anybody tried mycorrhiza

[slyfox-mal]

hi everyone i wonder how many people are aware of this type of product its a symbiotic  fungi
i have used it this year as well as a couple of other products and its been a  good year for me .

now i dont know if its just the way i have worked the plot or its the products ive used that has helped me  the product ive used has nine different types of endo mycorrhiza im just wondering who else has tried it . regards mal

[slyfox-mal]

[Unwashed]

I've not been out and bought anything, but isn't the understanding growing that rather a lot of the plants we grow have natural mycorrhyzal fungi?  You need to get the specific one for the plant you're growing don't you?

[slyfox-mal]

youre correct in some ways  from what i have read  in studies  undisturbed soils have natural mycorrhizae. 
however as gardeners we do disturb our soils every year and mainly leave it empty for long periods mycorrhizal fungi needs a host plant to survive

if the propegule does not come into contact with a host plant root it dies  some species can remain dormant in soil for upto two years
i have done alot of reading and studies on this subject over the last year and  thats why i went with a product that has nine species of fungi  rather than  a similar product with  only one   or two
  the way i saw it was if one species wasnt compatable there where eight others that might be  and the species are all  natural to uk and europe .
regards mal

[Kepouros]

These are not the original plant specific mycorrhiza, which would each have a very limited sphere of utility, but they`ve been `tweaked` a bit so that they`re less specific.

I bought a small tub which I`m saving for when I move some large rhododendrons in October, although for the price of the tub I could simply have bought some new rhodendrons if I`d thought of it in time

                           But I`ve got more than you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                      I`ve got 18  different mycorrhiza in  my bucket

[bluecar]

I have no idea about what this thread is about!

What is mycorrhiza?

What would 8 or 18 types help?

If they are beneficial where do you get them from?

??? ???

[Kepouros]

They`re forms of fungus which normally exist in Symbiosis with different plants.  In the wild each mycorrhiza is specific to a particular plant species, and they help the plants to create proper root systems and generally to become better plants.  If you plant a beech tree, for instance, it will probably hardly grow at all for two or three years until beech specific mycorrhiza have built up around its roots.

Although the fungi in these preparations are less specific than the wild versions, obviously the more types there are in the preparation the more species of plants will be helped.

So although it sounds like some disgusting affliction of the nasal passages, it`s actually a beneficial gardening subject

[lincsyokel2]

Ive tried them, cant say ive noticed much of s difference in plant growth. Ive had better results with Worm Casts.

[bluecar]

Thanks Kepouros.

[grawrc]

I think Rootgrow is one of the brands you can buy. David Austen (Start) recommends them for new roses. Apparently if you put them in touch with the roots you can even plant roses where they have grown previously without getting rose sickness.
http://www.davidaustinroses.com/english/Advanced.asp?PageId=2153

I've used them when planting fruit trees. The trees are very healthy but it's hard to know how much of that can be attributed to the presence of the fungi without doing a controlled scientific study.

Oh and they're not cheap.

[earlypea]

I've used a bag over the past year, but like Lincsyokel didn't really notice any difference - some crops did well, some didn't.  I imagine I have plenty on it naturally though on a lot of the paths between my beds which I haven't gotten around to making and are all weeds.

Worm casts on the other hand are worth their weight in gold.

[Kepouros]

Whatever the advertisements say, I suspect that it would be wiser to regard mycorrhiza as far more beneficial in the long term than in the shorter.  Plants which are to remain in situ for several years are far more likely to be able to take advantage of mycorrhiza than ones that are only there for a period of a few months.  I would suggest that at the price charged for a relatively small quantity it would be better saved for longer term subjects.

[slyfox-mal]

i was only intrested in mycorrhizae that have a symbiotic relationship with veg as i dont grow tree or shrubs and rhododendrons
  so i opted for endo mycorrhizae  certain plants are classed as non host plants as are alot of weeds species and some veg  i.e. brassica and beet have no symbiosis with mycorrhizae

it may seem quite expensive  at first glance however when i worked it out i paid 17.99 for a kg of endo  mycorrhizae and its enough to treat 330 2-3 lt pots that works out at a grand sum of 5.5 pence per plant  so not so expensive after all

there have been 1000s of studies into mycorrhizae over recent years and ive yet to find one that says its  a failure or not worth the effort  all tests i have read seem to agree its benifical to use it
this is a fairly new product  to the genral public as it was hard to propergate until now  even though mycorrhizae has been in the plant kingdom for about 400 million year

one major factor to look at is the propergules per lb or kg  some products are very low in the number of active propergules per kg i found out that mine has a minimum of 66.000 per kg
regards mal

[asj]

Certainly worked with my David Austin roses - haven't tried with anything else.

[goodlife]

I use them when I plant fruit trees...with one lot I didn't have any available and trees had to go in...those trees too 1-2yrs longer to start properly bearing fruit than those that I have fungi with.
And with roses...always!!!
Yes....I have noticed difference... I would recommend and I will continue using... ;)

[Morris]

I've used Rootgrow to plant roses, trees and shrubs; it does seem to improve establishment, but is expensive.  I've never tried for veg though Rootgrow manufacturers claim it improves yields.

I used it very successfully to avoid rose replant disease (though I don't know if I would have got it otherwise, of course!)  As well as Rootgrow I dug in masses of home-made compost.  The new roses thrived, despite being planted where I shovel-pruned 3 disease magnet disappointments.  

[slyfox-mal]

like i have said before i believe that mycorrhizal inoculation has definatly helped me this year after reading many studies  involving not just fungi but bacteria also i have tried it and will do so again next season  one decent site i read was this one http://www.soilfoodweb.com/sfi_approach1.html
it gives you a good idea of whats happening in the soil in  laymans  terms  hope it helps  regards mal