Pool of fondant on crown board

[The Poot in Somerset]

Checking food stores on Sunday, I found "liquid fondant" (Ambrosia) on two crown boards. The hives have 50mm Celotex above the fondant. Is this "normal"?

 

[enrico]

Fondant goes runny with heat from have. I presume you mean the crown board on which the fondant was placed? Bit confusing!
E

 

[SDM]

It also absorbs humidity from the hive and becomes liquid. Doesn't sound at all unusual.

 

[Angularity]

It's called 'deliquescence'. That's been one of my favourite words since O Level chemistry in 1978. Tricky to get into an everyday sentence, though.

 

[SDM]

It's called 'deliquescence'. That's been one of my favourite words since O Level chemistry in 1978. Tricky to get into an everyday sentence, though.

You're quite right of course, though for some reason im sure the term ive seen associated with it is hygroscopy(( i know the difference)although i could be thinking of honey which.is already a liquid)

 

[Repwoc]

Hygroscopic means to absorb water from the air. Deliquescence is used when sufficient water is absorbed to dissolve the material and form a solution.

 

[Popparand]

Hygroscopic means to absorb water from the air. Deliquescence is used when sufficient water is absorbed to dissolve the material and form a solution.

Surely the correct word is "dissolved". "Solution" is tautologous.

 

[Repwoc]

Yes. Solutions are made by dissolving things. So it was unnecessary to reiterate the point by adding "to form a solution". Unless, of course, the reader doesn't know that a solution is formed by dissolving something, in which case it is entirely appropriate to add "to form a solution".

I'm not saying that that applies to anyone here, of course. Far from it.

 

[Millet]

Yes. Solutions are made by dissolving things. So it was unnecessary to reiterate the point by adding "to form a solution". Unless, of course, the reader doesn't know that a solution is formed by dissolving something, in which case it is entirely appropriate to add "to form a solution".

I'm not saying that that applies to anyone here, of course. Far from it.

The only thing that is being dissolved here is my grey matter...

 

[The Poot in Somerset]

It's called 'deliquescence'. That's been one of my favourite words since O Level chemistry in 1978. Tricky to get into an everyday sentence, though.

Thanks everyone - I'd always thought deli quescence was a posh food store.
I'll let the bees know.
Makes a mess on the crown boards though and no doubt some bees will get stuck in it

 

[enrico]

The solution is to put it a plastic bag with a hole in it. Any runny stuff gets stuck in the bag. The bees climb in to get the fondant and it's juices. You don't want fondant constantly dripping down the frames.

 

[Etton]

I’ve currently put my fondant in takeaway tubs above the crown board with the intention (after trickling OA)in January of then placing flat fondant (in cut plastic bags) below the crown board, but above the cluster (using thin ekes)

 

[ShinySideUp]

The solution is to put it a plastic bag with a hole in it. Any runny stuff gets stuck in the bag. The bees climb in to get the fondant and it's juices. You don't want fondant constantly dripping down the frames.

I would have thought that putting the fondant above one of the crown board holes would mean that if the fondant dripped it would always drip down the same bit of frame and therefore make it easier, and more likely, for the bees to find it. Just a thought.

 

[enrico]

I would have thought that putting the fondant above one of the crown board holes would mean that if the fondant dripped it would always drip down the same bit of frame and therefore make it easier, and more likely, for the bees to find it. Just a thought.

Unless they are clustered underneath the drip which might chill them!
E

 

[The Poot in Somerset]

Unless they are clustered underneath the drip which might chill them!
E

So many pitfalls and so much to learn!
I did leave the plastic bags on but must have cut the plastic a little too far!

 

[Frizzaldo]

i put fondant in rapid feeder (took out the clear plastic cup bit) above crown board in an eke, insulation above that. No drips and they seem to be accessing it ok. They'll possibly fill it with brace come in spring though...