Trichoderma as a beneficial fungus

[Cach26]

Hello

Is it a good investment to inoculate our orchid crops with Thricoderma?

Does it make any difference?

Does it strengthen the plant? Does it make it more robust?

Does it root better?

[plantxart]

You're on to something. Although I have not tried it myself. Current research shows that it is an effective biofungicide. Essentially protects your plant from rot causing pathogens such as pythium.

[Ray]

Trichoderma is a fungus that predates other fungi.

I don't think it does much to "beef up" plants, but it does help protect them from infection.

[Cach26]

Okay, I have seen in fruit trees and vegetables how Thricoderma increases the rooting and size of the plants, but since our hobbit is orchids, I wouldn't know if there would be any difference (due to their slow growth).

Additionally, is it advisable to replace systemic fungicides with monthly applications of thricoderma?

Does it protect against phytophthora, erwiniana and brown rot?

I really don't want to get used to fungicides because of the danger they pose to us, and that's why I want to look for alternatives that benefit the plants and me.

Also, I don't want to kill the beneficial fungi on the plants.

I attach a photo of the results of thicoderma in vegetables


Trichoderma Control de Hongos Fitopatogenos | Intagri S.C.

[thefish1337]

Trichoderma seems to be part of the orchid microbiome according to some cursory research. You don't have to use fungicides necessarily so why not wait to see if you need that as part of your cultural routine and then test some Trichoderma to see what works?

[Ray]

It is probably necessary to keep up the application of any biological additive, if for no other reason than to maintain the populations of microbes.

I cannot say that trichoderma will kill erwinia, but I have seen other probiotics (that don’t contain it) do so.

[Cach26]

I was looking for alternatives to fungicides, to take care of my own health.

Also, 1 month ago I had several losses due to black rot (they gave me a moss that came inoculated with rot), and I wanted to strengthen my plants.

However, I think that, at least in orchids, Thricoderma is not effective as a "Shield" or "Bodyguard."
Additionally, with my monthly Fungicide sprays, I would kill the entire Thricoderma population.

[Ray]

Look into plant probiotics as an alternative to fungicidal treatments.

[estación seca]

Plants growing well with proper temperatures, humidity and light rarely develop infections, even when pathogens are present - which they always are.

[MateoinLosAngeles]

Originally Posted by Cach26

Hello

Is it a good investment to inoculate our orchid crops with Thricoderma?

Does it make any difference?

Does it strengthen the plant? Does it make it more robust?

Does it root better?

I use microbial inoculants. They are not miraculous but they are great helpers given it is difficult to provide our plants with perfect conditions. An untimely watering, system failure, storm, excess humidity, heat wave, etc. can destroy several valued plants. I see them as "helpers" in stretching the window of tolerance for plants. Some swear by them, especially among the terrestrial orchid community, since these plants have limited root systems. They can be especially handy if you have a plant with a damaged root system, as they can improve nutrient absorption and offer some protection.

I went through a rabbit hole on this not long ago, and this is what I can share from my research:

• I believe the most important inoculant is Bacillus subtilis. Its mechanism of action is disputed, but they antagonize many plant pathogens through their secretions. This has been studied for Erwinia (a bacteria), as well as Pythium (an oomycete), and Fusarium (a fungi). So it offers pretty wide protection.
  
• It's suggested that they perform better when using bark as your potting medium. A study showed that B. subtilis can barely be found on root tissue, nevertheless, it colonizes the bark around the roots and liberates Nitrogen as it decomposes the bark. I believe I read an additional study comparing microbial populations in organic vs. inorganic media, and bark came out first in the comparison. Especially fermented or prepped bark, I drench mine several times before using.
  
• The quality of the water is important. Most microbial mixes will lose a lot of their potency in chlorinated water. However, they seem to be more effective in fertilized water as opposed to flat RO or rain water.
  
• Those that swear by mycorrhizae like Great White suggest using mycorrhizal inoculations first, at least two weeks, before using B. subtilis or Trichoderma inoculants, as the bacteria outcompete the mycorrhizae if these are not established. (But Great White contains some B. subtilis, so take this with a grain of salt).
  
• In my experience, plants really respond to the amount and frequency used. I stopped the spread of black rot by using inoculants at every watering last summer.
  
• Trichoderma's studies as a biofungicide aren't the strongest. There's better evidence for it being a good growth stimulant, though, with evidence of it improving nitrogen absorption and photosynthetic carbon fixation in stressed plants.
  
• Once established, most of these microbial populations can survive the use of some systemic fungicides, like copper. So you can use beneficial microbes in combination with fungicides as long as you have done a thorough inoculation first, and maintain the population by increasing inoculation in between fungicide applications. The principle is to ensure the inoculation happens in a rich environment, so inoculate when you fertilize and ensure you have some bark in your pot.

A regimen you can look into (what I do). Mixing rates, by the way, don't really matter. What matters is the amount of product that reaches the plants.

- Great White once a month (contains Trichoderma) 0.5 tsp/gal
- Quantum Total every two weeks. 1 oz/gal
- Serenade ASO once a season. Up to once a month during times of stress (hot humid summer in July and August, or if there is any other stressor). Between 1.25 oz/gal and 3.8 oz/gal.