Updated at: 30-11-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

How much mycorrhizae to use is one of the most important questions you may ask yourself in your gardening endeavors. What are the most important points to remember? To learn more, keep reading.

Granular or Soluble?

Plant Biostimulants, such as our GreenEden biological amendments, should be applied in the correct manner in order to have the best benefits.

When you apply Mycorrhizal Fungi, the aim is to make direct root contact.

The Mycorrhizae will naturally create a symbiotic relationship with the root mass of granular or water-soluble materials; Increasing the amount of water and nutrients your plants have access to will allow them to thrive.

A granular or soluble inoculant has advantages based on the situation and situations in which you find yourself. Do not get bogged down in unnecessary details. When utilizing Mycorrhizal Fungi, overdosing on the product will not harm your plants, unlike regular fertilizers and synthetic chemicals.

Read on to learn how you can find the best option to boost your grow with Mycorrhizae and Plant Biostimulants

How to Apply Granular Mycorrhizae

Seeds

Prior to direct seeding, use the seed banding technique to introduce Mycorrhizae into the planting hole or furrow. Always remember correct seed germination care, planting depth, and watering in. Follow the instructions on the seed packet for the best results. Mycorrhizae can also be added to seed packets in this manner. This method is likewise effective, but it may not provide as comprehensive coverage.

Using Mycorrhizae in a Professional Mix - Greenhouse Product News

Transplants/New Plantings

Incorporating granular products like EndoBoost Pro into fresh plants can be done in a variety of ways. Mycorrhizae can be added to your planting’s soil as a backfill additive or straight to the roots of the tree or shrub. Direct contact with the roots is critical to achieving the greatest results because it increases colonization and success rates. Spritz the root ball with a small amount of Mycorrhizae before to planting the plant. For a one-gallon transplant, you’ll only need around half a teaspoon of EndoBoost Pro.

Soil Amendment

Mycorrhizae are helpful fungus that can be added to your soil by mixing them into your soil mix or pot mix. These beneficials are frequently missing from bagged soils purchased from the supermarket. Some of the mycorrhizae’s latent beneficials will begin to lose viability over time as they invade and grow. Because of this, it is critical to understand how long a product has a shelf life. This usually occurs after a period of time of at least a year.

How often you apply Mycorrhizae is important in order to get the best plant establishment, and lessen transplant shock.

Additional treatments of Mycorrhizae can be made every 10-14 days through final transplant;  And approximately 7 days prior to re-potting or transplanting.  This gives the Mycorrhizal Fungi time to colonize your plants root mass and ensure a successful grow.

Established Plants

Established plants benefit from the application of Biostimulants and Granular Mycorrhizae. Water in thoroughly after planting and blending into the soil. Mulch and/or cover the drip line well. Exposure to sunshine will kill mycorrhizae.

How to Apply Soluble Mycorrhizae

Seeds

immersing seeds in a solution of Mycorrhizal Fungi/Biostimulants is called biopriming or seed soaking. The Biostimulants are supposed to stick to the seeds and get established when they are planted. Inoculating your seeds with a wide range of beneficials is easy with a solution like EndoBoost Hydro. For the best benefits, it’s advisable to soak your food for 8 to 12 hours.

Transplants/New Plantings

Use non-chlorinated water and a Mycorrhizae solution to saturate the soil or roots of your plants. Carefully watering the plants in the garden. Again, the goal is to establish direct touch with the root. Concentration should be applied in accordance with the recommendations. Mycorrhizae, like granular products, can be added every 10-14 days during plant establishment in the same manner as granular products. And it’s best to wait at least seven days before attempting to transplant.

Hydroponic

Mycorrhizae can be added directly to hydroponic systems. Care needs to be taken on what filtration systems/mesh sizes are used in specific setups. Many of these solutions, due to their ingredients, do not fully solubilize and need to be decanted, or mixed to an agitated (suspended) state. For example, GreenEden’s EndoBoost Hydro can be added to systems that use a 250 micron filter or larger. This allows the many powerful Biostimulants to be fully incorporated for the results you require.

