It's what the professional horticulturalists use in green houses.
Plants need sulfur so do we, its what's used for mold. It works for lots of stuff but particularly used for molds and PM.
Can I bring the soil microorganisms back after punishing soil with NPK chemical fertilizer?
- Thread starter Phillybonker
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Plants need sulfur so do we, its what's used for mold. It works for lots of stuff but particularly used for molds and PM.
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- #22
Phillybonker
Well-Known Member
Maybe professional horticulturalists use sulfur in a different way to control botyrtis by using it to kill overwintering sclerotia?, maybe sulfur is effective on botrytis when it is dormant but not when it is active?, may be the botrytis in my country has evolved to resist sulfur?, idk I'm just guessing.
Hopefully coots mix has some form of sulfur in it for plant health as well.
Gypsum flour is CaSO4 - 2h 2O
Yup the SO4 there ^^^^
Sulfur can be used directly on PM and active botrytis. The only thing that I found to be effective for PM and mold.
Yup the SO4 there ^^^^
Sulfur can be used directly on PM and active botrytis. The only thing that I found to be effective for PM and mold.
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- #24
Phillybonker
Well-Known Member
Ah good, coots does have some sulfur. Great!!
I'll give sulfur a try on half my plants to see if it has any effect, that should give a good comparison. Do you grow indoors or outdoors?
Both.... use sulfur mainly indoors cause I dont use anything outside.
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- #26
Phillybonker
Well-Known Member
I grow outdoors and we get wet high humidity conditions in New Zealand last few weeks of bloom. Botrytis over here is monstrous, I lost half my plants last season, some plants got overwhelmed by botrytis five weeks into flowering, went from a tiny bit of mold to totally screwed within days.
It may be that it is a lot easier to control botrytis indoors with little spots of mold that can be easily cut away, humidity lowered to stop the mold spreading and the plants checked everyday. Plants out in the bush can realistically only get checked every few days and get really beaten up by the wind/rain/pests/bugs, etc so lots of wounds that provide plenty of access points for botrytis to enter the plants. It's a real battle and everyone normally pulls early before the worst of the autumn rains hit. I didn't get to half my plants in time.
I'll cross my fingers and hope sulfur makes a difference.
think they use oyster shell my friend , any thing from the sea with a shell contains chitin .
this is why i use leaf molds from different locations, diversity is key
scientist only know about 2% of soil microbes and what they do , so it makes sense to get your own and have almost a million different types so they can work as a team for you and your plant
they all have their roles so the bigger the diveristy the better the nutrients and health of the plant , when you think about it it makes perfect sense , mother nature at her best Microbes can make nutrients and minerals in the soil available to plants, produce hormones that spur growth, stimulate the plant immune system and trigger or dampen stress responses. In general a more diverse soil microbiome results in fewer plant diseases and higher yields.
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- #28
Phillybonker
Well-Known Member
Yeah coots uses oyster shells, I didn't realize oyster shells does the same as crab meal, after trying hard to find crab meal in my country.think they use oyster shell my friend , any thing from the sea with a shell contains chitin .
this is why i use leaf molds from different locations, diversity is key
scientist only know about 2% of soil microbes and what they do , so it makes sense to get your own and have almost a million different types so they can work as a team for you and your plant
Microbes can make nutrients and minerals in the soil available to plants, produce hormones that spur growth, stimulate the plant immune system and trigger or dampen stress responses. In general a more diverse soil microbiome results in fewer plant diseases and higher yields.
I'll continue researching and I'll be doing some experimenting this season with different organic formulas.
Good luck , yes try different ways it is better fun and you come acorss some good things that work and some that do not . all part of the growing experience just take notes or start a journal
here is some reading
There are thousands of types of microorganisms and their role is extremely complex. Most are absolutely essential. In fact, the relationship between soil microbes and plant health are some of the most complex on the planet.
