Subscriptions - Maximum Yield Cannabis USA November/December 2020 | Page 41

Mycorrhizae are credited with creating vast
underground systems that allow massive tracts
of natural growing plants to thrive, so imagine
what it can do for your indoor cannabis crop.
Grow expert and author Rich Hamilton gets to
the root of the benefits of using mycorrhizae
inoculants in your growroom.
When it comes to growing cannabis, achieving best
results with the heaviest, most resinous buds is
everyone’s goal. While there are a lot of products that
can help you with your garden goals, there is a range of
products that sometimes get overlooked. Not only are these
products proven to boost your plants in a multitude of
ways, but they use a natural and organic path that works
in harmony with your normal feeding regime to give you
bigger, better results. That miracle range of products is
from the mycorrhizae family.
Mycorrhizae means “fungus root” and is part of a complex
group of naturally occurring fungi that can be used to get
the most out of your cannabis plants.
The Root of the Problem
Mycorrhizae works on the most important part of your
cannabis plant — the root system, an area that goes
unseen and as a result is often forgotten. Maintaining
a healthy root system is an essential part of producing
high-quality cannabis. The root system is the foundation
from which your plants will grow. Its primary function is to
absorb water and nutrients and transfer them to the rest of
the plant. The healthier and stronger the root system, the
lusher and more vibrant your cannabis will be.
Often, we don’t link the symptoms observed on leaves
or stalks as being a root problem. Once your root
system becomes damaged, it is often mistaken for basic
deficiencies, meaning you may never get to the bottom of
the problem by adjusting your feed levels alone.
Mycorrhizal products can improve your yield and quality
in a totally natural, organic way. The benefits include
improved root growth and health, and an increase in flowering,
fruiting, nutrient uptake, water uptake, and final yield.
Which — let’s be clear — is exactly what we are here for
when it comes to growing cannabis.
Grow it Organically
Mycorrhizae is also a great tool if you are an organic grower
as it can reduce fertilizer use, provide a resistance to salt
toxicity, delay wilting, and reduce the risk of root disease
and deficiencies. It protects against all manner of pests and
provides a much higher success rate when transplanting.
There are hundreds of species of mycorrhizal fungi found
around the world in differing soils and climates. The two most
common classes are ectomycorrhizal and endomycorrhizal
fungi. For herbaceous plants such as cannabis,
endomycorrhizal fungi are the most beneficial.
Mycorrhizae are more than 400 million years old and helped
facilitate life on land for the first vascular plants. Whole
ecosystems would not be able to sustain themselves without
the existence of mycorrhizae, and at least 80 percent of all
land plant species depend on it for survival.
Maximum Yield 41