Trichoderma source

K

KhanTheOG

Active Member
Would capturing and using the green trichoderma found growing on onion roots from the supermarket be a free source of trichoderma?
Take some and scrape it into a compost tea fror example.
Or is this a horrible idea? Could it backfire and harm the plants? Like if its the wrong species of trichoderma? Please help
 
Richard Drysift

Richard Drysift

Well-Known Member
Trichoderma is real easy to find/grow yourself. The blue/green mold growing on old bread or fruits is usually trich; problem is it must be broken down to be available in your container. You can toss that moldy bread/what have you/ in a compost pile or worm bin and then you have inoculated said compost with fungi. Granular mycorrhizae brands like great white and mykos xtreme contain trich along with other types of fungi that you typically want working in your mix. Just add it into the hole directly at each transplant. Onions are essentially a root so they don’t break down very well in soil; can be composted in a pile but worms might steer clear of them. Not as tasty as rotted fruit which will also add fungal dominance among other nutritional benefits to your soil once fully decomposed.
 
K

KhanTheOG

Active Member
Richard Drysift said:
Trichoderma is real easy to find/grow yourself. The blue/green mold growing on old bread or fruits is usually trich; problem is it must be broken down to be available in your container. You can toss that moldy bread/what have you/ in a compost pile or worm bin and then you have inoculated said compost with fungi. Granular mycorrhizae brands like great white and mykos xtreme contain trich along with other types of fungi that you typically want working in your mix. Just add it into the hole directly at each transplant. Onions are essentially a root so they don’t break down very well in soil; can be composted in a pile but worms might steer clear of them. Not as tasty as rotted fruit which will also add fungal dominance among other nutritional benefits to your soil once fully decomposed.
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After this trichoderma rich compost is created, can it be dumped in water and feed to plants quickly or MUST it be brewed and aerated for 24-36 hours to become safe?
 
Richard Drysift

Richard Drysift

Well-Known Member
KhanTheOG said:
After this trichoderma rich compost is created, can it be dumped in water and feed to plants quickly or MUST it be brewed and aerated for 24-36 hours to become safe?
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No you don’t even really need to brew it; toss that moldy bread in your recycling soil/compost bin or directly into your containers. Plants do not actually absorb fungi but it does promote healthy soil. It is “safe” for the soil as it is but can be “un-safe” for humans…it is a very common form of fungus so as long as you don’t ingest it & it will be fine. You can however also make a fungal dominant tea using baby oatmeal. Check out the sticky tea thread.
 
dynospec

dynospec

Well-Known Member
There are so many different strains of trich, and they are not all equal. I would be hesitant to take trich that is destroying produce and put it in my soil since it's so unknown.

There are products that exist with specific strains shown to be protective and synergistic with plants and even other trich strains it's very fascinating.
 
K

KhanTheOG

Active Member
dynospec said:
There are so many different strains of trich, and they are not all equal. I would be hesitant to take trich that is destroying produce and put it in my soil since it's so unknown.

There are products that exist with specific strains shown to be protective and synergistic with plants and even other trich strains it's very fascinating.
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What about sprinkling rice flour or oat flower on top of the soil to feed existing fungus in the soil, and once it multiply , water it in? Or is that a bad idea?
 
K

KhanTheOG

Active Member
dynospec said:
There are so many different strains of trich, and they are not all equal. I would be hesitant to take trich that is destroying produce and put it in my soil since it's so unknown.

There are products that exist with specific strains shown to be protective and synergistic with plants and even other trich strains it's very fascinating.
Click to expand...
Is there any food source that will promote/encourage specific species to multiply in the compost? Like rice or alfalfa or whatever?
 
K

KhanTheOG

Active Member
Ok i got the compost and oatmeal happening . Its covered with white fuzzy growth after 5 days. Should I let it keep growing until it turns green or is it more active at this white stage? I'll wait if waiting will make it more effective
 
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