Just a teaspoon of soil can have more microbes than the total of earth's human population. There are good microbes and harmful ones. Generally, as long as the beneficial microbe population is active and healthy, they will often keep the pathogenic microbe population at bay.
Stressed grass and trees weaken the plants ability to resist pathogenic penetration and diseases can result.
There is almost no place on earth where soil microorganisms don't exist. Nature will decide the type of microorganisms that will thrive in a particular place. From super heated water of volcanic pools to the polar ice caps, each microbe thrives where it is designed to thrive and performs a specific function.
Certain types of microorganisms are important for the start and continuation of plant life. Without them, nothing would live. For example, microorgansims in soil break down raw elements and organic material into soil nutrients and healthy soil components and humic substances.
What Beneficial Microorganisms Do
Most types of microorganisms are important for life as many release enzymes, essential amino acids and proteins back into the soil to be used by plants.
Others break down fallen leaves, dead limbs and branches, raw elements, etc into materials that comprise healthy soils. Still other types of microorganisms take atmospheric nitrogen and convert it into a form of soil nitrogen plants need. The list of what these tiny organisms do is endless. Therefore, managing soil to increase beneficial soil microbes only increases plant health and plant vitality, create improved disease resistance, increase root growth, builds healthy soil components and more.
There are so many different types of micrororganisms. Just a tiny amount of soil can contain billions of bacteria, fungi, mycorrhizae, viruses, nematodes, and more. Most are a form of decomposers that recycle minerals and organic matter. They also release beneficial enzymes that stimulate root growth and increase plant health. Some forms of fungi trap and kill harmful nematodes and help keep their numbers under control.
Types of Microorganisms Used as Natural Pesticides
Some uses of microorganisms include "Bacillus thuringiensis" , a soil dwelling microbe that is used as a pesticide against many insects that are in the larval stage, such as grubs, caterpillars and even mosquitoes. This type of microorganism is sold as "all natural" or organic pesticides. Be sure to read the label to make sure it contains this ingredient.
What Determines which Microbes will Live or Die?
DNA in soil shows a huge diversity of soil microbes, each performing a task that is specifically suited for them. What determines which specific type of microbial life will exist in your soil?
Here is the answer: All mineral particles have different chemical composition and surface properties which influence the survival or demise of soil life. Over time the environment itself selects precisely what will survive and thrive. Slight changes can have significant affects on microbial populations. Some that were being suppressed may experience renewed life through changes in soil properties. Again, the environment will always select. Every first year biology student will learn the importance of that saying.
DESCRIPTIONS OF 3 MAIN TYPES OF MICROORGANISMS
Soil BacteriaBacteria are single celled organisms that make up the largest group of soil microbes. One teaspoon can contain as many as 1 billion bacteria. They are named largely according to the job they perform in the soil. They are divided into 4 primary groups and most are beneficial.
The decomposers: As the name sounds, they decompose everything from tree limbs, fallen leaves, dead animals, organic matter, insect bodies, and more and recycle the carbon into nutrients.
The Mutualistic Bacteria: These are the bacteria that take atmospheric Nitrogen (N) and convert it into nitrogen for plants. There are 4 types that do this. Three types live freely in the soil and the Nitrogen can be used by any plant. One type of mutualistic bacteria must have a host plant, all within the legume family, such as alfalfa, soybeans, and clover. It is a symbiotic relationship where the plant supplies the carbon in the form of sugars for the bacteria and the bacteria capures atmospheric Nitrogen and converts it to Nitrogen for the plant. The process is called "Nitrogen fixation" and is quite a complex procedure.
Denitrifying bacteria do the exact opposite. In flooded fields, compacted soils, or oxygen deficient soils, denitrifying bacteria take soil Nitrogen and convert it back to atmospheric Nitrogen, thereby decreasing the available nitrogen in soils. It is, therefore, important to aerate compacted soils and ensure good drainage.
