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Last Updated on May 15 , 2023

When it come to maintaining a levelheaded and generative organic garden , there is a spate more happening than meets the center ! In addition to the obvious elements ( sun , soil , flora , and water ) there is a dynamic connection of living things that work synergistically within the soil to aid works thrive . critter and microscopic organisms disintegrate organic affair , transform nutrients and minerals , and create various chemical reaction that chip in to overall grunge fertility . One of the key musician in this substantive ‘ soil food internet ’ is mycorrhizae – something we routinely add to our garden soil !

A root ball of a seedling is being held by two hands, roots are forming along the bottom of the root ball.

take along to study all about mycorrhizae . This article will incubate what it is , how to apply it in the garden , and most importantly , the benefits mycorrhizae put up plants . Spoiler alert : it will help yourplants growlarger and healthier than ever ! We ’ve been using mycorrhizae in our garden for many years now , ever since Aaron ’s pop turned us on to it . Even if you ’re not a hard-core soil nerd , I bet you ’ll find this entropy fascinating !

What is Mycorrhizae?

When you break away it down , the word “ mycor - rhiza”literally means “ fungus - root ” . Mycorrhizae is a form of good fungus ; one that can not endure without being connect to plant roots . Yet the connection is n’t just about avail the fungi survive ! Together , they form a symbiotic relationship that offersoutstandingbenefits to the emcee plantas well , such as increase nutrient intake , added resilience to disease or stress , and high yields . We ’ll spill about the benefits of mycorrhizae in more detail below .

Over 95 % of the macrocosm ’s plant life form beneficial association with mycorrhizal fungi . Some types colonise on the open of plant ascendant only , make love asecto - mycorrhizae . These kingdom Fungi alliance with select woody tree diagram like coniferous tree , hazelnuts , and pecan . In contrast , endo - mycorrhizaepenetrate the root cells to become a part of the root organisation itself . They ’re also far more rife . 80 to 85 % of comestible garden crop , fruit Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , bloom , herbaceous plants , and ornamentals make associations with endo - mycorrhizae , so that ’s the type you ’ll encounter in mycorrhizal products made for home garden .

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A pine seedling rootball is shown from the soil below. Its rootball is large and expansive, more than 3 or 4 times the height of the seedling itself.

What does mycorrhizae do?

After colonizing plant roots , mycorrhizae act as like an extension phone of the plant ’s root arrangement and canincrease the absorptivesurface areaof rootsby up to 700 times ! Imagine meg of little straws and fingers now useable to more deeply and efficiently access worthful resources within the grime – including water , nutrients , and even air .

moreover , mycorrhizal fungi release enzymes that help to ‘ unlock ’ and dissolve essential nutrients within the stain . That response make thosenutrients more bioavailablefor plants to well utilise , including phosphorus , Fe , and other minerals . Keep in intellect that mycorrhizae is n’t a fertilizer however , so it will only facilitate the plant use nutrients that are present in the soil ( albeit better ) – so you still need toroutinely amendsoil with compost and organic fertilizers . Last but not least , mycorrhizal fungi form intricate connection that capture andstore excess nutrientsin the grime for late use . This enhances soil fertility foresightful - full term .

So , what do the fungi get out of all this in force samaritan study ? The reply is solid food . As mycorrhizae helps plants to well utilize nutrients for growth and photosynthesis above - ground , the plants send sugars back down to their roots to aliment the fungus . Everyone make headway !

A diagram illustration showing a mushroom growing in the soil next to a tree and its roots. Below the soil line shows the roots from the fungus exchanging water and mineral nutrients to the tree for photosynthesis products in the form of carbohydrates for the fungus.

Benefits of Using Mycorrhizae

Due to the mutually beneficial exchanges that occur between mycorrhizal fungi and plant roots ( e.g. increase nutrient uptake),studiesshow that mycorrhizae offer implant the follow benefit :

Sound too good to be reliable ? Check out the pic ofside - by - side turn trialsbelow . The plants were treated exactly the same , with the exclusion of one being inoculate withPlant Successmycorrhizae – the larger works in every photo !

Plants that Benefit from Mycorrhizae

Nearly all works metal money benefit from mycorrhizal associations ! Mycorrhizae ’s ability to makephosphorusmore bioavailable is especially valuable forflowering and fruit horticultural cropslike tomatoes , peppers , squash , cucumber , eggplant , beans , marijuana , berries , yield Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , and more . It will also serve your decorative flush and shrubs flourish , including both yearly and perennials . Beyond flowers and fruit , mycorrhizae promotes more vigorous growth in herb , lettuce , white potato vine , Daucus carota sativa , edible asparagus , garlic , and onion as well .

Thebrassica industrial plant familyis among the small number of plants that do not form mycorrhizal associations . Meaning , your broccoli , simoleons , white turnip or radishes will not benefit from mycorrhizae – but it also will not harm them !

How to Use Mycorrhizae in the Garden

Mycorrhizae should of course be present in goodly , constituent land to some arcdegree . Using constituent gardening technique such ascompost , compost Camellia sinensis , cover crop , mulch , orno - till methodsall foster a copious and diverse living stain food entanglement ! coarse chemical fertiliser , pesticides and weed killer make soil sterile and inhospitable to all living thing – including the good guy cable .

