? that's a lot of carbs :smile2:

[DOZEE]

yes, works like molasses in my ebb n grow. though i haven't been taking notes. still have liquid karma ,sweet, hydro honey bottles to use. Im making hempy buckets to run a full out test .

[DOZEE]

slips from cabbana said:My herb this round is the best it has been in years ... And the agave and sucanot is the only thing different .... Frost smell and taste improved without messing with how the herb is supposed to smell and taste ...

[c-ray]

cool
would love to try it one day, I think you guys are onto something

found some good prices here: http://www.21missionsagave.com/bulkagave.html

[hombre de la heirba]

so I am about 5 weeks from harvest. I have 5 plants under one 1000 watt hps. during the veg stage i used foxfarm underwater forest ( 10-7-7)and since I moved them into the flowering room I'm using a local fert (6-30-30) to increase flower size. This is my first grow by myself and am keeping it pretty simple. I experimented with co2 with dry ice and yeast (at different times ofcourse) but since I have nothing to compare the results to, am not too sure if it helped. now I'm down to the last stretch, 5 weeks to go!!! Ive done quite a bit of reading about agave nectar vs molasses and haven't seen any significant results of the proposed experiments. I'm going to preform this experiment with 2 plants using agave nectar and 3 with the molasses (since molasses implementation has proven to be succesful- per Jorge Cervantes) and post my results as soon as they present themselves. if anyone has advice or experience pertaining to this experiment, input would be greatly appreciated.

[hombre de la heirba]

I just had another thought, what if I added molasses to my fert mix and used the agave nectar for folar feeding? any thoughts?

[spaceman]

so I am about 5 weeks from harvest. I have 5 plants under one 1000 watt hps. during the veg stage i used foxfarm underwater forest ( 10-7-7)and since I moved them into the flowering room I'm using a local fert (6-30-30) to increase flower size. This is my first grow by myself and am keeping it pretty simple. I experimented with co2 with dry ice and yeast (at different times ofcourse) but since I have nothing to compare the results to, am not too sure if it helped. now I'm down to the last stretch, 5 weeks to go!!! Ive done quite a bit of reading about agave nectar vs molasses and haven't seen any significant results of the proposed experiments. I'm going to preform this experiment with 2 plants using agave nectar and 3 with the molasses (since molasses implementation has proven to be succesful- per Jorge Cervantes) and post my results as soon as they present themselves. if anyone has advice or experience pertaining to this experiment, input would be greatly appreciated.

forget Jorge Cervantes thats my advice.,.,

[DOZEE]

I use agave humic /fulvic as a foliar with great results.

[hombre de la heirba]

I use agave humic /fulvic as a foliar with great results.

humic/ fulvic? is that different than just ordinary agave nectar?

[DOZEE]

just spay agave works well alone.. humic & fulvic are acid's

[c-ray]

add this to the list of things to try (coconut nectar):

http://www.coconutsecret.com/nectar2.html

[DOZEE]

coconut syrup brix : 75

[hazedaze]

Added some palm nectar (from navitas naturals) to my earth juice stew last night. I'll let y'all know what happens.

[c-ray]

^ http://www.navitasnaturals.com/products/palm.html

http://www.navitasnaturals.com/img/prod/thumbs/palm-sugar.jpg

Palm (pahm)

any of numerous plants of the family Palmae; most species being tall, unbranched trees surmounted by a crown of large pinnate or palmately cleft leaves.

Sustainable Sugar

The coconut palm tree has long been used and appreciated for its edible resources by tropical communities. Among the most delicious parts of this plant is its sugar: the crystallized nectar of the coconut palm flowers, known as palm sugar. More than just lending a sweet taste, this sweetener is also extremely ecologically friendly: coconut palms produce an average of 50%-75% more sugar per acre than sugar cane, while using only a fifth of the resources. It is no wonder that the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has recognized palm sweeteners as the single most sustainable sweetener in the world.

The Power Of Palm Sugar

The wonderful sweetness and planet-friendly attributes aside, this natural product is beneficial to the body as well. Navitas Naturals palm sugar is naturally very low on the Glycemic Index (GI35) – half the GI of cane sugar. Excitingly, palm sugar serves as an ideal sugar substitute for those watching glucose levels (such as diabetics), or those monitoring lipid levels and looking for weight control. This organic, evaporated palm sugar has a nutritional content far greater than all other commercially available sweeteners -- with high amounts of potassium, magnesium, zinc and iron, as well as vitamin C and many of the B vitamins. As a natural as it gets, palm sugar is a pure and simple sugar alternative that provides the energy and nutrition needed for a healthy (and delicious) lifestyle.

[hazedaze]

^^ its working great so far!