Is Marijuana a Fungus-Loving or Bacteria-Loving Plant?

In Teaming with Microbes by Jeff Lowenfels and Wayne Lewis, the authors delve into the complex relationships between plants and the microbial life in soil. One of the key takeaways from their book is that plants tend to form different symbiotic relationships with either bacteria or fungi depending on their classification and growth preferences. So, where does cannabis, or marijuana, fall in this spectrum?

Understanding the Soil Food Web

In Teaming with Microbes, Lowenfels and Lewis explain that plants thrive based on the balance between two primary groups of microorganisms in soil: bacteria and fungi. Bacteria-rich soils tend to favor fast-growing, annual plants, while fungal-dominant soils are better suited to trees and shrubs.

Marijuana and Bacteria vs. Fungi

Marijuana (Cannabis sativa) is an annual plant, meaning it completes its entire life cycle in one growing season. According to Teaming with Microbes, annual plants generally prefer bacterially dominated soils, which tend to be found in areas that experience a lot of disturbance, such as tilled fields or frequently harvested plots. These types of soils provide the necessary nutrients for fast-growing plants like cannabis.

The Role of Mycorrhizal Fungi

However, while cannabis prefers bacterially rich soils, it is not entirely fungus-averse. Cannabis also forms a symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizal fungi, which help the plant absorb nutrients more efficiently. These fungi colonize the plant’s roots and extend into the soil, increasing the root’s surface area and helping the plant access phosphorus and other micronutrients that would otherwise be difficult to absorb.

In particular, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are beneficial to cannabis. Studies have shown that inoculating cannabis plants with AMF can improve nutrient uptake, water absorption, and overall plant health. This suggests that while cannabis is primarily a bacteria-loving plant, a balanced soil that includes beneficial fungi can optimize its growth.

Best Practices for Cannabis Cultivation

For cannabis growers, it’s essential to create a balanced soil environment. Lowenfels and Lewis recommend maintaining healthy soil by:

• Avoiding chemical fertilizers that can disrupt microbial life.
• Using compost teas and other organic fertilizers to enhance bacterial life in the soil.
• Introducing mycorrhizal inoculants to encourage fungal associations that improve nutrient absorption.

By fostering a balance of bacteria and fungi, growers can ensure optimal conditions for their cannabis plants.

Conclusion

In summary, cannabis is primarily a bacteria-loving plant due to its nature as an annual species. However, incorporating beneficial fungi into the soil, such as mycorrhizal fungi, can significantly boost the plant’s ability to thrive. As outlined in Teaming with Microbes, understanding and nurturing the soil food web is key to healthy cannabis cultivation.

If you’re growing cannabis, creating a diverse soil ecosystem that includes both bacteria and fungi will maximize your plant’s potential.

This blog post provides a good overview of the microbial preferences of cannabis based on Teaming with Microbes by Jeff Lowenfels and Wayne Lewis, highlighting the balance between bacteria and fungi for optimal growth.