Mycorrhizal fungi, suggestions?

Joe Hatfield Tue Mar 16, 2010 4:51 am

Looking to introduce Mycorrhizal fungi to some of my plants. Seems like most of what I'm finding on the net has fertilizer build in which is not what I want. Any suggestions on a product? Or alternative plan of action?

Thanks,

Joe

alex e Tue Mar 16, 2010 8:53 am

Hi Jo,here in the UK a garden centre chain sells it but that,s no
use to you in the US,what I do is visit one of our Pine forests and
clear away the Pine litter this reveals the fungi in abundance inches thick
in places,have also found it when collecting Larch, hope this helps.

regards Alex ThumbsUp

Joe Hatfield Tue Mar 16, 2010 12:42 pm

Thanks Alex for some inspiration. My original thought was to just get out there and collect some but, then the lazy gene kicked in so I started looking on the net for a product solution.

I might end up digging it up but, does anyone have any product names that they have used?

_joe

alex e Tue Mar 16, 2010 5:33 pm

Hi again Joe,found a product called "ROOTGROW tm PLUS" Mycorrhizal fungi for bonsai

hope you find it ThumbsUp

Alex

**Kev Bailey** Tue Mar 16, 2010 6:37 pm

I don't understand these products at all. Root myc are species specific. For one product to contain all myc's they would have to have hundreds if not thousands of varieties in one packet. Can you see the manufacturers doing that?

If you are concerned, find a healthy plant and as Alex suggests, scrabble around among the leaf litter at its its roots and you are bound to find some. You only need a pinch or two and this when sprinkled in among the roots of the same tree in your collection will innoculate it and start it growing. Be warned that the first time you use a full strength "chemical" fertiliser, it is likely to kill off all the myccorhyzae.

For some trees it is a valuable aid to healthy growth. In my experience Pines are particularly responsive to a healthy colonisation. For many others though, so long as you feed them well, it isn't necessary.

Joe Hatfield Tue Mar 16, 2010 6:46 pm

i'm going tree hunting on Sunday. Maybe I can dig some up. I was thinking about getting this product.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150414579617#ht_13204wt_941

Alex, I cant find the product you listed here in the US. "UK Organic" Smile

Thanks for the heads up, though.

Joe Hatfield Tue Mar 16, 2010 7:42 pm

Kev, this is re reasoning behind my venture.

This conversation was pertaining to the Black Pine Suggestion ?????? ,posting I had started. Can you take a look at his comment for me and tell me what you think.

Rob Kempinski wrote:While debating the future styling of this tree is interesting it seems the most immediate step for this tree is to fix the root problems. The mound with the soil covered in moss along with the seemingly weak top implies the beginning of root problems. Since this tree lives up north, when the weather starts to warm a bit I would repot it into a larger pot where the soil comes up to the trunk base - getting rid of the mound. I would only gently touch the roots at this point but try to add micorrhyzae to the fresh well draining soil. Maybe use a dowel to push a few holes close to the trunk to get fresh soil near it. (Another option might be to build a temporary wood frame around the pot edge and build up soil, but I believe fresh soil around the edge and bottom of the tree would help the vigor of the tree. ) Next year I'd repot again and remove about half of the old soil. And then again the next year removing the other half of the soil. The trunk could use some girth, even as a literati but I wouldn't put it in the ground until its vigor returned with good soil close to the trunk.

Thanks,

Joe

**Kev Bailey** Tue Mar 16, 2010 8:03 pm

Robs suggestions are all perfectly reasonable, if a little conservative in my opinion. If I suspect a root problem, I like to sort it once and for all. I'd gently hose off all the old soil and get it into a good pine mix. 50% sharp grit, some Oil Dri or whatever it's called over there and some chipped or composted bark. I usually add a little well rotted pine needles, which contains the myc.

Ideally, you could do with a healthy Black Pine to collect some from. Are you in a club? Fellow club members could certainly help out.

Joe Hatfield Tue Mar 16, 2010 9:08 pm

Thanks for taking a second look and the advice. To answer your question, I do not belong to any clubs. I'm not sure any of my bonsai friends have any black pines but I will ask the chap I am going Tree hunting with on Sunday if he has any. I do have some pines groves in the area so I will prob. have to take that route.

Again thanks for all the info and time.

Regards,

Joe

Paul Landis Wed Mar 17, 2010 4:59 am

Joe--two suggestions.

Colin Lewis sells a mycho mix called Mychomax I believe. Its a mix of several kinds. You can get it from his site BonsaIdeals.

You are not far from Plymouth Meeting---Pennsylvania Bonsai Society meets there every 3rd friday of the month at the Plymouth Meeting Community Center.
Its a very good club with many highly experienced members. The 1st meeting I ever went to there was a demo by Marco Invernizzi. We'd love to have you.

**JimLewis** Wed Mar 17, 2010 12:30 pm

In any event, I would not obsess about finding or not finding micorrhyzae for your trees. If you have pines, it tends to show up. Its value in potted trees is a bit questionable, at any rate. Micorrhyzae enhance the tree's ability to take up nutrients in native environments. We are NOT supplying native environments, and our trees get many times more nutrients than do trees in nature and in much more concentrated forms.

In fact, the application of fertilizers to bonsai is as likely to damage micorrhyzae as not. And the other chemicals we apply to our trees -- sometimes in excess -- add likely further damage.

If you tree needs them, they will come.

Joe Hatfield Wed Mar 17, 2010 2:24 pm

Paul my sched does not permit to attend the meetings... everytime I think about it I cry a little on the inside. Thanks for the invite and the information. I will make changes eventually to show my sparkling personality in person. Smile

JIm, Thanks for taking a look at this and your advice. I like that you always have a "come back down to earth" point. What I mean is ... I have been doing lots of reading and internet searching for Myc info and spores. Making myself nuts. And I realize now I dont have to.
Smile

I THink i shoudl just chop up all my trees and make a myc garden. The best MYc garden the world has ever seen. affraid

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