#$%^&*AU2008201781B220140417.pdf#####B2251.002AU 20 ABSTRACT Methods of improving the survival and growth of seedlings and transplanted cuttings are described. The improved survival 5 and growth of the seedlings and transplanted cuttings is provided by the use of combinations of charcoal and beneficial filamentous microbial species. In exemplary embodiments charcoal prepared from plant material by the method of flash carbonization in combination with selected isolates of 10 Trichoderma species is used.