Established Plantings

There are many ways that Mycorrhizae and Plant Biostimulants can be effective when added to established, newly planted, or distressed trees or plantings.

Soil Drench

Hydroponic systems can immediately benefit from the addition of mycorrhizae. Care must be made in the selection of filter systems and mesh sizes for individual configurations. It is common for many of these solutions to be decanted or blended in an agitated (suspended) state due to the nature of their components. GreenEden’s EndoBoost Hydro, for example, can be used in systems with filters larger than 250 microns. This allows you to get the outcomes you want from the different Biostimulants available.

Injection

A soil injection can be used on compacted soils or to ensure root mass penetration. To reach the root zone, all you need is a stake driven 6-8 inches into the ground. The drip line should be evenly distributed by using a grid design. Then, fill the hole with the solution (s). It is possible to purchase commercial-grade root injectors, which are often used by arborists and landscapers.

Foliar

Foliar sprays with Mycorrhizae will be ineffective, as should be obvious. Plant roots are colonized by Mycorrhizal Fungi. But when applied to the leaves, Biostimulants like L-Amino Acids or Humic Acid can be quite beneficial.

What To Know When Using Mycorrhizal Fungi

  • Root-to-root communication
  • Place in a cool, dark location away from direct sunlight.
  • Use water that is not chlorinated.
  • Make sure to follow the product’s directions to get the best results possible!

Mycorrhizae and Beneficial Bacteria Work Together for Your Plants Success

Soil ecosystems that are both healthy and productive can benefit from using GreenEden’s Biostimulants, which take advantage of this natural interaction. Mycorrhizae and beneficial bacteria are vital components of living soils. In combination, they help to create soils and provide plants with the circumstances they require to produce professional results without the use of synthetic chemicals or pesticides.

Simplify the Science

The takeaway when you are using Mycorrhizal Fungi in your grow is this:  Keep it simple, get to the roots, let nature do the work, and…

Boost your grow the natural way

Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to follow GreenEden on Twitter and like the post if you found it helpful. Plant and Soil Care in a Natural Way.

The Benefits of Using Mycorrhizae in the Garden ~ Homestead and Chill

What is Mycorrhizae?

The word “mycor-rhiza,” when broken down, signifies “fungus root.” Plant roots are necessary for the existence of mycorrhizae, a type of helpful fungus. But the link isn’t only about helping the fungi live! As part of a symbiotic relationship, they both benefit from enhanced nutrient intake, increased resistance to disease or stress, and increased yields. You may learn more about mycorrhizae’s benefits in the following sections.

Mycorrhizal fungi play a vital role in the growth and development of nearly all plants on the planet. Ecto-mycorrhizae are those that solely colonize the roots’ outer surface. Conifers, hazelnuts, and pecans are some of the woody trees that these fungi can attach to. Root cells are penetrated and become part of the root system by endo-mycorrhizae. In addition, they’ve become significantly more common. This form of endo-mycorrhizae is found in mycorrhizal products designed for home gardens, and it accounts for 80 to 85 percent of edible garden crops, fruit trees, flowers, herbaceous plants and ornamentals.

What does mycorrhizae do?

It is possible to enhance the absorptive surface area of roots by as much as 700 times when mycorrhizae have colonized the plant’s roots. Think of all the straws and fingers that can now be used to better access the soil’s essential resources, such as water, minerals, and even air.

It’s also worth noting that mycorrhizal fungus emit enzymes that aid in the breakdown of nutrients in the soil. As a result of this process, minerals such as phosphorus, iron, and other elements become more readily accessible to plants. Mycorrhizae is not a fertilizer, therefore it can only improve the plant’s ability to absorb nutrients already present in the soil. You should continue regularly amend the soil with compost and organic fertilizers, though. Finally, mycorrhizal fungi construct complicated webs to gather and store extra nutrients in the soil for future use. This improves the long-term health of the soil.

