Mycorrhizal Fungi
$22.00 – $204.00
Mycorrhizal fungi form mutually beneficial relationships with over 95% of common plant species.
They surround and even enter the roots of these plants, and provide nutrients such as phosphorus (and to a lesser degree, nitrogen), trace elements, and water to plants in exchange for carbohydrates.
In fact, some plants trade more than 50% of their carbohydrates with these fungi and other microbes. Fungal mycelium represents carbon drawn from the atmosphere and stored in solid form underground.
The fungi also greatly improve soil characteristics by improving soil structure and porosity. And, amazingly, they act as a line of defense, protecting the roots in the soil environment.
My clients and I have both seen huge benefits from using mycorrhizal fungi when planting. Gardeners have reported reduced plant losses when planting in less than ideal conditions.
The product is also helpful in improving the quality and health of a newly seeded lawn.
In soil that has recently been tilled/worked, compacted, waterlogged, drought-stressed, or treated with chemicals, mycorrhizae will be lacking. They are typically not present in imported topsoil or most potting soil mixes, either, and they cannot be multiplied in compost as they need a living plant host to survive.
In any of these scenarios, they need to be added back to the soil. These fungi are essential to optimum plant health and should be used whenever planting or seeding, propagating, or transplanting. The fungi will stay with the plant for life, so you only need to do this once!
Kathy, Victoria, BC
Mycorrhizae Categories
There are two main categories of mycorrhizae relationships:
- Endomycorrhizal fungi (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) form relationships with over 90% of plants, including ornamental and fruit trees, shrubs, perennial flowers, annuals and many vegetables, and turf grasses. Interestingly they do not form fruiting bodies (mushrooms), but instead release their spores directly within the soil.
- Ectomycorrhizal fungi form relationships with fewer plant species, but some of them are quite common, such as hedging cedars, other conifers, and many hardwood trees.
This short mycorrhizae list (pdf) shows many common plants forming relationships.
And here’s a much more detailed mycorrhizal list (pdf) if you are looking for something in particular.
Please note that there are a few plants that do not respond to either endo or ectomycorrhizal fungi, namely members of the Brassica family (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, and rutabaga); also, beets, mustard, spinach, and orchids. Although members of the Ericaceae family (rhododendron and azalea, blueberry, cranberry, heath and heather, huckleberry, lingonberry) are now known to have fungal partners, they do not partner with the fungal species in Root Rescue. As far as I know, there are currently no ericoid mycorrhizal fungi products commercially available in Canada.
Mycorrhizal Fungi Products
Endo/Ectomycorrhizal Fungi
Root Rescue is a concentrated wettable powder containing eighteen different species of Glomus, Gigaspora, Rhizopogon, Pisolithus, Laccaria, and Suillus fungi.
This is a combination product that benefits both those plants that partner with endo-mycorrhizae (see above), and also covers those woody plants that prefer ectomycorrhizal fungi (or take both endo and ecto), such as:
Most conifers including hedge cedars, Douglas Fir, true fir, hemlock, larch, pine, and spruce; as well as alder, arbutus, beech, birch, chestnut, eucalyptus, filbert/hazelnut, hickory, linden, oak, pecan, poplar, and willow.
Root Rescue offers larger units and case discounts — contact me if you’re a commercial grower.
Mycorrhizal Fungi Application
The best time to apply mycorrhizal inoculant is at the plant production stage, but since your plants probably didn’t have that done, the next best time is at planting/seeding/sodding. This will promote contact between the fungi and plant roots.
Rub the product directly on the root ball if possible, or sprinkle in the planting hole. You can also mix the powder with tepid water and apply the liquid. Bare roots can be dipped into the liquid. For seed, mix the dry powder with the seed before spreading. For sod, sprinkle it dry or spray the liquid on the soil right before laying the sod, or even better, right on the bottom of the sod (I know that can be time-consuming). You could spray it on after as well.
The other choice would be to apply the mycorrhizal fungi products to existing landscapes. For trees and shrub beds, grab a garden fork and poke a lot of holes around the feeder root zone, away from the trunk. This will help both powder or liquid to enter the soil and get to where it’s needed.
For turf, it is best to do this right after aerating so that more of the spores get down to the roots. Otherwise, it can be watered in, but will not be as effective on heavy clay or very compacted soils.
Be sure to keep agitating/stirring the liquid as the powder tends to settle at the bottom. Mixing several smaller batches rather than using the entire amount at once helps ensure even distribution.
The powder can be mixed with other microbial products and organic fertilizers and applied at the same time, although there is no benefit to foliar feeding with mycorrhizal fungi products, as the spores need to touch the roots.
Application rates for powdered endo/ecto (Root Rescue)
How much do you need? Generally, use 4.5g (1 teaspoon) of powder in 7.5L of water (2 gallons, the volume of a standard watering can). For a “tree-planters batch”, mix 13.5g (1 tbsp) in 19L (5 gallons) of water.
- The 45g package makes 75 liters (20 gallons) and can treat 40 one-gallon plants or two large trees.
- The 180g package yields 300 liters (75 gallons) of solution and can treat 160 one-gallon plants or eight large trees (or a few hundred seedlings).
- The 450g package mixes with 750 liters (200 gallons) of water for 400 one-gallon plants or 20 large trees, and the 900g size gives you double those amounts.
If the amounts of water recommended by the manufacturer seem high, this is because you would ideally saturate the rootball and also drench the soil used for backfilling the planting hole.
Applying the liquid:
- 0.7 liters per cutting
- 1.2 liters per 4″ pot
- 1.87 liters (1/2 gallon) per 1gal container
- 3.75 liters (1 gallon) per 2gal container
- 37.5 liters (10 gallons) per large shrub or tree
How long does it keep? Store tightly sealed, dry, cool and dark. After the best before date, Root Rescue is still 90% viable for another full year if stored correctly, so just use 10% more for normal effectiveness. Mix and use only what you want to apply the same day. Diluted mixed product does not keep long.