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Originally Posted by Will_Heath
Remember that mycorrhizae is species specific, which is why buying it is a waste. Also unless the fungus forms a symbiotic relationship with the root tips and they mutate into actual mycorrhizae, it does nothing to speak of.
Mycorrhizae is the symbiotic association of fungi with the roots of plants. This is one reason why I do not use fungicides.
Will
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Agreed, except I'm not convinced that it is a waste to buy. I must admit that I have the granular mycorrhizae and I add it when repotting, conifers generally and pines specifically. I make sure to sprinkle it on the exposed roots BEFORE I add soil. The jury is out on its effectiveness though.
For those who are unsure what mycorrhizae is, if you repot certain trees (like pines) and find a white substance on the root system (sort of the consistency of dried cottage or recotta cheese), you are seeing the mycorrhizae fungus. Note: If you are lucky enough to have it, SAVE it. Adding it in CONTACT with the roots is beneficial, a symbiotic (sp?) relationship. The fungus acts as a "digestive" aid to transform soil nutrients into a form easily absorbed by the roots to feed the tree. There is some sort of pest that resembles mycorrhizae, but obviously they are mobile and easy to discern from the fungus (some sort of aphid maybe, I don't really recall).
Adding mycorrhizae will NOT hurt the bonsai. That much I am sure of.
John