Brix57 vs. Molasses:

The Next Evolution in Carbohydrates

for Plants

When it comes to boosting resin and trichome production, GLB Brix57 stands out as the superior choice over traditional molasses-based carbohydrates.

Why Brix57 Outperforms Molasses

Unlike unsulfured blackstrap molasses, which is a byproduct of the sugar industries extraction process from sugarcane or beets, Brix57 is crafted from a proprietary process that extracts clean, highly available fructose and glucose from plants, created specifically for plants. This process results in more efficient and bioavailable sugar, enabling faster microbial uptake with less energy required for breakdown. This efficiency translates to denser resin, better trichome production, and higher-quality secondary metabolites.

The Drawbacks of Molasses

Let’s be clear, there is nothing wrong with using unsulfured blackstrap molasses for plants, but it is not designed or refined for microbial or plant life. Molasses products do not give you the highest quality resin.

Most companies use some form of molasses in their carbohydrate-based products for plants. Few if any nutrient companies extract and refine the ingredients themselves, as mentioned, it is a byproduct of the sugar industry. Molasses, and specifically unsulfured blackstrap molasses, is what is left over when pulling out sugar crystals from the sugar extract. For those that are not sure what types of molasses to use for microorganisms, it must be unsulfured due to the products that use sulfur dioxide in their process which will kill microbial activity.

While molasses has been a staple in plant care for years, it’s a crude sugar source, full of unrefined crystals that microbes must break down before they can use it. This extra step wastes energy and slows down microbial activity. Though many growers don't want to hear it, molasses products’ benefits are outshone by the immediate, efficient uptake provided by Brix57. When Brix57 is paired with our fulvic acid and micronutrients in BrixSap or BloomSap 0-9-11 the results are not close.

Secondary Metabolites:

The Key to Quality

Brix57 isn’t just about sugar. It’s designed to work synergistically with microorganisms and plant cells to ramp up the production of secondary metabolites. These compounds, which include resin, terpenes, trichomes, and flavonoids, are essential for plant defense and overall quality.

The Difference Between Molasses and Brix57

For years, molasses has been the go-to carbohydrate for plant growth. It’s cheap, accessible, and has been widely used in the industry. But the reality is that molasses is a crude sugar source, not specifically formulated for plant or microbial life. It’s a byproduct of sugar production, filled with unrefined crystals that microbes must first break down before they can consume it. This process wastes energy and slows microbial activity.

As mentioned, GLB Brix57 is crafted with a proprietary extraction process designed to provide clean, highly bioavailable sugars. It’s plant-based, non-GMO, and half organic, making it ideal for both plants and the microorganisms in the soil or root zone. Brix57 offers immediate uptake, allowing microbes to focus their energy on enhancing plant growth, not breaking down sugars.

Microbial Efficiency: Less Work, More Results

One of the key differences between Brix57 and molasses comes down to microbial efficiency. Microorganisms consume carbohydrates based on environmental cues and energy needs. Clean, well-refined carbohydrates like Brix57 require less work from microbes, which translates to a faster, more efficient uptake. This reduces wasted energy and maximizes microbial activity, leading to stronger plant growth and higher-quality secondary metabolites, including resin, and trichomes.

Molasses, by contrast, often leads to spikes in microbial activity followed by quick die-offs due to its less stable sugar content. It’s akin to giving plants a quick sugar rush, only to have them crash. With Brix57, microbes have the food source they need for sustained, long-term growth, allowing them to support secondary metabolites—the very compounds responsible for a plant’s defense mechanisms, aroma, and overall quality.

Why Not Just Stick with Molasses?

We get it—molasses has been the industry standard for a long time, and it’s still a common carbohydrate choice. However, the reality is that most companies creating plant carbohydrate products don’t take the time to extract and refine the sugars for optimal microbial efficiency. They rely on a crude process, which means microbes must do more work before they can reap the benefits.

In contrast, Brix57 is clean and refined, without the heavy lifting required for microbial breakdown. This makes it not only more efficient but also more cost-effective. With Brix57, growers use far less—just 1-2 mL per gallon—compared to the 5-10+ mL of molasses often needed. The result? Less product, better results, and more money saved.

Carbs, Teas, and Why Brix57 Stands Alone

Many growers use teas to make nutrients more bioavailable, breaking down organic matter and releasing minerals into the soil. While Brix57 can also be used in teas, its beauty lies in its direct application. No brewing is necessary if the tea is only using a small amount of compost or for biological needs only—simply add it to your nutrient solution, and it will start to expand microbial populations at a much faster pace than molasses. This more immediate bioavailability means you don’t need to spend time or energy brewing compost or other teas if you are not trying to mineralize higher volumes of nutrients in the tea for more immediate efficacy.  Biology can take up to 5 days to make the full cycle to get nutrients available to the plant unlike mineral based nutrients.

