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rural S.E. Michigan

Does potassium bicarb kill all the beneficial's and mycorrhizals from my every other week AACT application??

5/18/2011 2:04:41 PM

rural S.E. Michigan

Bueler? Bueler?

5/19/2011 9:35:35 AM

Western NY

Why would you be putting potassium bicarb in the tea in the first place?

It is meant as more of a direct spray for the leaves as a PM preventative. If you're looking to get some K in your tea, you'll probably want to try a little soluble potassium sulfate, although I don't know much about how well that would work.

5/19/2011 10:37:44 AM

Seattle, WA

The compost tea is for beneficial organisms, that will then cycle available nutrients for the plant. I would not add potassium bicarb.

Mycorrhizae is a 1 time application, directly to the roots at the beginning stages of your plants life. Adding it to tea or weekly applications is a waste of time and money.

5/19/2011 11:45:54 AM

rural S.E. Michigan

ohhh, sorry I didn't see a possible misinterpretation there:

My question is this:

will the beneficials from my AACT (of which mycorrhizae is part of it since i add some in the brew) get killed when I foliar spray my Powdery Mildew protection (potassium bicarbonate) a week later.

Shortly after memorial day I will be one week AACT, next week Milstop (aka Potassium Bicarbonate).

5/19/2011 2:08:54 PM

rural S.E. Michigan

more clarification:

Will my every other week foliar spray of Potassium Bicarbonate, hurt my soil food web.

5/19/2011 2:10:26 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

SD, sorta confunsing...you are the first(that I can remember) to ever post about adding EndoMycorhizae to any type of compost tea brewing process? Peace, Wayne

5/19/2011 7:42:40 PM

Seattle, WA

I think you'll be fine with that application schedule. I mean you don't really have a choice if you want to control PM, unless you use a different treatment like lactobacillus or serenade or neem.

You really aren't going to get any benefit out of that myco in the tea....

5/20/2011 12:43:22 PM

rural S.E. Michigan

why are you doubtful on the myco in the tea? It's added a couple hours before the brew is done.
This is in addition to myco in the ground and trenches.

5/20/2011 5:02:12 PM

rural S.E. Michigan

I believe i got the idea froma book called " Teaming with Microbes" that i read this winter.

5/20/2011 5:03:25 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

SD, just cause...I never heard of it being done b/4, I guess? Peace, Wayne

5/22/2011 1:55:57 AM

Seattle, WA

Because myco is a root symbiant and if it's not coming in direct contact with the roots of your plant or it's wasted. Also, it's a one time shot, it will colonize/infect your plant (that is, unless you're doing something to kill it off like high P applications)

5/23/2011 12:36:19 AM

rural S.E. Michigan

Tad,

I hear what you are saying but adding myco at the end of the brew is quite common and it is in fact not wasted if it doesn't come in contact with root exudates right away.
In my patch, i spray the whole patch with the AACT/myco. this brew lands on the ground and all the beneficials go to work.

The myco's will go dormant if no root exudates are present- which they aren't since this is the beginning of the year.
Now, as my plants grow out into the patch, each node's new root is the source of exudates that wake up the dormant myco laying there. I fail to see how this is any different, if not easier, than sprinkling dry myco in the trenches and nodes all season long.

scoob

5/26/2011 3:12:19 PM

rural S.E. Michigan

I am actively searching the interwebs still on this topic and after this post came across a statement that endo's are extremely sensitive to sunlight. I cringed in horror, then remembered that i always spread straw over the whole patch for weeds so this should keep the endo myco's from being fried like a vampire.

anyone else have thoughts on this??

scoob

5/26/2011 4:54:00 PM

Wi

I tried some in a compost tea I brewed up and it made the leaves droop. I suggest using SUPER thrive at 1/2 ml per gal of tea. A little goes a long way! you won't be disappointed.

5/29/2011 1:19:18 PM