However , it can take a long time to develop a racy population of mycorrhizal fungi in the fair home garden , especially in fresh - established gardens . Also , the native populations of fungi can motley drastically from season to time of year or layer to bed . Therefore , the safe way to guarantee your flora draw the advantage of beneficial kingdom Fungi is toinoculate your garden with mycorrhizae .

Related : Transplanting Seedlings alfresco : Tips for SuccessandHow to Amend & Fertilize Garden Beds Between Seasons

A person on each side of the image is holding a small fabric pot with a basil plant in each pot. The plant on the left is almost twice the height and width of the plant on the right.

Our Favorite Mycorrhizal Inoculants

There are a act of mycorrhizal products available on the food market . We personally love and expend the granular and water - soluble mycorrhizae inoculants fromPlant Success Organics . They ’re one of the most established and reputable brands , and offerhigh - caliber , effectiveproducts that are OMRI - evidence for organic gardening . I also love that they sum up beneficial bacteria to their products to further support the soil food web . bacterium play a similarly important role in plant health . In a nutshell , recollect of them as pre- and probiotic microflora for theme , and rootage as the gastrointestinal organisation of plant . There is a direct link between the human gut , probiotics , and overall improved wellness upshot – and flora are no different ! ( Use codification “ DEANNACAT ” to relieve 15 % on the Plant Success web site )

Can mycorrhizae be harmful to plants?

There is virtually zero risk of harming plants by using mycorrhizal fungus products in your garden , peculiarly if you espouse the lotion focus render . Even then , it is hard to ‘ overdo it ’ . Mycorrhizae is not a fertilizer and thereforecannot “ burn ” your plantslike a high - atomic number 7 merchandise might . If excess beneficial fungi are tally to the soil beyond what can form associations with plant life origin , they will simply die .

Where does mycorrhizal fungi come from?

The relationship with mycorrhizae and works can be trace back millions of year . According togenetic studies , prehistoric sea - dwell plants begin to slowly migrate onto land approximately 700 million years ago . They had very minimum root systems , and the grime was tough and unforgiving . Over time , plants partner up with the kingdom Fungi that already ruled the land . They acquire together to amend dirt : plants developed more complex ascendant organisation , nutrient oscillation became found , organic matter mature ( and molder ) , and terrestrial liveliness as we know it flourished .

modernistic mycorrhizal products are created at facilities that ‘ farm ’ or breed select strains of naturally - occurring good mycorrhizal fungi . mushroom-shaped cloud and fungus reproduce by releasingspores . Those spore are then collected , turn into mycorrhizal inoculum products , and sold with the spores in a abeyant state . afterwards , once they ’re added to your soil and fare in contact with living plant life roots and wet , the spores will germinate and become one with the roots !

Remember: feed the soil, not the plant!

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Two marigold plants are shown, each in its own fabric grow bag. The plant on the left is much larger, almost twice the size in height and width and more flowers than the one on the right.

A two image collage, the first image shows two eggplant plants, both in its own fabric grow bag and the plant on the right is twice the other plants height and width with more flowers. The second image shows two bean plants, each in its own grow bag. The plant on the right is more than twice the size and width of the other plant with many more flowers as well.

An early summer harvest displayed in an artistic manner. Green and yellow summer squash, yellow and red tomatoes, apples, rosemary sprigs, garlic bulbs, various varieties of green beans, kale leaves, chard leaves, calendula flowers, avocados, and chiles make up the assortment that is compiled on a large, flat wooden board.

A 1/2 teaspoon measurement is full of granular mycorrhizae, below lies a tomato seedling rootball, a trowel, and a garden glove atop a bed of garden soil.

A tomato seedlings rootball is shown that has been sprinkled with granular mycorrhizae that resembles crushed eggshells. The roots are white and fibrous.

A watering can is being used to water a tomato seedling transplant in a raised garden bed with water soluble mycorrhizae. The background is the border of the yard which contains nasturtium, salvia, fig tree, and the lower limbs and leafs from an avocado tree.

DeannaCat is holding a package of water soluble mycorrhizae from Plant Success Organics. Beyond lies a wheel barrow with an uprooted small kumquat tree inside as well as an arch beyond that with dense green passion fruit vines covering it. This leads to an area that is lush with lavender, vines, and rosemary bushes.

A two part image collage, the first image shows a recently uprooted small kumquat tree that is laying in a wheel barrow with soil below it. It fibrous roots are exposed with little to no dirt making up the root ball. The second image shows the kumquat after it has been transplanted into a 10 gallon plastic terra cotta color pot. A watering can is sticking into the frame from the edges of the image, watering the transplanted tree with water soluble mycorrhizae.

A cylindrical container of Plant Success Organics granular mycorrhizae sit in the foreground on the edge of a garden bed. Beyond lies two 6 cell packs of basil seedlings with two large tomato seedlings towering over them from behind. The backdrop is dense green with salvia, nasturtium, as well as a magnolia tree, a fig tree, and avocado tree.

DeannaCat signature, keep on growing