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EM-1 Microbial Inoculant

23 articles

How to use EM-1®

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Mixing EM-1 with Organic Fertilizer

Mixing EM-1® with organic fertilizers is safe and won’t hurt the microbes.  Apply to the soil not to the leaves unless the manufacturer of the fertilizer advises differently. If you are using any chemical fertilizers, wait unless 1 day before applyin

EM-1® and Trees

We recommend applying 25 gallons per acre per year for trees. It is best to divide this amount out as much as possible. Most farms irrigate on a 10-day cycle. Therefore, we have people spread the 25 gallons per acre out by each irrigation. We also

Orchids & African Violets

EM-1 can be used on all plants. Specifically, for orchids dilute a little less than 1/2 teaspoon (2 ml) EM1 Garden per quart of water. Apply wkly as a pot drench. You do need to continue to fertilize the plants with regular fertilizer as EM-1 does

How can EM-1® be used to treat blight in tomatoes?

EM-1 helps with blight by helping to improve the soil health. Dilute 1oz EM-1 per gallon of water when watering the plants. We also suggest 1oz per gallon 1x per week, mixed with nutrients, as a foliar spray. During high humidity and rainy times, you

Can you recommend any way to get rid of the jumping worms? Are they really bad for the soil?

Why are Jumping Worms bad?   Jumping worms turn rich organic soil into small crumbles that resemble coffee grounds. This depletes nutrients, disturbs the soil fungi and decreases the water-holding ability of soils. All this impacts the health and

How can EM-1® help with Blossom End Rot in Tomatoes?

Blossom End Rot: Blossom end rot is a common tomato plant issue caused by a calcium deficiency. Tomatoes will begin to rot from the bottom and make the inside of the fruit mealy and inedible. Although lack of calcium in the soil may be the issue, it

How to use EM-1® for better seed germination.

Use EM-1® to treat your seeds before planting. EM-1® can be used on any seed before planting. Be sure the seeds are not already pre-treated with synthetic antimicrobials or fungicides as this can kill the microorganisms in EM-1® . High-quality

Can I drink EM-1 or Activated EM-1 instead of ProEM-1?

Activated products are never safe for human consumption, as the activation is likely not done in a food grade lab.

How does EM-1® handle hot/cold temperatures?

EM-1 does great in high temperatures. When applying to leaf surface as a foliar, it is best to wait until evening or early morning. The product should not be stored in direct sunlight or left to freeze. The microbes in EM-1® do not survive when froze

What are the white flakes on my EM-1® or ProEM-1®?

The white flakes are the beneficial yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and are perfectly normal.

What is the storage, shelf life and viability of EM-1®

EM-1 Shelf Life or Expiration: EM-1 generally has a shelf life 9-10 months.   If stored properly and kept airtight EM can last long after the expiration date and will still not do any harm to plants or drains if disposed of after date. Test the PH of

Are there any mushrooms used in making the EM-1?

No mushrooms or mushroom bi-products are used in the manufacturing of our products, including EM-1®

Do weed killers affect EM-1® when applied on Lawns?

Most synthetic weed killers will kill the microbes, but as long as you are reapplying the EM-1® weekly you will be replacing the good microorganisms and creating a great soil environment. You will notice after consistent use of EM-1®, that you will b

Can EM-1 be mixed in a gallon of water that already has kelp meal in it and then used to water my plants? 

Yes, they work well together.

Does the pH of my water matter when diluting or activating EM-1?

No, you do not need to make any adjustments to any water used to dilute or activate. But you will need to check pH when activating. 

Can I use EM-1 with Bokashi for Composting?

Activated EM-1 can be used in addition to Bokashi in composting, especially in compost tumblers or piles, however it is best to only use Bokashi when using the airtight buckets for food waste as to not add more liquids.  Composting

EM-1 and Bokashi Combo for Worms:

For worms, many use EM-1 Microbial Inoculant to spray worm beds several times per week. The Bokashi food waste system can also be used once a bucket has finished fermenting. The fermented food waste can be put into worm bins. If the material is too

How do I know if EM-1® is working for my vegetable garden?

1. You can do soil tests and see that pH will be more regulated 2. You can carefully pull out a few and see the stronger root system 3. If this isn't your first garden you will notice less compact soil, more moisture retention and your product may

Can I consume EM-1 instead of Pro EM-1, is there less of a benefit?

We have to recommend Pro EM-1 for human consumption as it is approved for that use. However, many customers do take EM-1 instead, but we can't endorse that use. EM-1 is not harmful to animals or humans though and would be equally effective as a

What are the different benefits in using just EM-1, just Bokashi or both?

Ideally you should use both. Bokashi provides your soil with high quality rice bran to help with moisture retention, increase soil structure and provide nutrients. EM-1 can be used for a variety of uses. EM-1 adds microorganisms to your soil, is a

Once EM is diluted with water how long will it keep?

If simply mixing with water, use within 12-24 hours. If activating, use no later than 45 days.

Can EM-1 be used for Odor control?

EM-1 can be diluted to several different rates, generally 1:100 is the most often dilution used for odor control. Also see Apc500 for cleaning and odor control.

Is EM-1® OMRI Listed?

Yes, you can find our updated certificates on OMRI website here:   OMRI Certificates