In its simplest sense mycorrhizal fungi do everything plants roots do just BETTER
When new plants are planted with rootgrow it takes only 2-4 weeks under normal conditions for these fungi to start benefiting plants. In that time they attach themselves to the plant's root system and grow out rapidly into the soil, searching for nutrients and water. They essentially become part of the plant's own root system.
The benefits to plants are:
Better nutrient uptake
These fungi are so much thinner and finer than the plant's own roots they can
therefore find nutrients in the soil far more efficiently that the plant's own
course roots. They are especially good at finding nutrients responsible for
flowering and fruiting such as Phosphorous and Potassium. As they can explore
a much greater amount of soil than the plant's own roots they are also far more
likely to find trace elements and the rare nutrients that all plants need to
grow well.
Drought tolerance
Mycorrhizal fungi are an essential part of a plants ability to combat drought.
Leaves and stems have developed mechanisms to combat drought such as silver
leaves, waxy leaves and hairy leaves but these adaptations on their own aren’t
enough if the plant doesn’t have its friendly fungal partner on its roots.
Mycorrhizal fungi hold onto water in soils like a sponge.
Disease resistance
A plant treated with rootgrow will benefit from a increased nutrient uptake
and therefore will develop into a stronger healthy plant, more able to resist
disease.
The rootgrow friendly fungi join to the roots of a plant it fills up the niches in the roots where root pathogens can enter and acts to physically protect to the root structure.
Benefits to roses
Over the last few years the benefits of treating roses with rootgrow
at planting time has been well documented. Using rootgrow with
roses will not just help them to establish well and produce a good show of flowers
but it will also enable gardeners to grow roses in soil that has previously
had roses growing in it.
Now established throughout the UK as a standard treatment for roses rootgrow has reported to be successful in combating the problem of rose replant disease or rose soil sickness.
Establishment in difficult soils
Mycorrhizal fungi will enable plants to establish and thrive even in difficult
soils. In poor sandy soils the mycorrhizal fungi will be able to find scarce
nutrients and hold onto water. In clay soils these fungi will be able to unlock
nutrients from the soil acting like a clay breaker.
