Beneficial Fungus to Cannabis Plants

Fungi have been part of our life. To start off, fungi are not plants nor bacteria but a different type of organism belonging to a kingdom with the same name. The most notable characteristic with fungi is chitins into their cell walls. Likewise, these organisms are everywhere and vary according to different sizes and shapes. Considerably, examples of fungi are yeasts, molds, and mushrooms that we often eat on.

These species play an important role in human processes. They employ benefits at the same time, damages to human health and to the environment. They are used in cooking as an ingredient to make food tasty and delicious for consumption. Likewise, they help on the decomposition of organic matter and even use to cure a number of diseases. However, fungus has been the root cause for some skin infections and to some diseases specifically athlete’s foot and even tuberculosis.

However, you don’t need to worry because this article will not talk about the negative impacts of the fungus to cannabis but the extreme opposite. Not everyone knows but cannabis plays an important role in the growth of every cannabis plant. This article will likewise discuss simplified ways to employ such beneficial fungus into your cannabis plants. This article will make out your smoking fungastic just by reading through it!

The Mutual Relationship between Cannabis and Fungus

When harvesting or cleaning out our cannabis, we sometimes notice a deep root system within the plant. Multiple branches of root system implying that the cannabis takes out nutrients upon the soil. But nonetheless, you don’t need to get bothered by this phenomenon because it is completely normal and healthy. Likewise, if you look at this roots microscopically, you will notice organisms sticking out into the roots. Again, no need to worry. These are beneficial fungi that are called mycorrhiza that develops and creates a mutual relationship between cannabis helping it to improve nutrient uptake and growth.

Let’s get to know the Great Mycorrhizal Fungi!

These fungi are often gets associated and reside on the roots of plants helping it on transportation of sugars, water, and nutrients into the cannabis plant system. These fungi increase the absorptivity area into the plants extending its reach and maximizing the uptake of nutrients and water in the soil.

Phosphorus is often difficult to obtain by plants because of its rare occurrence in the soil. That is why a lot of cannabis growers purchase on phosphorous-based fertilizers to cater on the absence of this component. But with mycorrhizal fungi, it helps on obtaining and solubilization of phosphorous into the soil and transfers it into the cannabis plant system.

Also, this fungus help to keep any plant tolerable upon extreme conditions of weather, climate, and temperature. This also aids on the decomposition of organic matter surrounding the plant.

Though these fungi are very small, you could indicate its infestation into your naked eye. Toadstools relatively expose is often a sign following the roots and external parts of the plant. This spore-bearing fruit body often denoting to mushrooms are rounded cap and are often inedible or poisonous.

So, to everything that this fungus gives into the cannabis plant system, what does it gets?

Well, believe it or not, cannabis just lives around your plant’s roots because it strives on sugar to grow and live. It’s only just a matter of survival for our dear mycorrhiza while cannabis benefits well enough to this action.

Mycorrhizae Infection on your Cannabis Plants

If you’re troubled about the word infection, then please don’t be. This refers to the acquiring of mycorrhizae to your plants. Often, mycorrhizae are sold into farming and botanical shops or through online but then, to save money you could create and inoculate out your own mycorrhizae to be used into your cannabis plants. The following includes a step by step procedure concerning the said thing;

1. Acquisition of Soil 

Find an area where vegetation exists most notable are pine trees, oaks, and woody shrubs and if there are a significant toadstools or mushrooms growing in. This could indicate accumulation of mycorrhizae along the area. Likewise, studies show that 80% of the vegetative land is vulnerable to mycorrhizal infection.  Find an unused spot around the location and about 0.5 m² from a nearby vegetation. Dug around the spot about 25 cm deep obtaining some fine and small roots as much as possible. Eliminate the large and small stones to further clear the soil. To ensure out obtaining mycorrhizae, obtain different soil samples from various nearby healthy shrubs and trees.

2. Reproduction of Mycorrhizae Fungi

Mix all the soil that you’ve acquired into a viable container and then, obtain coir peat, vermiculite, and one part compost. Never add fertilizers or anything into your soil to not harm out the growth of mycorrhizal fungi.

To quicken the multiplication of mycorrhizae, you could cultivate “bait plants” into this soil to entice the reproduction of these beneficial fungi. These bait plants are grassy species such as maize, oats, or wheat or legume-based plants like beans and peas. For cultivation of these plants, it is important to identify what plants will work best in your location considering the external factors like soil conditions and weather. To plant, obtain a perforated plastic cups or pots and fill it with the soil. Then, dip down your chosen seeds overnight before planting it in the pots. For every pot, just put a single plant for cultivation.

3. Harvesting the Mycorrhizae fungi

After three months, the mycorrhizae should be now fully developed. For this to happen, you need to trim down the plants and further, killing it. This will stimulate the reproduction of spores by the fungus. After ten days, drag the remaining portions of the plant with its roots and clean it up in order to place them down back into the soil.

4. Utilization of the Mycorrhizae rich soil

Before starting to plant cannabis, you need to make sure that the upper one-inch layer of the soil should consist out the mycorrhizae rich soil. This is to ensure the growth of young roots with mycorrhizae. This will continuously spread and multiply along the process. It is important to not put fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides to not kill off the mycorrhizae in the soil. To help it out, you could employ additional compost on it.