Beyond the “Empty Calories” of Molasses

When our organic chemist analyzed the sustainability and effectiveness of carbohydrates, it became clear: molasses is essentially a “quick energy fix.” It provides empty calories that spike microbial activity but with a sharp die-off rate. In contrast, Brix57’s clean sugars don’t create wild swings in microbial populations, offering sustained growth without the risk of quick burnout.

What About the Minerals and Vitamins in Molasses?

Let’s talk molasses. It’s packed with minerals and vitamins, especially unsulfured blackstrap molasses, which has the highest concentration in molasses. Sure, that sounds good on paper—but here’s the thing: your soil shouldn’t need molasses for its nutrients to thrive. We can prove it. Replace the usual 5-10+ mL of molasses with just 1-2 mL of Brix57, and the results speak for themselves—denser flowers, more resin, and higher-quality secondary metabolites.

If all those vitamins and minerals in molasses were the secret sauce, growers should see better results using it, but Brix57 still outperforms. The plant isn't using the extra “help” in the form of molasses nutrients— we have found no direct correlation to end-product quality and the nutrients found in molasses. Over time the nutrients help the overall soil composition but not immediately. What the plants need to complement their carbohydrates is an amendment dose of the proper sulfur and micronutrients, not vitamins that the plant can make for themselves.

Gutattion

A quick note about the picture to the left. The flower is expressing Gutattion. It is manyt times the expression of water droplets from the leaves but in our case it is carbohydrates that look like a honey or a resin. Due to the quality of our carbohydrates we can obtain this in almost any setting with high enough application rates that is why our rates are so low compared to other products. We like to get plants up to the limit prior to gutattion as it is a sugar and though it does not hurt the plant it could be an attractant for insects as well as as when drying flower and putting flame to it, though we have not had it happen to us, the assumption would have a caramelization effect if the carbohydrate was dry enough. We know of no other product that has this consistent capability so we keep Brix57 to 1 mL daily or 2 mL every other day. It still depends on the genetics, environment and quality of nutrients being used to have that capability. As many push our products beyond recommended rates once be aware and cut the Brix57 so it doesn't create more than necessary once guttation is seen.

Micronutrients: The Real Game-Changer

While we don’t add a bunch of extra nutrients to Brix57 as a standalone product, we know the importance of micronutrients, if a plant has the right ones, they can help to make its own vitamins. That’s why we leave the heavy lifting to Brix57 and GLB Micro DS micronutrients, which are both part of our BrixSap and BloomSap 0-9-11 products. These micronutrients can boost terpenes and other secondary metabolites well before the flower finishes. So, you’re not just improving the plant's growth, but you’re ramping up its flavor, aroma, and resin production from the start.

Brix57: Even Hydro Growers Will Notice the Difference

Here’s where it gets interesting. A lot of hydroponic growers swear that sugar doesn’t matter if you're using something like H2O2 to keep your water clean. But Brix57 proves them wrong every day. Even with microbe killers in play, hydro growers see superior flower quality. Especially at high application rates, some molasses-based products don’t play well in reservoirs or soil pots. But with Brix57 especially as it is viscous and not thick, it's efficient, clean, and gets the job done without fuss.

The Bottom Line

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with molasses—but it doesn’t perform the same way as Brix57. We’ve done side-by-sides, now genetics and environments matter, but the difference is clear: when all things being equal trichomes coating the plant from node to node with Brix57, versus a more inconsistent trichome presence with molasses. The results speak for themselves.

The GLB Philosophy:

Nutrient Efficiency

At GLB, we’re all about efficiency. Just as our fish products are cleaner than competitors’ (cold-homogenized, enzyme-broken down, and free from bones or blood), our carbohydrates are formulated with maximum nutrient availability in mind. We don’t dilute products with excess water or add unnecessary fillers. Instead, we ensure that plants and microbes have everything they need to thrive without wasting energy.

The End Result: More Resin, Better Flowers

In side-by-side comparisons, Brix57 consistently outperforms molasses in terms of resin production, trichome density, and overall plant quality. While molasses may provide benefits, Brix57 is the smarter, more sustainable choice for growers who want to push their plants to the next level.

In conclusion, while there’s nothing wrong with molasses, now there is something better, Brix57 represents the future of carbohydrate-based amendments. It’s more efficient, cleaner, and better designed to support secondary metabolite production, resulting in healthier plants and higher-quality flowers. Whether you’re growing in soil or hydroponics, Brix57 is the next step in achieving superior resin, flavor, and overall plant performance.

Pictures from top down @WeedWarrior_1, @GreenDoorFarmGenetics, @CTPS_evo52, @Hash_Hounds_Cultivation, @Weedwarrior_1, WeedWarrior_1