So, what are the fungus gaining from all of this selfless service? Food is the answer. In order for plants to effectively utilize resources for development and photosynthesis, mycorrhizae aids in the transfer of sugar from the plant’s roots back up to the plant’s leaves. Everyone’s happy!

Benefits of Using Mycorrhizae

Studies suggest that mycorrhizae provide the following advantages to plants because of the mutually beneficial exchanges that occur between mycorrhizal fungus and plant roots (e.g. improved nutrient intake).

  • Increases the size and vitality of plants, as well as the color of their foliage.
  • Flowers and fruits (bigger or more) are produced as a result. Farmers benefit from increased yields because they earn more money.
  • Improved resistance to the effects of heat, stress, and other changes in the environment.
  • Increased drought tolerance and reduced water consumption due to improved water uptake.
  • When planting new trees or moving indoor-raised seedlings outside, the risk of transplant shock is reduced.
  • By increasing overall plant health, it enhances the plant’s resilience to disease. Other damaging pests, fungus, or diseases can’t get to the roots of plants that have mycorrhizal fungi colonized or coated by the roots. One study found that mycorrhizae-colonized plant roots were more resistant to root-knot nematodes and root-chewing insects, for example!
  • less reliance on fertilizer (and associated costs).
  • It helps to reduce hazardous contaminants in crops, such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which plants normally readily absorb in their roots and tissues.
  • Soil structure and fertility are naturally improved, and a healthy soil food web is promoted.

Do you think this is a scam? Images of side-by-side growth trials are shown below. Only one of the plants was inoculated with Plant Success mycorrhizae, and that was the larger one in each shot.

Plants that Benefit from Mycorrhizae

Mycorrhizal connections are beneficial to almost all plant species. Flowers and fruiting horticultural crops including tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, eggplant, beans, hemp, berries, fruit trees, and more benefit greatly from the capacity of mycorrhizae to increase phosphorus bioavailability. Even perennials and annuals alike will benefit from the addition of this fertilizer. Herbs, lettuce, potatoes, carrots, asparagus, garlic, and onions all benefit from the increased growth that mycorrhizae encourage.

Brassicas are one of a select few plant families that are not mycorrhizal. Mycorrhizae will not benefit your broccoli, cabbage, turnips, or radishes, but it will not harm them either!

How to Use Mycorrhizae in the Garden

There should be some degree of mycorrhizae in healthy, organic soils. All of these ways of organic gardening contribute to a thriving soil food web, including the use of organic compost, compost tea, cover crops, mulch, and no-till practices. Soil is become uninhabitable by the use of harsh chemicals like pesticides and herbicides. This is true for both the bad and the good.

As previously said, the normal home garden, especially those that are just getting started, may take some time to establish a healthy population of mycorrhizal fungi. Fungi populations can also vary greatly from season to season or even from one bed to another. The best approach to ensure that your plants benefit from helpful fungi is by inoculating your garden with mycorrhizae.

  • When moving fresh plants into the garden or into a larger container, one alternative is to use granular mycorrhizae sprinkled directly on the root ball or in the planting hole. Take a look at the images below. After treatment and planting, water the soil thoroughly!
  • You can also water in a water-soluble mycorrhizae product, which is a great way to get mycorrhizae into your soil. After transplanting, or later on when you want to stimulate established plants, you can do this (e.g. fruit trees or shrubs). Direct-sown seeds (such as beans, peas, or garlic) should be watered with mycorrhizae after a few weeks of growth and the development of two sets of “genuine leaves,” which indicates they’ll have roots by that point!
  • Maintaining direct contact between the fungi and living roots is essential to their survival, no matter what method you use. As a result, mycorrhizae should always be applied as soon as possible to the plant’s root system. In order to find their roots, they are unable to travel.
  • The mycorrhizae in your soil merely assist plants better utilize the nutrients in the soil, not act as a fertilizer like nitrogen or phosphorus would. So, don’t forget to add compost and mild organic fertilizer to your garden on a regular basis!

