Which works better? Recharge or Heisenberg tea?
After using Heisenberg tea for a few years, I have been unable to find any other beneficial bacteria that gives the same results. And believe me, I’ve tried everything.
What is beneficial bacteria?
In case you’re not familiar with beneficial bacteria, in the simplest terms, it is bacteria / microbes that form a symbiotic relationship with your roots. They take in nutrients, break them down, and make the nutrients more available to the plant. The end result is a plant with a massive root mass, which gives the plant the ability to take up more water and nutrients, so it grows faster, and is more healthy. With beneficial bacteria, your plant can tolerate a wider PH drift, because the bacteria makes the nutrients available, regardless of the PH (within reason). In addition, they PROTECT the root zone from bad, aerobic bacteria, like pythium. If you’re not using any form of beneficials, that’s like… a windows computer with no anti virus protection!
Outside of your base nutrients, beneficial bacteria is the single most effective ingredient, to growing faster, and growing more healthy plants.
What is Heisenberg tea?
A concoction of Ancient Forest, aquashield, great white, and molasses, brewed in a 5 gallon bucket for 48 hours with an air-stone. It must be bubbled for 48 hours for best results.
What is Recharge?
Everything that’s in Heisenberg tea, in one bottle. There is no need to “brew” it. I’ve used it for rockwool, cloning, and DWC, and it works perfectly in all three.
You’ve probably already read my other articles on Recharge, and how I’ve been using it. After I was convinced it worked, then I set out to see which on actually works better. And here are my results. this is during a transplant from a #2 pot to a #5 pot.
Recharge, picture 1
Recharge, picture 2.
Heisenberg tea, Picture 1
Heisenberg tea, Picture 2 
Above ground, Recharge on the left:
Amazing. Both work great! Won’t see any RockWool cubes falling on the ground when transplanting those!
1) The only concern i got with the product is it contain molasses ! and isn’t it going to create problem in the reservior ? like food to bad bacteria.. Where ever i asked this always came up.. molasses..!
2) As you said that you simply pour recharge..My question is Will brewing recharge make it more stronger ? (like the case with heisenberg tea)
Def don’t leave ReCharge in a res. It is compatible with Hydro and DWC, but only to inoculate the growing medium (rockwool, clay pebbles, coco chips, ect)
As far as brewing: ReCharge is meant to be mixed in solution and watered in. However, used at half strength tea brewers have given us great reports. Especially on the dank foaming!
Man ,they look like perfection!!
So it sounds like I shouldn’t add it to my ebb & flow reservoir. Could I top feed it into my hydroton?
I’m getting ready to start 2 hempy buckets with coco and perlite. It’s OK in there, right?
>>>So it sounds like I shouldn’t add it to my ebb & flow reservoir. Could I top feed it into my hydroton?
As the Dude said, it’s not advised to add recharge to the reservoir. You can do it, IF you have an air stone in there, oxygenating it. If not, the beneficials will die off. In addition, beneficial bacteria doesn’t live as well, in the nutrient solution. The recharge will be much more effective if you top feed it, as I have explained in these recharge articles.
>>>I’m getting ready to start 2 hempy buckets with coco and perlite. It’s OK in there, right?
Yes, top feed recharge a few times a week, if you want roots like you see above.
>>>Will brewing recharge make it stronger ?
Sort of, yes. By brewing it, the microbes consume some of the molasses as food, and are then SUPER charged by the time they hit your roots. However it is not necessary at all. The only case where I would suggest “brewing” recharge, is when you are going to use it in DWC / NFT / or any medium-less grow method. These grow methods are more prone to getting pythium outbreaks, and anything sugary, like molasses, can cause a pythium outbreak (if conditions are just right in the reservoir; warm water, low oxygen levels). My stoner theory is… when brewing recharge, the microbes consume up most of the molasses, making it better for these grow methods. Be sure to brew for 48 hours before using, just as if you were making heisenberg tea.
I may be off here, since I’m no biologist. My advice is based on my experience, and the experience of others who keep me updated on their grows. This might be a good topic for a grower question on a future show. Scotty? Dude? What do you think?
Cap
Wow, I stumbled across this reasearching ways to keep roots healthy in hydro. I first stumbled across Heisenberg Tea then I stumbled across this Recharge stuff. From reading I’ve read good stuff concerning both. They both seem pretty awesome, now I’m thinking finance’s. I would definitely love to try this stuff. Where do I get it from?
Oh didn’t go all the way down, lol. Now listening to the radio.
What medium is that those plants are in, looks interesting and how were those plants set up to run?
Meaning: watered etc.
>>What medium is that those plants are in, looks interesting and how were those plants set up to run?
That is called “Captain style” growing. Read about it here:
https://www.dudegrows.com/lets-captain-style-baby-part-1/
There are three parts. Be sure to read them all and watch the videos too.
all i gotta say is F*&^ing RECHARGE works..I got so much love for Scotty And THE DUDE……All the way from OHIO i appreciate the real shit these guys do and always keep it real on advice and methods of growing..not just pushing shit cuz of promoters and endorsements…Gotta shot the Dude Grows some love
Incredible
Just got my jar of recharge a few days ago and cant wait to put it to use. Whats the best way to use it in promix? Im using sensi as my base with b52 some voodoo juice osa 28 and cal mag when needed.
Hello Cap’n!
Big fan here.
I would like to ask you what to use alternatively if i have no access to recharge in the UK?
we also lack of Ancient Forest, ZHO, Aquashield
We do have Great White. Is it good enough to replace? Should i make a tea out of it or just top feed it like any other additive?
Kind Regards