Benefits of Mycorrhizae for Your Cactus
Mycorrhizae are beneficial fungi that form a symbiotic relationship with plants. These amazing fungi help plants more efficiently absorb nutrients and water from the soil. This in turn helps plants to grow faster and healthier.
In this article, we’ll explore all the benefits of mycorrhizae for plants and how they can be used to improve your potted cactus plants in your home.
Disease Prevention
Mycorrhizae protects plants from diseases and pests, making them an invaluable ally for the casual house plant, gardeners and farmers alike.
Too much stress is generally not good for your house plants. Plants that are at an imbalance with their environment are under stress.
Plants that are stressed are more susceptible to disease and problems. Mycorrhizae gives your cactus an unfair advantage by converting your soil into a super soil of sorts!
The soil you choose for your cactus is one of the most important environmental factors. For a healthy cactus and maximum blooms you want a balanced soil. You want your soil working in service of your cactus, not against it.
What Is Mycorrhizae
Mycorrhizae are a beneficial form of fungus that help improve the health of plants. The relationship between mycorrhizae and plants is mutually beneficial. The fungus provide essential nutrients and water while the plant provides the fungus with carbohydrates.
Physically this happens through a highly developed root system that connects the two different organisms. It’s quite amazing actually. Two wildly different species of plant have a hand shaking process going on beneath the soil.
This mighty fungal root system forms a mutual friendship between the fungus and your plants! They both help each other.
The symbiotic relationship helps to increase the growth and health of plants, particularly those in dry or nutrient deficient soils. This sounds a lot like our cacti friends!
Mycorrhizae & Cacti
Mycorrhizal root systems can be especially beneficial for cacti, helping them to thrive even in harsh conditions. Remember, your cacti should never be over-fertilized or be living in nutrient-rich soil…they are not accustomed to that kind of soil and problems may arrive!
If you were to place your potted cacti plants in garden soil or regular potting mix you risk giving your plant rot root. Think about the natural environment of a desert cactus.
Because cacti are fairly slow growers a network of mycorrhizae can be extra beneficial. Surely you want to get the most our of your little spiky friend right?
As a Soil Additive
A little mycorrhizae added to your cacti soil can go a long way to promote an amazingly healthy cactus plant! And remember, mycorrhizae will provide the greatest benefits to plants that live in a soil with medium to low nutrient content. This makes mycorrhizae extra beneficial for growing cactus and producing amazing blooms!
Where to Get Mycorrhizae?
You can buy mycorrhizae in a powdered form. By adding it to your soil the fungal spores that make up the powder will grow into fungi. But don’t think that simply adding mycorrhizae powder to a potting soil with existing problems will magically transfer the soil into great soil.
Bad cactus soil is still bad cactus soil.
Why not get a soil perfectly made for your dessert cactus with the mycorrhizae already mixed in?
Look no further because Spike and Bloom has just launched the ultimate cactus soil that will have your cacti standing tall and looking sharp!
Introducing our new desert blend cactus soil, formulated with high drainage, charcoal, and mycorrhizae, this soil will give your cacti the perfect combination of toughness and pampering they need to thrive.