Web of Life: An Intro to Mycorrhizae
Happy plants grow from healthy soil that is rich in nutrients and beneficial bacteria. To that end, many gardeners turn to microbial additives called mycorrhizae to help break down nutrients and make them more easily absorbable by the roots. Our favorite mycorrhizal inoculant is DYNOMYCO, a top-quality product that establishes a network of helpful organisms that work to make sure your plant has everything it needs to thrive.
So what the heck are mycorrhizae? Read on to discover the FUN-ction of these fabulous fungi and how they help plants reach their full potential.
What are Mycorrhizae?
Mycorrhizae are fungi that colonize the root systems of plants.
Once in the plant’s rhizosphere, a fancy name for the root zone, they form a web of connections between roots, gather nutrients from the plant, and provide sugars that the plant cannot form by itself. This exchange creates a symbiotic relationship between the fungi and the host plant. Sharing is caring, people.
The Many Benefits of Mycorrhizal Fungi
The symbiotic relationship formed between mycorrhizae and the host plant is beneficial for both the fungi and the plant. Mycorrhizae can’t photosynthesize and wouldn’t be able to survive without the nutrients given to them by the host plant. Let’s be honest, the plant host could survive on its own without the help of fungi. However, the mycorrhizae provide the plant with an extended root system that allows the plant to absorb nutrients and water that are out of reach or chemically unavailable. We especially see the benefit of mycorrhizae with phosphorus; on its own, a plant can uptake about 15% of the phosphorus in its fertilizer. With mycorrhizae, the amount of usable phosphorus goes up to 90%. Woohoo!
This incredible increase in phosphorus use by the plant leads to stunning results aboveground. Plants that can fully utilize the nutrients in their soil in this way show a 10-40% increase in yield, stronger and more robust stems and stalks, and an overall increase in health and vigor. Now that’s what I’m talking about.
How to Grow With Mycorrhizae
Mycorrhizae have an incredible impact on the plants they colonize, which is why growers seek out products to make adding these fungi to their garden easy. Cultivators can obtain mycorrhizae in a variety of ways, including:
1. DIY
We all love a good DIY project, and while these methods are popular with cost-conscious gardeners, the results can be inconsistent. Some gardeners use a cross-contamination method of inoculating their soil with roots they believe have been colonized by mycorrhizae. Sometimes this brings huge success! However, it can be hard to ensure that the plant gets enough spores of the right type to colonize effectively.
2. Inoculated Soil
Many gardeners turn to commercial methods, such as purchasing soil already loaded with mycorrhizal spores. Pre-inoculated soil is simple to use and can yield excellent results. However, if the soil is past its shelf life or was left in the sun for too long, it may contain expired or ineffective spores. Not cool. For this reason, it can still be challenging to get the desired results with pre-inoculated soil.
3. Soil Amendments and Inoculants
Soil amendments are another commercially available method to inoculate your plants with mycorrhizae. Mycorrhizal inoculants like DYNOMYCO have a guaranteed concentration of spores, hyphae, and root fragments that ensures colonization. DYNOMYCO, in particular, is formulated with cannabis-specific, stress-resistant strains that will survive until they are incorporated into the soil. Soil inoculants make it easier to ensure the concentration of spores, proper distribution of propagules, and successful colonization of the root system. That’s a whole lotta words to say that it’s gonna work, but trust us when we say: IT’S GONNA WORK!
Add Mycorrhizae to Your Grow
It’s clear why mycorrhizae have become such a massive part of gardeners’ toolkit over the years. With these beneficial fungi to bolster plant health and production naturally, your plants will thrive like never before! If you’d like to add the power of mycorrhizae to your grow, be sure to check out DYNOMYCO for an easy-to-use option for your plants!
