Beneficial microorganisms..

I'm not all organic but tend that way. I grow in soil. I like Great White and see a difference in my plants. I have gotten ripped by folks that say it does nothing and is just a money scheme. Opinions? Hell it's Friday night and like to see a discussion. Roll on brothers...

I don't understand how people can't like mycorrhizae. If you're using any organics, they're a must have. Even if you're using all synthetics, they boost phosphorus uptake for flowering. At the very least they make plants more drought tolerant and make for a more pest/disease resistant root zone. Beneficials win!


Grow Safe

Well, the argument I heard against the microbs goes something like this... the microbs steal sugars from the plant in exchange of nutrients, but when the gardner is able to provide for the plant and meet its nutritional needs, the microbs are basically enjoying free sugar without providing anything in return.

A while back I had several interesting conversations with a horticulturalist. I posted one of our conversations here. Its still up, you can read it by checking out my Journal entries just below my name on the far left-side of the screen.

Plants produce carbohydrates (sugars) as part of photosynthesis. The mycorrhizae aren't taking anything from the plant...they're basically eating waste (this also reminded me that I don't need to feed them carbs!) Here's a couple of well written articles by UGM. This issue is when I started reaping the benefits of using mycorrhizae.

http://urbangardenmagazine.com/2009/12/mycorrhizal-fungi-in-hydroponics-qa/

http://urbangardenmagazine.com/2010/01/super-feeding-do-mycorrhizae-have-a-role-in-hydroponics/

http://www.plant-success.com/images/stories/declaration_of_interdependence_web.pdf

UGM Grow Report - http://www.plant-success.com/images/stories/documents/great_white_grow_report.pdf


Grow Safe

slump said:

Plants produce carbohydrates (sugars) as part of photosynthesis. The mycorrhizae aren't taking anything from the plant...they're basically eating waste (this also reminded me that I don't need to feed them carbs!) Here's a couple of well written articles by UGM. This issue is when I started reaping the benefits of using mycorrhizae.

http://urbangardenmagazine.com/2009/12/mycorrhizal-fungi-in-hydroponics-qa/

http://urbangardenmagazine.com/2010/01/super-feeding-do-mycorrhizae-have-a-role-in-hydroponics/

http://www.plant-success.com/images/stories/declaration_of_interdependence_web.pdf

UGM Grow Report - http://www.plant-success.com/images/stories/documents/great_white_grow_report.pdf


Grow Safe

Click to expand...

^^^^^^WORD^^^^^^

It's not that Great White doesn't work, it does and quite well.

It is however, very overpriced and the instructions calling for repeated applications is bunk, like the old "rinse and repeat" with shampoos. They just want you to use it up and buy more.

One application is all that's needed.

AFA prices, check out:
www.fungi.com
www.bioag.com

Both are excellent people to deal with.

Wet

so reinnoculating every 3 wks is a waste?

Paul Stamets begs to differ...

NightbirdX said:

so reinnoculating every 3 wks is a waste?

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I think so. It won't hurt, but I've never noticed where it helped. It takes several months for the myco's to become established to begin with and if you recycle your mix it's pretty well inoculated from the git.

Wet

i kinda feel the same. If I notice buil d up, I innoculate and that helps clear it up, but I didnt notice a huge difference when I missed an innoculation.

Any product recommendations instead of great white? I've got some oregonism from roots as a sample any other well priced myco products out there?

a compost tea with some forest soil in it.

Mycorrhizas are a bit of a misnomer. Whilst they evidently work, Mycorrhiza is technically the name of one of over 250 beneficial fungi that we know about. As it's the only one we have even began to understand, It has become a much-used name to cover all of them. That is a simplistic explanation and I will not go further into it as it would take pages that are not apt here.
Unfortunately, in our lifetime, we have little hope of fully understanding their importance.
However, 'Compost Teas' seem to be a way forwards.

catmando said:

Any product recommendations instead of great white? I've got some oregonism from roots as a sample any other well priced myco products out there?

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See reply #5. Links towards the bottom of the reply.

Wet

cues said:

Mycorrhizas are a bit of a misnomer. Whilst they evidently work, Mycorrhiza is technically the name of one of over 250 beneficial fungi that we know about. As it's the only one we have even began to understand, It has become a much-used name to cover all of them. That is a simplistic explanation and I will not go further into it as it would take pages that are not apt here.
Unfortunately, in our lifetime, we have little hope of fully understanding their importance.
However, 'Compost Teas' seem to be a way forwards.

Click to expand...

I think science has a pretty firm grasp on the importance of mycorrhizal fungus. Most in the field, credit mycorrhizae for the movement of vegetation from sea to land millions of years ago. And, there's ~250 glomeromycota species (the AMF)...there's thousands of species that can be considered mycorrhizae. Also, mycorrhiza is not the name of one species, it's actually the name of the relationship between a fungus and the roots of a plant. So, to use the term mycorrhizae to cover every fungus that creates symbiosis with plant roots, is technically correct.

Grow Safe

BlueSageMicrobes.com gives samples (free) as does Great White. You get plenty to try.