Pathogenic Bacteria: These bacteria produce diseases in plants. When I was a licences arborist I treated a lot of trees for fire blight. Fire blight on ornamental pears and other fruit trees, etc was a difficult and time consuming process to treat. I had to cut out the diseased limb and after each and every cut I needed to stearlize the lopper or saw. Otherwise it could be spread to other parts of the tree. Blights are caused by these pathogenic bacteria and are spread by insects.
Lithotroph Bacteria: These are similar to Mutualistic bacteria except they work on soil sulfur. Some are arobic bacteria (oxygen rich soil) and anerobic bacteria (Low oxygen soil).
In oxygen rich soils they make sulfur more available to plants. However, in low oxygen soils, anerobic bacteria make sulfur less available to plants.
Fungi are an important group that includes mushrooms, yeasts, and molds. However, soil fungi are extremely important in the soil. They include decomposers, mutualistic and pathogenic types of fungi.
Mushrooms are not just the things you buy in the store for salads. They are actually the "fruiting bodies" of microscopic fungi in the soil as well as pathogenic and beneficial fungi growing on and inside living and dead trees, and those growing in other material. The mushrooms release spores so the fungi can spread and continue.
Decomposers: Fungi decomposers pick up where bacteria left off. These fungi will decompose the difficult to breakdown residues left behind by bacteria, such as cellulose and lignin.
Mutualistic Fungi: An example is Mycorrhizae Fungi. This is a beneficial fungi that form a symbiotic relationship with certain plants. Mycorrhizae grow on the roots and form chains that extend far into the soil. They capture nutrients and bring them to the roots in exchange for taking a small amount of plant sugars as food.
Pathogenic Fungi: Some fungi can be pathogenic as well as beneficial depending on the situation. The decaying fungi in dead and fallen trees is beneficial. In living trees, it is considered pathogenic.
- Thread starter
- #30
Phillybonker
Well-Known Member
A lot of great information, Thanks!!Good luck , yes try different ways it is better fun and you come acorss some good things that work and some that do not . all part of the growing experience just take notes or start a journal
here is some reading
There are thousands of types of microorganisms and their role is extremely complex. Most are absolutely essential. In fact, the relationship between soil microbes and plant health are some of the most complex on the planet.
Just a teaspoon of soil can have more microbes than the total of earth's human population. There are good microbes and harmful ones. Generally, as long as the beneficial microbe population is active and healthy, they will often keep the pathogenic microbe population at bay.
Stressed grass and trees weaken the plants ability to resist pathogenic penetration and diseases can result.
There is almost no place on earth where soil microorganisms don't exist. Nature will decide the type of microorganisms that will thrive in a particular place. From super heated water of volcanic pools to the polar ice caps, each microbe thrives where it is designed to thrive and performs a specific function.
Certain types of microorganisms are important for the start and continuation of plant life. Without them, nothing would live. For example, microorgansims in soil break down raw elements and organic material into soil nutrients and healthy soil components and humic substances.
What Beneficial Microorganisms Do
Most types of microorganisms are important for life as many release enzymes, essential amino acids and proteins back into the soil to be used by plants.
Others break down fallen leaves, dead limbs and branches, raw elements, etc into materials that comprise healthy soils. Still other types of microorganisms take atmospheric nitrogen and convert it into a form of soil nitrogen plants need. The list of what these tiny organisms do is endless. Therefore, managing soil to increase beneficial soil microbes only increases plant health and plant vitality, create improved disease resistance, increase root growth, builds healthy soil components and more.
There are so many different types of micrororganisms. Just a tiny amount of soil can contain billions of bacteria, fungi, mycorrhizae, viruses, nematodes, and more. Most are a form of decomposers that recycle minerals and organic matter. They also release beneficial enzymes that stimulate root growth and increase plant health. Some forms of fungi trap and kill harmful nematodes and help keep their numbers under control.
Types of Microorganisms Used as Natural Pesticides
Some uses of microorganisms include "Bacillus thuringiensis" , a soil dwelling microbe that is used as a pesticide against many insects that are in the larval stage, such as grubs, caterpillars and even mosquitoes. This type of microorganism is sold as "all natural" or organic pesticides. Be sure to read the label to make sure it contains this ingredient.
