Mycos and Azos

[jennifer28]

These two things sounded like Greek islands to me... but I got them for free with some grow trays and heat mats... I'm going to try them- anyone used them before and what was your experience: good, bad, ugly?
thanks
jennifer

[janezee]

Mykos is what my nursery said to use instead of pea inoculant, because it's waaaaay cheaper ($1.99 for 3.5 OZ) and does the same thing. So I did, last year, and it worked just fine for me. Great peas and beans, both. I'm using again this year, on new beds. I'm wondering if you have to start over every year, or if it's alive, does it grow into the next year, and same bed? I didn't use it at the rate they recommended (spreading), but more like the inoculant (rolling damp seeds in it). Went lots further!
Frankly, since I'm using the mushroom compost, I think I have enough microbial activity, and humic acid, and healthy stuff. I just hate for my peas to be late, and I like to baby them. I have no real idea if that stuff works or not, but they're my peas! My second-favorite vegetable! And, it's only $1.99!!!
I'm counting on its helping. I plant my tomatoes in beds that held peas the previous year. I'm hoping it makes everybody in the garden happy!!!!

j

[RayR]

I think Jennifer means XTreme Gardening Mykos and Azos.

[jennifer28]

Yes I do. Someone gave us starter trays and heat mats and these came with it.

[janezee]

Yep. That's what I have. Thanks, Ray.

j

[RayR]

janezee, which Mykos is it?, there are 3 different versions. I've never seen it in a 3.5oz package.
Jennifer got a better deal it looks like—FREE!

Jennifer, if you've never used Mycorrhizal fungi or bacterial innoculants before, there are quite a few threads in the Gardening in the Green section here about the subject.

[janezee]

Mykos, Pure, Fresh, Alive!! All Natural
The only one the store has.

j

[puttgirl]

Originally Posted by jennifer28

These two things sounded like Greek islands to me... but I got them for free with some grow trays and heat mats... I'm going to try them- anyone used them before and what was your experience: good, bad, ugly?
thanks
jennifer

Wow, you know some good people !

[dice]

I take it Mykos is some formulation of mycorrhizae. They are fungi that
infect plant roots, exude enzymes that break up insoluble phosphorous
compounds, and transport phosphorous, water, and other nutrients
into plant roots. There are endo- and ecto- variants. Trees and woody
shrubs are mostly symbiotic with ecto-mycorrhizae and vegetables
with endo-mycorrhizae. Some plants are not symbiotic with either type.
Here is a web-site with pictures:
http://mycorrhizas.info/vam.html

This site has a lot of links to more information, vendors, research, etc:
http://www.ipa.net/~steved/mycorrhizae.html

This page has lists of plants that are endomycorrhizal, ectomycorrhizal,
and non-mycorrhizal:
http://www.mycorrhizae.com/mycocyclopedia

I came across some research that found that mycorrhizal growth was
inhibited above 50 ppm of phosphorous in the soil (or grow media; the
research was conducted in a controlled environment rather than in field
soil) and disappeared completely above 100 ppm of phosphorous in the
grow media.

Azos is azospirillum, a nitrogen-fixing bacteria that lives in soil. Unlike
rhizobial inoculants for peas, vetches, clovers, alfalfa, soybeans, and
so on, azospirillum is not specific to legumes. It can live on its own in
soil as well as in the rhizosphere around plant roots. From this document:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...VcPLMniJ6ktvtw

This review summarizes and discusses the
current knowledge and the, as yet, unanswered ques-
tions on the interactions of Azospirillum spp. in bulk soil
(but not in the rhizosphere). It contains sections on the
isolation of these bacteria from tropical to temperate
soils, and on their short- and long-term persistence in
bulk soil.

Mycorrhizae can have similar effects on plant growth as rhizobial
inoculants for legumes, but as far as I know they are not the same
organisms. Mycorrhizae are fungi, rhizobium are bacteria:
http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/agr/agr90/agr90.htm

[Tracydr]

I always wonder, when you buy fertilizer that claims to have mycos in it, how do you really know if it actually has any active ingredient?
Sort of like the supplement industry. I assume there's no standard or control over this labeling?

Originally Posted by Tracydr

I always wonder, when you buy fertilizer that claims to have mycos in it, how do you really know if it actually has any active ingredient?
Sort of like the supplement industry. I assume there's no standard or control over this labeling?

Great question, and I hope there is an answer. I know some of the products, like those from RTI, are granular based and much cheaper than those fungi packets and such that cost a lot of dough. The industry is so new, there are no real standards for them to meet and follow. I know here in Texas, most things are going to be exposed to 100F and higher temps before it ever gets a chance to get into your garden. Does that kill these things? All very good questions...

[rnewste]

I will be trialing 2 Xtreme Gardening products this year:



I'll apply to only specific plants in conducting an "A/B" comparison.

Raybo

[RayR]

Originally Posted by eltex

Great question, and I hope there is an answer. I know some of the products, like those from RTI, are granular based and much cheaper than those fungi packets and such that cost a lot of dough. The industry is so new, there are no real standards for them to meet and follow. I know here in Texas, most things are going to be exposed to 100F and higher temps before it ever gets a chance to get into your garden. Does that kill these things? All very good questions...

Mycorrhizal fungi have been around for about 400 million years, they can survive freezing cold and temperatures of over 140°F. I doubt a little Texas heat is going to bother them.

[Tracydr]

Originally Posted by RayR

Mycorrhizal fungi have been around for about 400 million years, they can survive freezing cold and temperatures of over 140°F. I doubt a little Texas heat is going to bother them.

But how do we know they actually put any in the package?

[amideutch]

I came across Dr. Earth products while surfing the web. They have a "LIFE All Purpose Fertilizer that has a NPK of 5-5-5 and is organic in pellet form. Ordered a 4lb bag and will see how it does this year. Should not be a problem to supplement the N&K if you want to add to supplement for the different growth phases of the plant.
Here's some pics. Ami