Ways you can use Biocast+

There are four main ways we recommend the use of Biocast+. They are as a foliar application, as a soil application, as a transplant drench, and as a seed inoculate. Read on for more information on the benefits of each, what situations each is best for, and how to apply it.

On the leaves (foliar)

Benefits: 

• Direct contact of microbes on the leaf surface helps suppress pathogens and diseases by introducing competition. It creates a more balanced leaf surface ecology where no one thing is as likely to get out of check.
• Fulvic acid takes the minerals that are bonded with it through the plant cell walls for an immediate effect.
• There is a double effect because whatever drips off the leaf lands on the ground and is usable by the plant’s roots, making it our preferred application.
• This method allows plants to develop their own soil microbe communities at a level that is sustainable to them (healthy plants build healthy soils!).

What to use this method on:

• This is our favourite application as Biocast+ is safe to apply to the leaf surface of all plants.
• Plants suffering from fungal diseases such as powdery mildew and black spot, and those prone to such diseases (prevention is easier that a cure).
• Plants looking poorly that need a quick boost.
• Fast growing plants such as vegetables.

How to apply:

• Use a watering can or sprayer with a large droplet size (to protect the microbes).
• In your vessel, dilute with water 20:1.
• Spray in the coolest part of the day to maximise leaf contact time before evaporation.
• Aim for 70-80% leaf coverage just to the point of runoff. If you are using a watering can this is roughly a regular walking pace while watering.
• For maintenance applications apply when the plant is actively growing, or once a fortnight through the growing season, up to once a week for very fast growing plants like leafy green vegetables.

On the soil

Benefits:

• Hormones boost root growth.
• Microbial associations assist plant stability by helping to create a beneficial soil environment, for example by buffering pH and acting like a water sponge.
• Microbes and their enzymes promote maximum nutrient uptake.
• Protects against soil diseases by introducing microbial competition, making it less likely for one species to get out of check.

What to use this method on:

• Soils contaminated with microbial diseases such as pithium root rot and phytopthera
• Growers using fertigation
• Enhancing potting mixes

How to apply:

• As per mixing instructions and dilute 20:1 with water.
• Apply as a drench or through drip irrigation (fertigation) to the root zone.
• Water over newly planted seeds (see also seed inoculate, below).

As a transplant drench

Benefits:

• Improves transplant success rates, minimising losses.
• Microbes and their byproducts cut transplant shock.
• Root-stimulating hormones encourage new root growth, aiding rapid establishment.
• Protection against root diseases.
• Inoculates the soil around the new plant with beneficial microbes.

What to use this method on:

• Use when planting out seedlings
• When transplanting mature plants
• When transplanting small seedlings in a nursery.

How to apply:

• In your bucket dilute with water 20:1.
• Submerge root ball in Biocast+ prior to planting.
• Saturation time depends on the size of the root ball. E.g. Small seedlings 3-5 minutes, large mature trees up to 2 hours.

As a seed inoculate

Benefits: 

• Puts beneficial microbes where they are needed from the start of the plant’s life.
• Can promote rapid establishment of the seedling.

What to use this method on:

• Any seed – however, you may find it impractical when hand planting smaller seeds.
• Effective way to spread microbes in a broadacre/ pasture setting

How to apply:

• Use undiluted.
• Immerse seeds to coat. Soaking not required for inoculation.
• For large quantities of seed an auger or cement mixer can be used to coat the seed. As little as 5L per tonne is required as long as the Biocast+ contacts each seed.