How interesting (and 25 years ago my parents where still in to the rare fruit growers association too)

If I see my neighbor, who is still busy with the group, what he thinks of using sugar.

Hi Kitty: I'm glad you are back, I miss your tons-of-blooms gorgeous pics, and your years of experience ahead of me. When Alana in SC got sick bands from Burlington early april, this is what I wrote to Alana on April 19:

"Fish emulsion is very acidic, best mix into your tap water to lower the pH for pale roses. It's great to water your roses with diluted fish emulsion, but NOT to spray the foliage. If leaves are kept wet and slightly acidic, you'll get diseases.

Fish emulsion is cited as NPK is 5-2-2, with trace elements. University of Mass. research on marigolds tested chemical, fish emulsion, alfalfa pellets, or a combo. They compared Neptune fish emulsion NPK of 3-1-5, versus chemical fertilizer NPK of 20-2-20.

Personally I think the marigold watered with fish emulsion looks better than others, the one with alfalfa meal is worst, very stunt and yellowish. Google that, and you'll see.

Another organic way is to use blackstrap molasses, but only the Plantation brand has the highest nutrient. Plantation brand sold at Walmart has 17% potassium, 20% iron, and 20% calcium. Experiments on Soluble fertilizers showed that high potassium plus calcium yielded the best root growth, and the best flowering.

Less is best with molasses. People with green plants use 1/2 teaspoon per gallon of water for every 2 weeks. Since roses are tougher, 1 teaspoon would be fine. Too much sugar can make the fungi out-number the bacteria in the soil.

A tiny bit of sugar stimulates the endo/ecto mycorrhizal fungi. That group of soil fungi increase the nutrients in soil, esp. phosphorus, potassium, and iron. I posted a thread on mycorrhizal fungi a month ago. "

After I wrote the above to Alana, I went to find Plantation brand early April .... no luck. So I'll order low salt soluble fertilizer NPK 2-20-20 with molasses from Kelp4Less. Once diluted, that Mid-Bloom pack has 1/4 cup molasses per 50 gal., plus Myco++ fungi for best root-uptake of nutrients.

If you can find Plantation Blackstrap molasses, its high iron will green up your plants. Here's the link to nutrients in different brands of molasses ... they vary widely:

Here is a link that might be useful: Nutrients in different brands of molasses

Molasses is one thing people use to heat up and start compost bins

The health food store near where I live sells a brand called Tree of Life "unsulfered preservative free blackstrap molassas".

The label states: potassium 14%, calcium 15%, iron 20%, magnesium 10%. I may try some, diluted, on my plants. I have a repotted band plant of 'Pink Cloud' frm. RVR which remains alarmingly pale as to foliage even after weekly drinks of mild fish emulsion.

From a March 2013 scientific review.

"exogenous sucrose supply often mimics the effect of high light and cold. However, many exceptions to this rule seem to occur due to interactions with other signaling pathways. In conclusion, the sucrose role as a signal molecule in plants is starting to be unveiled and much research is still needed to have a complete map of its significance in plant function."

Here is a link that might be useful: Sucrose signaling in plants: A world yet to be explored

Thank you, Nastarana for info. about "Tree of Life" molasses, I will check my health food store. Thank you, Henry, for that article, that's an interesting topic to explore.

Serena in KS left this forum and post many pics. of her awesome, no-spray roses in her "Organic Roses-Honeybee garden" profile in HMF. She has alkaline clay like mine, but uses Gardenville Sea Tea, with all trace elements in CHELATED forms, such as iron, manganese, copper, and zinc.... they green up her roses, give vibrant colors to blooms. Horse manure does the same with its trace elements, but not all folks have access to horse manure.

Below is the link to organic Gardenville Sea Tea with compost tea, Omega-3 Fish emulsion, molasses, and several chelated trace elements. Serena in KS loves that stuff, with her vibrant deep blooms and dark green leaves.

Here is a link that might be useful: Gardenville Sea tea with molasses added

Identifying sucrose as a signal for nitrate uptake by wheat roots

Here is a link that might be useful: link for above

Growth Response of Tomatoe Plants to Applied Sucrose

Here is a link that might be useful: link for above

Thank you, Henry, for the above links, I find them very fascinating. I am always curious about the role of sugar in plant growth, much appreciated.