Mycorrhizae: all you ever wanted to know.

bisco_bonsai

Hi,
For all those out there who would like information on mychorrizae, here is a good resource. For all of those who know a little about me, you know I'm a student at NCSU. Well we had a lecture the other day on the benefits of mychorrizae, and I thought it was so good that I had to pass it on to my fellow bonsai enthusiast. Also, I would like to take this opportunity to ask if any of you have tried to use VAM-Mychorrizae (Vesicular Arbuscular) instead of of the usual Ectomychorrizae. VAM is the intracellular form and Ecto is the intercellular form which produces the white fungus mantle around the root. Thanks.
All the best,
JDL


http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/pp3...mycorrhizae.htm

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bisco_bonsai

Hi, I also wanted to mention in this lecture outline the experiment done with loblolly pines on the kaolin spoils sites. Nothing can usually be grown on such a harsh site as this desolate kaolinite in (I think) Georgia, but these pines are flourishing after being innoculated with mychorrizae. Check out the photos, they're amazing! This is some of the most extreme proof I've ever seen for the benefits of mychorrizae to the Genus Pinus.
All the best,
JDL

shagorino

Do all species benefit from mycorrhizae or just a few?

rockm

Myc is one of those mythical "bonsai miracle" substances that gets alot of attention from people just starting out. I don't speak as a scientist--only as someone that's had the stuff in bonsai.

It certainly can make a difference for bonsai, but it's not going to greatly boost your tree's health. It can help, but it has limitations. For instance, it is highly species-dependent (a species that works on pine, probably won't work on hornbeam), can also be highly dependent on the care you give your trees--too much water with soggy soil, too much fertilizer, antifungicide and pesticides, etc. can all play havoc with it.

Also, it's probably already present in those bonsai in your collection that like it--if they've been kept outdoors. I've found that will appear mostly by itself in bonsai pots. You can't hurry the process along by buying the prepared mixes at nurseries. You can hurry it along to some extent by keeping some soil already innoculated with it to add to trees at repotting time.

It's a naturally occuring fungus that colonizes where it can. It will appear spontaneously without any help from the bonsaiist, if the plant, care, etc are right. If you've got mushrooms growing from time to time in your bonsai pots with your trees, odds are you've got healthy myc.

John Dixon

Way too scientific a subject for me. The only advice I have about mycorrhizae is that if it is not in contact with the roots, it is serving no purpose to the bonsai. It helps to produce nutrients in a form absorbed by the root structure, so if you think sprinkling a little on the top soil is helpful, you are mistaken. It MUST be in contact with the roots, a bridge if you will.

John

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John Dixon

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rockm

I agree wiht John. Spending big bucks on that small bag of myc soil additive at the nursery ain't gonna do much good. You're probably getting the stuff free from the wind and environment.

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

Vonsgardens

Hi, yes they have to be in contact with the roots- they are symbionts (coexisters). They are essential, especially in conifers, but are really hard to get rid of even when roots are washed. Adding to potting soil just accelerates the rate of recolonization- thus in weaker trees that come out of a complete soil change can be very helpful- or if you live in a sterile bubble....... As a grower, we don't add commercial myc to potted trees (too $$$$$), and we seem to have enough. But folks have been known to scrape the excess from the outside of pine root balls and mix it with the replacement soil to give it a kick start.

John Dixon

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

__________________
John Dixon

Si vis pacem parabellum

Stay off the trails of others, that's where the booby-traps are.