Just finished putting together a 1:1 Sugar Syrup Mix for packages due to arrive on Saturday. I added a packet of store bought apple cider mix to the syrup.
Is there any reason why I should regret having added the packet of apple cider?
I checked the ingredients. Only 1 gram of the 21 gram package is not sugar. Other ingredients included malic acid, maltodextrin, tricalcium phosphate (to prevent caking), apple juice solids, caramel color, sodium citrate (controls acidity), ascorbic acid, natural and artificial flavors, spice extractive. - all in one gram!
I have read prior posts on apple cider vinegar to control mold. Is this a powdered substitute for the vinegar? I only added one packet to a gallon of mixed syrup.
I am probably paying too much attention to detail. These are my first two packages of bees.
The question must be asked: Why did you add apple cider to the sugar water? It's not necessary, as far as I know. I'd toss that mix and make a new batch.
The only problem is the solids. Bees don't do well with solids.
It was a powdered mix. And like I said 20 of the 21 grams was sugar anyway. I (mistakenly?) thought apple cider and apple cider vinegar (mold prevention) were the same thing. It is mixed fine. There are no particulates in the solution. And after all it is only a gram.
Being so new I mixed up another batch of just sugar syrup. But I saved the prior mix with the apple cider just in case. I would hate to waste it.
But sacrifice is a necessary part of learning.
Odds are if they are not confined the solids won't do much harm, but they are not an advantage. :)
It has been a practice of many bee keepers to add 1 tsp of cider vinegar to simple syrup for generations. That may be where you got the idea of the apple cider mix. The solids in the cider mix shouldn't do the bees any harm but look for a resude to be left in the feeder when it empty of syrup.
I use the 1 tsp of cider vinegar to a gallon of syrup.