Epiweb and Beneficial Microbes?

[Anastasia Beverhausen]

Thank you so much Alex! I hope your den. recovers quickly, many thanks again

[Ray]

Originally Posted by AlexS

Ray, in an earlier post you mentioned that Inocucor contained fungi other than Trichoderma, are these species known to be beneficial for orchids? Is there anything in the results you see with Inocucor that you can attribute specifically to the fungi?

As I said earlier, there has been very little study about the interplay of specific species with orchids, but in this case, there's lots of anecdotal evidence that the Inocucor product is effective.

It has several stable consortia of microorganisms making up about 18 different "critters" in it. I have no idea how you'd tell which one did what, but by using such a stable, multi-specific solution, I suppose it's sort-of a "shotgun approach".

[lepetitmartien]

Trichoderma harzianum is maybe the only one with a little background and known to be benefical anecdotally to multiple genus of orchids.

My only reference where I am is the Benzing book (vascular epyphytes) and there's little information in it (state of things in 1993). It doesn't even list Trichoderma. There's more for bromelacea microflora but it's not the same species of associations seemingly.

[AlexS]

So, I inoculated all of my Epiweb Dendrobiums yesterday, and have decided to increase my watering to every 3 days in the hopes of helping the Trichoderma become established, luckily you can't really over-water with Epiweb.

It's not just ailing Dendrobiums I rescue from garden centres, I also have a collection of Phalaenopsis in various stages of recovery and these have been inoculated too, although these are potted in Pinus merkusii bark, not Epiweb. However, this bark seems to dry out quicker than the Epiweb, so the Trichoderma may still have a difficult time getting a foothold in the media.

There was a large mycellial mass in the bottle when I opened it, so at the very least I know there's fungi in there, the real question is whether this will be of any benefit to the orchids. I know that people who home-brew trichoderma cultivate it on corn flour where it manifests as a fluffy white mold, can anyone who has used it on orchids tell me whether or not it is actually visible on the growing media as well?


Kindest regards,
Alex

[Nexogen]

Friend, it is quite difficult (science vs. money) to find out anything concrete. I guess the solution you use is not only Trichoderma. Internet looking for mycorrhizal, benefits bacteria, etc.
I suppose you have to use carbohydrates (Molasses, etc) to feed microorganisms ...
Merkusii Pinus bark is probably good for fungus and bacteria feast.

PS: However, if you want to cultivate Orchid after Maranello method, search the Orchid Plants & Supplies, Free Info, Hydroponics, and More! - First Rays LLC and you will find quite a lot of information on how to cultivate

[Ray]

I spoke with the folks at Inocucor, and the microorganisms Do populate the polymeric substrate to some degree.

The critters will consume any carbon source - kelp is one of the sources used in the Inocucor product. That is actually how some of the protective/curative effects come about, as the metabolites break down chitin and lignin in order to extract the carbon.

I've never used trichoderma products, but Inocucor Garden Solution is not visible in the medium.

[AlexS]

Thank you Ray and Nexogen.

It's good to know that beneficials can survive on a polymeric substrate. I do feed with kelp once or twice a month, although I watered the trichoderma in with straight RO water. Next scheduled feeding is with kelp though so, fingers crossed, I might start to see some benefit.


Kindest regards,
Alex

[Nexogen]

I think you need Calcium however; problems arise when you use tap water (chlorine, fluoride, etc).

[AlexS]

I use Aptus CalMg Boost, which has an N,Ca,Mg ratio of 5-7-1 in between two feedings with Orchid Focus and Orchid Ultra and then one feeding of Plant magic Catalyst kelp before flushing.

Kindest regards,
Alex

[AlexS]

After the initial inoculation I have some observations to report, two positive, one not so good. As previously mentioned I don't have control plants so this is in no way a controlled experiment, nor do I have any way to quantify what I am seeing, good or bad..

Bad news first, one of my rescued Phalaenopsis had just finished blooming and was sending out aerial roots like crazy, a dozen roots with very healthy green tips. This one wasn't in the best shape when I got it, but it wasn't at Death's door either. The morning after I watered with the Trichoderma, the healthy green tips have disappeared. There are very tiny, barely visible to the naked eye, brown spots at the tips of the roots, like they'd been singed with a match. The roots aren't an unhealthy colour otherwise, and the roots aren't shriveled or deformed in any way, but the absence of the previously vibrant green tips is noticeable. Nothing else has changed in it's care routine, save for the addition of the Trichoderma.

The more positive observations are even harder to quantify, and are entirely esoteric at this point. I have a Promenaea citrina x Limelight, it certainly isn't thriving, but at the same time there isn't anything to suggest that it's really struggling either, it's just existing. A couple of days after watering with the Trichoderma the leaves are a much more vibrant colour and just seem to be much more erect and perkier. It may not sound like much, but the difference is quite noticeable. Same thing happened with a Polystachya bella. This wasn't one of my garden centre rescues, but Parcel Force did their best to ensure that it reached me in the worst condition possible. The seller made every effort to make sure it was packaged safely and securely, but there was nothing that could be done to protect it from the attention of the untrained apes Parcel Force now seem to employ at their depots, a lead casket couldn't have saved it. It's been clinging on for a while, and although it hasn't gone any farther downhill since I got it, it's clearly been negatively impacted by the stress of shipping. A couple of days after applying the Trichoderma the leaves have taken on a healthier colour and are standing up much straighter.

As we all know orchids in general are very slow to do anything, so while Trichoderma applied directly to the roots may account for what has happened to my Phalaenopsis, I'm uncertain as to whether it could account for such rapid results with the other two plants, that being said nothing else has changed in their routine either, except for the Trichoderma.

Make of it what you will.

As for the Dendrobiums in Epiweb, the reason I actually started this thread, there is nothing good or bad to report. They seem to have taken the recent re-potting well enough, but there certainly isn't anything of note to report since applying the Trichoderma.

Kindest regards,
Alex