What Determines which Microbes will Live or Die?
DNA in soil shows a huge diversity of soil microbes, each performing a task that is specifically suited for them. What determines which specific type of microbial life will exist in your soil?
Here is the answer: All mineral particles have different chemical composition and surface properties which influence the survival or demise of soil life. Over time the environment itself selects precisely what will survive and thrive. Slight changes can have significant affects on microbial populations. Some that were being suppressed may experience renewed life through changes in soil properties. Again, the environment will always select. Every first year biology student will learn the importance of that saying.
DESCRIPTIONS OF 3 MAIN TYPES OF MICROORGANISMS
Soil Bacteria
Bacteria are single celled organisms that make up the largest group of soil microbes. One teaspoon can contain as many as 1 billion bacteria. They are named largely according to the job they perform in the soil. They are divided into 4 primary groups and most are beneficial.
The decomposers: As the name sounds, they decompose everything from tree limbs, fallen leaves, dead animals, organic matter, insect bodies, and more and recycle the carbon into nutrients.
The Mutualistic Bacteria: These are the bacteria that take atmospheric Nitrogen (N) and convert it into nitrogen for plants. There are 4 types that do this. Three types live freely in the soil and the Nitrogen can be used by any plant. One type of mutualistic bacteria must have a host plant, all within the legume family, such as alfalfa, soybeans, and clover. It is a symbiotic relationship where the plant supplies the carbon in the form of sugars for the bacteria and the bacteria capures atmospheric Nitrogen and converts it to Nitrogen for the plant. The process is called "Nitrogen fixation" and is quite a complex procedure.
Denitrifying bacteria do the exact opposite. In flooded fields, compacted soils, or oxygen deficient soils, denitrifying bacteria take soil Nitrogen and convert it back to atmospheric Nitrogen, thereby decreasing the available nitrogen in soils. It is, therefore, important to aerate compacted soils and ensure good drainage.
Pathogenic Bacteria: These bacteria produce diseases in plants. When I was a licences arborist I treated a lot of trees for fire blight. Fire blight on ornamental pears and other fruit trees, etc was a difficult and time consuming process to treat. I had to cut out the diseased limb and after each and every cut I needed to stearlize the lopper or saw. Otherwise it could be spread to other parts of the tree. Blights are caused by these pathogenic bacteria and are spread by insects.
Lithotroph Bacteria: These are similar to Mutualistic bacteria except they work on soil sulfur. Some are arobic bacteria (oxygen rich soil) and anerobic bacteria (Low oxygen soil).
In oxygen rich soils they make sulfur more available to plants. However, in low oxygen soils, anerobic bacteria make sulfur less available to plants.
Fungi are an important group that includes mushrooms, yeasts, and molds. However, soil fungi are extremely important in the soil. They include decomposers, mutualistic and pathogenic types of fungi.
Mushrooms are not just the things you buy in the store for salads. They are actually the "fruiting bodies" of microscopic fungi in the soil as well as pathogenic and beneficial fungi growing on and inside living and dead trees, and those growing in other material. The mushrooms release spores so the fungi can spread and continue.
Decomposers: Fungi decomposers pick up where bacteria left off. These fungi will decompose the difficult to breakdown residues left behind by bacteria, such as cellulose and lignin.
Mutualistic Fungi: An example is Mycorrhizae Fungi. This is a beneficial fungi that form a symbiotic relationship with certain plants. Mycorrhizae grow on the roots and form chains that extend far into the soil. They capture nutrients and bring them to the roots in exchange for taking a small amount of plant sugars as food.
Pathogenic Fungi: Some fungi can be pathogenic as well as beneficial depending on the situation. The decaying fungi in dead and fallen trees is beneficial. In living trees, it is considered pathogenic.
I see you've got a microbe organic journal, I only just noticed it now. I'll have a read of that as well