From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

OK, I understand that I can make a batch of tea to be bacterial in nature, or fungal. So, if I can make a fungal based tea, is it possible to make a mycorrhizal tea? It would seem that this is a better way to get mycorrhizae to the roots, than to apply a dry granular substance.

2/12/2009 1:35:37 AM

Seattle, WA

Cliff,

Mycorrhizae require plant roots in order to become active and grow. When you buy a commercial myco product, what you're buying is the spores. There's no advantage to brewing a tea, as the mycorrhizae will remain in spore form.

There are myco products that can be mixed with water and then applied in a liquid form, rather than the powders. I haven't seen any data support one over the other, except for ease of application.

One thing to remember about mycorrhizae is that it will not travel through the soil, it needs to be applied directly to the roots, not in the form of a soil drench (though Mycorrhizal Applications does have a product that can be applied in this manner). It also needs to be plant specific.

Check out www.mycorrhizae.com or www.fungi.com for more information.

2/12/2009 2:31:00 PM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

Oh, OK. So, spores don't "hatch and grow", they have to find contact with a root and begin to then do their thing? That's very interesting. Thanks for the information.

Maybe this could be a follow-on question... If I can create and use a bacterial recipe, and also a fungal recipe... do you shoot for one or the other, or do you simply try to create one great recipe that has both?

How does each type, bacterial and fungal, affect the plant?

I know these are a lot of questions... I'm just trying to become more enlightened. Thanks.

2/12/2009 3:18:02 PM

Iowa

http://www.microbeorganics.com/ I think Tad posted this once before,this is GREAT info!!

2/12/2009 7:02:27 PM

Seattle, WA

Here's the thing, you really want to have a full complement of microbes for nutrient cycling. You can google "microbial loop" for more info. I would make the same tea regardless, because the plant will put out exudates that will select for the organisms that it wants to be the most successful in the rhizosphere. It's a bit late right now, so I feel like I'm not explaining this very well. Let me know if I can clarify any points on this.

~Tad

2/13/2009 2:20:14 AM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

That is a good site, S.Krug. Thanks for sharing. It may take some time to digest all of that... but that's what winter is for.

I'm certain that ACT is going to be a big part of my garden this year.

2/13/2009 3:16:39 PM