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MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI :
LET YOUR PLANTS
Finding the right mycorrhizae for cannabis and employing properly will set your plants on the right track for big , healthy buds .
If you have done any shopping in a hydroponic store , garden center , or at any number of online sources , chances are you have come across mycorrhizae advertised or featured on a product label . It has been one of the most talked about and written about amendments or growing aids over the last 10-15 years . Learning about what it is , its benefits , and just what it can do to help you get fuller and healthier cannabis plants will help you decide if you should incorporate it into your cultivation regimen .
What are Mycorrhizae ?
Mycorrhizae ( mycorrhiza is the singular form of the word ) are beneficial fungi that develop symbiotic relationships with plant roots . While their benefit has more recently become better known to growers , they have been helping plants to grow for hundreds of millions of years . In fact , these types of fungi served as early plants ’ root systems until they evolved on their own . Mycorrhizae were around when plants were transitioning from aquatic life into land-based organisms . Some plants , like orchids , could not even survive without mycorrhizae colonizing its root system . The very word mycorrhizae is a conjunction of two Greek words meaning “ fungus root ”: mykes ( mushroom or fungus ) plus rhiza ( root ).
Types of Mycorrhizae
There are hundreds , possibly thousands , of different species of mycorrhizae , all of which fall under one of five different types :
• Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi ( AMF ) is by far the most commonly occurring mycorrhizae type , with about 90 percent of all plant life on Earth receptive to it .
• Ectomycorrhizal fungi ( EMF ) occur in conjunction with about five percent of plant species on Earth , most of which are hardwood trees .
The remaining five percent of plant species are served by three very host-specific types of fungi :
• Orchid mycorrhizae fungi are , not surprisingly , only found on orchids .
• Ericoid mycorrhizae fungi are found in the soils around acidic plants , such as heaths , heathers , azaleas , and blueberries
• Monotropoid mycorrhizae fungi are found among coniferous trees in areas that do not get much light .
Only the AMF type of mycorrhizae is beneficial to cannabis .
PROSPER
by Chris Bond
How Mycorrhizae Work
Regardless of the type , mycorrhiza works with plants by forming a symbiotic relationship . The fungi attach themselves to the plant roots and work like an extension of the plant , being able to draw in moisture and nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from outside the plant ’ s root zone . The mycorrhizae help the plant process these nutrients , acting as a buffer and releasing them to the plant in doses that are beneficial . In exchange , the mycorrhizae take the carbohydrates that the plant makes through photosynthesis that they need to survive from the plant as needed . Each type of mycorrhizae works with its host in largely the same manner , but with subtle , custom differences . AMF work by piercing through the roots into the cellular wall . They then develop their network ( the arbuscle ) all around and within the root system where the exchange of nutrients takes place . They reproduce themselves asexually and continue to expand inside of and outside of the plant ’ s root system . This is how mycorrhizae operate around cannabis roots . ECM do not penetrate the roots , but instead just surround the roots . This type of mycorrhizae reproduces through fruiting bodies above ground , appearing as commonly occurring mushroom varieties such as truffles or porcini . Orchid mycorrhizae assist orchid development by providing needed carbon ; monotropoids work this way too around the coniferous trees they help to support . Ericoid mycorrhizae help acid-loving plants by breaking down nitrogen into forms the plants can use .
How Mycorrhizae Benefit Cannabis Plants
There are several ways that mycorrhizae will help you grow amazing cannabis plants . From extending your plant ’ s reach for food , to increasing buds , mycorrhizae will make your cannabis plants prosper . Because the mycorrhizal web that develops around your plant ’ s root system increases the ability for your plant to find and draw water , minerals , and nutrients , the amount of fertilizer needed is reduced . You can do more with less . The increased support system created by mycorrhizae will allow your plants to grow healthier and more robust faster . This means that the time needed during the vegetative phase is reduced , getting to bud development faster . Not only will the buds develop sooner on plants inoculated with mycorrhizae , but they will be bigger and more resinous , along with higher trichome density and an increased terpene profile .
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