Our Favorite Mycorrhizal Inoculants

Many mycorrhizal products are available for purchase. Plant Success Organics’ granular and water-soluble mycorrhizae inoculants are favorites of ours and we use them frequently. Their products are OMRI-certified for organic farming; they’ve been around for a long time and are known for their quality and effectiveness. That they include helpful microbes in their goods is an added bonus. Bacteria also have an important function in the health of plants. Consider them as pre- and probiotics for roots and the gastrointestinal system of plants, and that’s about all there is to it! For humans and plants alike, there is a direct correlation between probiotics and good health outcomes. (Plant Success customers can save 15% by using the promo code “DEANNACAT”).

Can mycorrhizae be harmful to plants?

Using mycorrhizal fungus products in your garden has virtually little risk to your plants, provided you follow the application instructions supplied. Even so, it’s hard to go “overboard.” Like a result, mycorrhizae will not “burn” your plants as a high-nitrogen fertilizer might. Excessive additions of helpful fungi to soil will kill any existing relationships the fungi have formed with plant roots.

Mycorrhizae FAQs

What are Mycorrhizal Fungi, or Mycorrhizae?

As the name suggests, the term “myco-rhizal” refers to the beneficial interaction between plant roots and these fungi. Specialized fungus infect plant roots and penetrate deep into the soil to obtain nutrients that plants can’t access on their own and in forms unavailable to the plant. In soil, mycorrhizal fungal filaments (also known as “hyphae” and collectively as “mycelium”) exist as living extensions of plants’ root systems, and they are more effective at absorbing nutrients and water than the roots themselves. It is estimated that 95 percent of the planet’s terrestrial plant species are dependent on this mycorrhizal symbiosis for their survival.

How do Mycorrhizae Help Plants?

It is the goal of the MycoApply line of products to provide users with the widest range of application possibilities. It is possible to inoculate crops with mycorrhizae in a variety of methods. Mycorrhizal inoculant and plant root contact is the primary goal. Products from the MycoApply line can be applied in several ways, including as a root dip or plug dip that is injected into the root zone of existing plants, coating seeds with the active ingredients, or any other method that brings the active ingredients into close contact with growing or emerging roots, where colonization can begin. Farmers can choose which approach best fits their current growth methods and protocols by determining the conditions and needs of their applicator before making a decision.

How do Mycorrhizae Help Plants?

Mycorrhizae and plant roots develop a mutually beneficial interaction. In comparison to the roots of plants, hyphae, or fungal roots, can grow much quicker and longer, and can even extend beyond the zone where the roots themselves have depleted their nutrients. The plant’s root and mycelial network’s effective surface area increases as a result of mycorrhizal colonization and hyphal network expansion, allowing the plant to absorb more micronutrients, macronutrients, and water. Because of this, the plant is more resilient and resilient to drought and stress, which leads to better fruit set and blooming as well as better transplant success*.

What is the Best Application Timing?

It is feasible for plants to be treated at any point in their life cycle, however we propose that mycorrhizae should be applied at the earliest opportunity. Mycorrhizae can have a huge impact on your plants if they are applied at the time of seeding, propagation, or transplantation. Because a smaller area of soil will be treated, using less MycoApply product per plant is more cost-effective than waiting until a later stage.

What Tips Should I Keep in Mind When Applying Mycorrhizae?

Mycorrhizal applications are all about getting the mycorrhizal substance in contact with the roots of the plants they are inoculating. Root exudates are the key to successful inoculation because mycorrhizae germinate in this environment. As a result, we have developed our goods in a variety of formats, including granular, suspended powders, concentrated powders, non-aqueous liquid suspensions, and more. When it comes to your equipment and software, you are the expert. If you have any concerns or issues, please contact us.

