Mycorrhizal fungi provide numerous benefits to your plants. It is especially important when transplanting baby seedlings to help them get off to a good start. I’ve briefly talked about the benefits of adding this amendment in other posts, especially in the 7 essentials to add to your planting hole when transplanting tomatoes and peppers.
Contents of this Article
- What are Mycorrhizal Fungi?
- Benefits of Mycorrhizal Fungi
- Recommended Application
- Storage
What are Mycorrhizal Fungi?
Mycorrhizal fungi area type of fungus that forms a symbiotic relationship with the roots of plants. They live together in a mutually beneficial way. This symbiotic relationship is known as mycorrhiza. The living fungi extend the plant’s root system, allowing it to absorb more water and nutrients from the soil, while the plant provides the fungi with sugars produced through photosynthesis.
In the bag, the amendment looks like small, flat, gray gravel. But actually the granules are alive. More than 90 percent of all plant species form associations with MF. Because the fungi are far more extensive than the plants’ roots alone, they effectively ‘mine’ the soil for nutrients and water, and the food from the plant boosts the fungi growth. They form an extensive network, known as mycelium, of microscopic thread-like strands which becomes far more extensive than the actual roots of a plant.
Benefits of Mycorrhizal Fungi
Improved Transplanting Success: First and foremost, mycorrhizal fungi can help plants survive and thrive after transplanting by improving root development and nutrient uptake.
Improved Nutrient Uptake: Mycorrhizal fungi extend their networks into the soil, increasing the plant’s absorptive surface area and allowing access to nutrients that would otherwise be unavailable. They also help plants access essential nutrients like phosphorus, which is often immobile in the soil.
Enhanced Water Uptake: This beneficial fungi when attached to a plant’s roots, can access and store water in periods of drought, increasing the plant’s drought tolerance. They also help reduce water loss by improving soil structure
Increased Plant Health and Stress Tolerance: Mycorrhizal fungi can improve plant health by enhancing nutrient uptake, water availability, and stress tolerance. They also help plants adapt to various environmental stresses, such as high temperatures, salinity, and heavy metals
Better Drought Resistance: Mycorrhizal fungi can help plants withstand drought conditions by extending their reach into the soil and accessing deeper water reserves. They also help plants conserve water by improving soil water retention.
Increased Disease Resistance: When added to plant roots when a plant is young, it can protect plants against soil-borne pathogens by stimulating plant defenses and competing with pathogens for resources. They also improve root health, making plants less susceptible to disease.
Reduced Fertilizer Needs: By enhancing nutrient uptake, it can help reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers. This allows you to plant a more organic garden. This nutrient uptake is especially important for seedlings, since adding too much fertilizer would easily burn young tender roots.
Improved Soil Structure: Mycorrhizal fungi create a network of ‘hyphae’ that bind soil particles together, improving soil aggregation and aeration. This leads to better water infiltration, root growth, and overall soil health.
Soil Carbon Sequestration: Soil sequestration refers to the process of a plant capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) in the soil through its natural photosynthesis. This process turns it into organic matter. This effectively prevents it from being released back into the atmosphere. This process is a form of carbon removal and can contribute to mitigating climate change. Mycorrhizal fungi play a crucial role in soil carbon sequestration by contributing to the formation of stable soil aggregates and storing organic carbon.
Recommended Application
Seedlings: After your tomato, pepper or cucumber seeds have germinated, they are showing their first pair of true leaves, and are ready to move to a bigger pot, add the MF to the bigger pot. Add it between the fresh soil and the transplant’s roots. The seedling’s roots can go right on top of the fungi.
Transplants: When moving tomatoes or peppers into the ground and to their permanent home, add MF to the planting hole. Unlike any other amendment or fertilizer, put the granules right against the transplant’s roots.
Bare Root trees and Roses: Use generously when putting in new bare root plants. It will help the roots to develop and acclimate much faster.
Bulbs: Sprinkle some MF right into the hold when planting new bulbs.
Do NOT use MF for brassicas, as plants in the Brassica family do not use mycorrhiza. This includes broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, cabbage, and kale.
Storage
It is best to store your bag in the refrigerator. Refrigeration is not necessary if you plan to use the entire bag within a season.
Mycorrhizae spores in a bag typically have a shelf life of at least two years when stored properly in a cool, dry place. While the spores can remain viable longer, it’s recommended to use them within two years of purchase to ensure maximum effectiveness. After two years, some spores may degrade, but many will still be viable. You might need to use a slightly higher amount to achieve the same results.
Where can we buy these fungi for our gardens?
Hi Mike; some higher end garden centers and boutique farms sell MF. If you can’t find it in your area, try Amazon. I use a brand called Mykos from Extreme Gardening Company.