Beneficial Microbes

We get it; adding bacteria and fungus to your garden seems counterintuitive – but believe us when we say it's worth it. Increasing the microbial diversity in your plants can help improve the plant's vigour, increase yield, increase nutrient uptake, and aid in pest prevention.

What are beneficial microbes? They are certain bacteria and fungi that work together to create an ecosystem in and around your rootzone – more commonly known as the rhizosphere. There are already several bacteria, fungi and other microscopic organisms that live in and around the root zone; adding beneficial microbes further enhances the work these little guys do.

Plants outside in nature have no problem developing a thriving microbial rhizosphere, but our indoor plants need our help to achieve this. In a way, they are like cats – out in the wild, they can find their own food, shelter and take care of themselves; domestic cats, on the other hand, need our help to thrive. We need to inoculate our grow mediums with beneficial microbes and care for them – in return your plants will thrive. They last 4-8 weeks, and then we need to re-introduce the microbes to the plant's rhizosphere.

There are two main types of beneficial microbes. Most products contain a combination of these:

• Beneficial Fungi – Beneficial Fungi is often called mycorrhizae, and it has been shown to increase plant growth rates. Mycorrhizae also aid in protecting the plant's roots from soil toxins, diseases, and pests. Trichoderma is the most common beneficial fungi – it increases your plant's root size – allowing for more nutrients to be absorbed and vigorous growth. 

• Beneficial Bacteria – There are many types of beneficial bacteria that help with different aspects of your plant's life. The Bacillus Thurengensis bacteria produce an enzyme that kills insects and pests – applying this to your plants will significantly aid pest prevention. Different types of bacteria also change the nutrients to a form the plants can easily use – allowing your plant to get all its nutrient requirements.

Adding beneficial microbes to your indoor garden is easy these days, with many available to purchase online – such as the Easy-As range. Following the package's care, storage, and preparation instructions is essential. If you are growing in soil, coco or a living soil type medium and using beneficial microbes – it is crucial you keep the environment moist and maintain the ideal temperature – which is around 26-27°C.

You can add beneficial microbes in solely water-based systems too. Not all the microbes will cling to the rootzone, and they will start to decay, which can cause problems. A simple solution to this is to add the microbes to your system a few days before you replace the water in your reservoir. This way the spare microbes will be flushed out, leaving only the ones attached to the rhizosphere.

We have a few tips for getting the most out of your beneficial bacteria and fungi:

• Do not simultaneously use alongside Hydrogen Peroxide. It will completely rid your reservoir of bacteria – both the good and bad kinds.
• You can use beneficial microbes for clones and seedlings. The microbes help the seed/cutting get the most out of the nutrients and progress faster.
• Do not add the same amount during the grow and bloom phases. The growing phase requires more beneficial microbes than the bloom stage.
• You can use beneficial microbes in a foliar spray. Mixing it with a bit of humic acid helps the spray stick to the foliage.
• Beneficial Microbe amendments are not a gimmick. They do help to keep the microbes functioning and thriving. There is a wide variety of amendments available, and we recommend visiting your local Hyalite store to get the suitable amendment for you.
• Pair beneficial microbes with a carbohydrate source, such as Honey Chome or Crystallic, to feed and encourage the microbial life.

Beneficial microbes are indeed beneficial to your garden. Whether it's a hydroponic, soil, or coco garden, these tiny superstars will help you get the best out of your garden.