Since they’ve been there for 450 million years, mycorrhizae are more resilient than you might assume. There are a few things to keep an eye out for:

  • Mycorrhizal propagules can be damaged by temperatures above 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Not all fungicides are bad for mycorrhizal fungi, although some are. To assist you in selecting a fungicide that is favorable to mycorrhizae, please consult our List of Fungicides and their Known Effects. Please consult your crop advisor or Valent Agricultural Specialist for agricultural fungicide advice and interactions.)
  • Because they require a symbiotic relationship with the plant to survive, mycorrhizal fungi are not simply soil organisms that live and die on their own; rather, they are a permanent element of the plant’s ecosystem. A field’s hyphal mycorrhizal networks are destroyed along with the annual plants that they support when a field is tilled or a plant dies.

There are a lot of resources available. However, phosphorus does not hurt or kill mycorrhizae, although it can impede their colonization. Phosphorous solubilization and extraction is a key function of mycorrhizae. A surplus of phosphorus, on the other hand, reduces the likelihood of the plant initiating the germination of mycorrhizal propagules and establishing a symbiotic relationship. This means that they won’t be able to carry out other vital functions, such as absorbing water and extracting other nutrients. As a result, we propose limiting the amount of phosphorus that can be found in the environment. Mycorrhizal propagules wait for a chemical signal from the plant to adhere to the plant and begin the symbiotic colonization of the plant’s root system during inoculation at this time.

What are the Different Types of Mycorrhizae?

Endomycorrhizae and Ectomycorrhizae are the two forms of mycorrhizal fungus used in the goods produced by Mycorrhizal Applications. Approximately 85% of all plant species, including the majority of economically cultivated plants, have endomycorrhizal associations. More than a tenth of all plant species, including conifers and hardwoods, have ectomycorrhizae. Mycorrhizal Applications’ mycorrhizal products may not be suitable for other plant groups, such as the Orchidaceae and Ericaceae, which require specialized mycorrhizae.

What is the Difference Between Endo and Ecto Mycorrhizae?

In the plant’s root cells, Endomycorrhizal Fungi create intracellular resource exchange pathways (and the hyphae extend outside the root). Green leafy plants and the majority of commercially produced plants are the most common sources of endomycorrhizal fungi. Most vegetables, grasses, flowers, shrubs, fruit trees, and ornamentals are examples of this type of plant. Endomycorrhizal plants account for approximately 85% of all terrestrial plant species.

Ectomycorrhizal Extracellular exchange mechanisms are developed by fungi outside of the root cells. Ectomycorrhizal fungi form mostly with Conifer and Hardwood species and are essential for the growth of woody plants/trees and forest trees in general. Approximately 10% of terrestrial plant species on Earth have ectomycorrhizal symbiotic relationships.

Ed Rosenthal: Improve yield and quality of your cannabis crop with the help of Mycorrhizae — Ed Rosenthal

When will I Start to See a Difference After Applying Mycorrhizae?

Mycorrhizae begin working immediately after application to a plant root, and the symbiotic association will take around four weeks to develop. Regardless of the plant type, growing method, or other variables, it typically takes about eight weeks for a grower to see the results of their experiment. Because of the mycorrhizae’s ability to deliver maximum benefit to the plants in more stressed situations, differences may become apparent sooner. In bigger containers, changes in performance may be more apparent if plugs or liners have been treated.

What Plants Form Symbiotic Relationships with Mycorrhizal Fungi?

Mycorrhizal symbioses are necessary to the survival of nearly all terrestrial plant species in the globe.

  • To find the genus of the plant(s) you’re looking for, use Ctrl+F on your keyboard.
  • Contact us at [email protected] if the plant species you’re looking for isn’t included on this list.

How Many Applications are Required?

In a mutually beneficial interaction with the plant, mycorrhizae are always present. If you transplant a plant into a new environment, its mycorrhizae become part of the soil ecosystem and change with it. Most annual plants only need one treatment. For long-term perennial plants, reapplications can be done to guarantee maximal impact. Plants that have been treated will need to be re-treated if they go through a “bare-root” phase. A suitable reapplication interval can be discussed with a Mycorrhizal Applications sales representative by contacting them directly.