Hello, I had someone suggest to me to use a mycorrhizal fungi seed coating when sowing my seeds. As far as I know it is not generally used for roses, but cash crops like maize, soya, etc. Has anyone tried using a mycorrhizal fungi as a seed coating when planting their seeds or does anyone have any thoughts on this?
I am assuming from the lack of response that I am not alone in not doing so.
At what stage would you add the micorhhizae? Most of us (I assume) germinate seed in a semi-sterile environment, but after germination, when pricked and planted, I could see strong arguments for innoculating at that stage…
I wonder if commercial hybridizers do so.
I haven’t tried it, but I would assume that after stratification, one could inoculate the planting medium?
A quick search suggests 1 lb could treat up to 100 plants, for roughly $30…
I think I would be inclined to wait and confirm that a seedling shows some merit before treating it, unless I learn that early treatment helps prevent damping off. I am trying to get away from chemicals and to work more organically, but damping off became a huge headache for me at the same time.
Micorrhizae are probably not copacetic with chemical fertilizers, but organics might necessitate such, if I am understanding things correctly.
(Where are our botanists? Lol)
I mean, certainly any fungicide used will likely do it in. And then what would be the point?
In my case, the point is avoiding fungicides. With the right “probiotics" a decently grown rose with any resistance would hopefully not require the pesticides many of us aspire to get away from.
I don’t use any fungicide in my garden. If the rose isn’t disease resistant, that’s my first cull.
Same, @philip_la ! Saaaame. Ha.
Make that soil as alive and thriving as possible.
“Life finds a way!” - Jeff Goldblum, you know the movie.
In my case, “the pathogens will find a way!” (But I am trying!)
I have used happy frog soil which has mycorrhizae in it with other plants and they’re fine.
If I were to start a rose in that soil I’d probably add lactic acid bacteria as well to innoculate everything else.
All my seedlings get potted up into happy frog, I probably have like 150 or 200 in it right now. Works fine. I have popped the seeds in Happy Frog too, but moved away from that because it can be hydrophobic.