Effective Microorganisms

EM (Mother Culture)

Effective microorganisms mother culture can be used straight from the bottle, or it can be activated first to make 20 times the original amount, saving lots of money.

Here’s how to make activated EM. For best results, always use fresh mother culture to make one batch of activated product. Using Activated EM for subsequent activations will reduce quality.

Note that EM is sold under many brand names (em1, em-1, emro, biosa, probio etc.).

I carry two brands by manufacturers I trust, made according to the research of Dr Higa. SCD’s ProBio Balance Plushas been a flagship for years. Terra Biosa is a recent addition from a Canadian supplier, and every bit as good. If you like Vita Biosa for personal health, you will enjoy Terra Biosa mother culture for garden use. Bonus: It comes in a 500mL size, perfect if you are just trying it out or don’t need very much.

How much do you need? Application rates and dilutions are the same for both EM mother culture and Activated EM.

I use about between 1/3 cup and 1/2 cup per 1000 square feet, mixed in at least 100 times as much water for soil applications and 250 times as much water for foliar applications (a hose-end sprayer is great for getting these big dilution rates).

How long does it keep?  Mother culture is good for 18-24 months or even longer if stored correctly. Keep the cap on tight, and store at room temperature, protected from frost, heat, and direct light. Mix and use only what you can apply on the same day. The diluted product doesn’t keep long.

Certificate of Analysis | Safety Data Sheet

Already Activated

If you don’t want to go through the process of activating the effective microorganisms, or if you are new to the idea and just want to try it out, you can buy it already activated.

Activated EM has a very similar concentration and is used in the same amounts and at the same dilutions as mother culture.

As a live probiotic product, every batch of Activated EM is a little different. It is always bottled fresh, so you may find it a bit fizzy on arrival. Just loosen the cap to let the gas escape, then close again tightly.

If a few yeasty white flakes develop floating at the surface, this is a normal part of the fermentation process. Over time, a layer of sediment can form at the bottom, which is also normal.

How much do you need? Application rates and dilutions are the same for both EM mother culture and Activated EM.

I use about between 1/3 cup and 1/2 cup per 1000 square feet, mixed in at least 100 times as much water for soil applications and 250 times as much water for foliar applications (a hose-end sprayer is great for getting these big dilution rates).

How long does it keep? Activated EM is good for at least 6 months, and can last well over a year if stored correctly. Keep the cap on tight, store at room temperature, protected from frost, heat, and direct light. Mix and use only what you need to apply on the same day. The diluted product doesn’t keep long.

Certificate of Analysis|Safety Data Sheet

Effective Microorganisms Application

Preferably, effective microorganisms would be applied in smaller, regular doses, such as monthly or even weekly.

EM works great when combined with biostimulants. Here are some application rates, with more details at the links below:

Dilution – EM and activated EM can be diluted with water for application with ratios from 1:50 water to 1:10000 water. This ratio depends on the frequency of application and the area you are trying to cover. For example, daily use through irrigation systems is often done at very diluted ratios. Use on turf and in gardens would be lower.

Here are some ratios that I have come up with based on my research.

I determined that it would be a good idea to experiment with using lesser amounts of EM (the lower end of the scale below), particularly if you are having trouble diluting it with sufficient water. As shown below, I would like to see at least a 1:250 dilution for foliar sprays and a 1:100 for turf and soil, and I believe that 85 ml (1/3 cup) of EM (pre-dilution) per thousand square feet would be a good place to start:

• 1:10000 – for daily use, such as through an irrigation system
• 1:1000 – for weekly foliar use; 20-125 ml of EM per 1000 sq ft
• 1:100-1:250 – for monthly use as a foliar feed; higher dilution (1:250) is better if possible; 85-500 ml of EM per 1000 sq ft
• 1:50 – for monthly/seasonal use on turf and as a soil drench; higher dilution (1:100) is better if possible; 85-500 ml of EM per 1000 sq ft
• 1:1000 – for soaking seeds; 5-10 minutes only, as some seed may ferment after too long

I have never run into any problems, but it is theoretically possible to ferment flowers and young, tender leaves if the application rate is below 1:250. If you have prize roses, it would be best to use a more diluted ratio to avoid this possibility. Note that the application rates above and below are for the EM before it has been diluted.

If you’re using city water and you want to get rid of the chlorine, leaving it in a pail for 24 hours will be sufficient to dechlorinate it in most cities.

In some cities such as Victoria, however, they use chloramine in the water (chlorine and ammonium), which does not dissipate as readily. In this case, a small amount of humic acids or a crushed Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) tablet can be stirred into the water before use.

Here is another way to look at effective microorganisms application rates:

• Lawn and Garden – The manufacturer recommends a total of 1 gallon(US) per 1000 sq ft per year, split into applications as often as is feasible. This is a lot more than is typically used in agriculture. I believe we should try using the agriculture rates, particularly if we are using a backpack sprayer or something similar where mixing it with enough water for a proper dilution is not feasible due to time constraints. I think that perhaps the dilution ratio is more important than the actual rate of application.
• Agricultural inoculant – A total of 1 to 10 gallons(US) per acre per year, split into applications as often as is feasible. For some reason, the recommendations for farming are generally less. There could be several reasons for this, but ultimately it points to the fact that there is no recipe.

“I’d bought some sickly looking plants on sale with yellowish leaves & within 2 days of using the EM the leaves turned a much healthier shade of green. Inside of a week they were back to 100% healthy. I can’t say enough good things about EM.”Catherine Jamieson, The Constant Gardener, Vancouver Island, BC

“I anticipate nothing but success from EM in the garden because taken as a probiotic, EM has worked wonders on my guts and helped with some digestive issues. I have felt a marked improvement physically since taking EM and am happy to have found this great product.”Lisa, Victoria, BC