When people talk about Living Soil, many first think of bacteria or compost. However, an often-underestimated component of the soil ecosystem is fungi – especially mycorrhizal fungi.
These fungi form a direct connection with plant roots, extending their ability to absorb water and nutrients.
In Living Soil, this symbiosis is a central component of a functioning system.
While plants generate energy through photosynthesis, mycorrhizal fungi provide access to nutrients that would be difficult for the roots to reach on their own.
What is Mycorrhiza?
The term mycorrhiza describes a symbiosis between plant roots and special soil fungi.
The word is composed of:
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Myco – fungus
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Rhiza – root
These fungi grow directly on or even into the plant root, forming a fine network of what are known as hyphae.
This network can spread widely through the soil and functions as an extension of the root system.
This creates a huge underground network that can absorb nutrients and water from the soil.
How Mycorrhiza Supports Plants in Living Soil
Extension of the root system
The fungal hyphae are extremely fine and can reach soil areas that are too dense or too small for roots.
This massively increases the effective absorption area of the plant.
The plant thus gains better access to:
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Water
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Phosphorus
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Trace elements
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Minerals
Better phosphorus uptake
Phosphorus is one of the most important nutrients for plants.
However, most of the phosphorus in the soil exists in forms that plants find difficult to absorb.
Mycorrhizal fungi are able to mobilize this phosphorus and make it available to the plant.
Especially in organic cultivation and Living Soil, this process plays a decisive role.
Support in stress and drought
Mycorrhiza also helps plants cope better with stressful situations.
Through the larger network in the soil, plants can:
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absorb water more efficiently
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better withstand dry periods
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access nutrients more quickly
This often leads to more stable growth and healthier plants.
Mycorrhiza in the soil ecosystem
Mycorrhiza is not active in isolation. It is part of a complex soil ecosystem.
In Living Soil, it works together with:
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Bacteria
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other fungi
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Protozoa
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Nematodes
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Soil organisms
This interaction forms the so-called soil microbiome.
While bacteria break down organic materials, fungi often take on the transport and distribution of nutrients in the soil.
Mycorrhiza and the nutrient cycle
The relationship between plant and mycorrhiza works in both directions.
The plant supplies the fungus with energy in the form of sugars and carbohydrates produced by photosynthesis.
The fungus, in turn, provides the plant with:
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Minerals
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Water
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Mobilized nutrients
This mutual supply is a central component of natural ecosystems.
Mycorrhiza and Mulch
A healthy mulch layer also supports the activity of mycorrhizal fungi.
Mulch ensures that:
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Moisture remains stable
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Temperature fluctuations are reduced
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Organic material remains available for microorganisms
These conditions promote the development of a stable fungal network in the soil.
Mycorrhiza and Cover Crops
Even cover crops can support the mycorrhizal network.
Many plants also form symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi. This keeps the fungal network in the soil active, even when the main plant is still small.
Cover crops therefore contribute to building a permanently stable soil ecosystem.
Different Types of Mycorrhiza
Not all mycorrhizal fungi function in the same way. In nature, there are several different forms of this symbiosis between fungi and plants.
The two most important groups are:
Ectomycorrhiza
In ectomycorrhiza, fungi envelop the roots of plants from the outside and form a dense network around the root surface.
This form of mycorrhiza primarily occurs in trees, for example:
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Oaks
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Beeches
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Pines
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Birches
For cannabis cultivation, this form usually plays no role, as cannabis does not form a symbiosis with these fungi.
Endomycorrhiza (Arbuscular Mycorrhiza)
For cannabis, the endomycorrhizal form, specifically arbuscular mycorrhiza (AMF), is particularly relevant.
In this form, the fungal hyphae grow directly into the plant root cells, forming special structures called arbuscules.
These structures enable a particularly efficient exchange of:
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Nutrients
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Water
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Energy
The fungi supply minerals from the soil, while the plant provides the fungus with sugars from photosynthesis.
Many plants – including cannabis – form this type of symbiosis.
Why this distinction is important
For growers, this means:
Not every mycorrhizal fungus is automatically suitable for every plant.
In cannabis cultivation, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are particularly relevant, as they work directly with the plant's roots and can thus expand the nutrient network in Living Soil.
When Mycorrhiza is particularly important
Mycorrhiza plays a particularly important role in the following situations:
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Organic cultivation
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Living Soil systems
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Nutrient-poor soils
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Long-term soil systems
In living soil systems, a mycorrhizal network can develop and stabilize over a long period.
Typical mistakes in handling Mycorrhiza
A functioning fungal network can be disturbed by several factors.
These include, for example:
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Highly mineral fertilization systems
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Frequent tilling of the soil
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Very sterile substrates
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Lack of organic material
Living Soil systems therefore deliberately rely on biological activity instead of sterile conditions.
Why Mycorrhiza often doesn't work in sterile substrates
Mycorrhiza is often advertised as a miracle cure that you simply add to the substrate to get better results immediately. In practice, however, this only works reliably if the entire soil system also provides the right conditions for these fungi.
Mycorrhiza is not an isolated additive, but part of a complex soil ecosystem. The fungi work closely with other microorganisms and require a stable biological environment to establish themselves permanently.
In heavily mineral-fed or very sterile substrates, this environment is often lacking.
Typical problems include, for example:
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Very low biological activity in the substrate
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Hardly any organic material as a food source for microorganisms
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Regular high salt concentrations due to mineral fertilizers
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Lack of soil structure and soil life
Under such conditions, the mycorrhizal network often cannot develop long-term.
Why Living Soil creates ideal conditions for Mycorrhiza
A Living Soil system, on the other hand, provides exactly the conditions that mycorrhizal fungi need.
These include, among others:
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An active soil microbiome
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Organic matter as a food source
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Stable soil structure
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Mulch layers on the surface
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Plant roots that continuously release sugars and exudates
These factors ensure that fungi, bacteria, and other soil organisms can work together.
In such a system, a permanent fungal network can develop in the soil, supporting plant roots and improving access to nutrients.
That's why mycorrhiza works particularly well in biological soil systems like Living Soil – there, it is not just an additive, but a natural component of a living soil.
Conclusion: Mycorrhiza as an invisible helper in Living Soil
Mycorrhizal fungi are a central component of a functioning Living Soil system.
They expand the plant's root system, improve the absorption of water and nutrients, and stabilize the entire soil ecosystem.
Together with bacteria, organic matter, mulch, and cover crops, a living soil is created that can sustain plants long-term.
The symbiosis between plant and fungus is an example of how interconnected natural systems are – and why Living Soil is not just a cultivation system, but an ecosystem.
