Worm castings contain millions of beneficial bacteria and other organisms which are essential to soil and plant health. Worm castings are also rich in minerals that are vital for plant growth. These minerals include phosphorus, nitrates, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Worm castings may also contain copper, manganese zinc, nitrogen, carbon, iron, and boron. These benefits are immediately available to plants and are slowly released, keeping your plants healthier for longer!
Top 6 benefits of Worm castings
Plants grow faster Seeds germinate faster in worm castings than in regular soil. In addition to speeding up the germination process, plants will also sprout up faster and produce a better yield.
Soil aeration Due to the physical structure of the castings it doesn’t pack down like regular dirt. This means oxygen will be able to make its way through the soil to the roots of your plants, which improves growth.
Water retention When mixed with castings, soils have a better chance of holding onto essential water. This makes it possible to use 50-75% less water in some situations.
All-natural Worm castings are chemical-free, contain no artificial pesticides, and can be used in growing organic produce.
Burn-proof One common problem with a lot of fertilizers is that they are too high in nitrogen. This makes it easy to burn the roots of your plants if you put too much on. Castings will never burn your plants.
Natural pesticide You'll get natural pest-resistance with plants grown in castings. Your plants will be healthier, allowing them to access their own natural defensive mechanisms.
Keep reading to find out how to use your Worm castings!
Top 5 ways to use worm castings
1.Top Dressing Top dressing is the simplest and easiest way of using worm castings and the most ideal when you have a limited amount for all your plants. In this method, simply add ½ to 1 inch of worm castings on the top of the soil surrounding the plant stem. You can use it for potted plants as well as garden plants. Water in well to allow the nutrients to travel to the plants roots.
2. Mix in with soil
This works great if you’re planting in a raised bed or some kind of a planter or pot where you’re filling the whole thing with soil anyway. For this, using a ratio of 1-part castings to 2 to 4 parts soil works best.
When planting new seedlings, dig a handful of castings into the surrounding soil. This supplies nutrients and holds moisture around the developing roots.
3. Added to Seed Starter Mix
If you are growing seeds for your home garden, you’ll also benefit from worm castings. You can add them to your potting mix to boost growth. A good formula that you can use includes the use of 1/3 worm castings plus 1/3 coir (made from coconut husks) and 1/3 vermiculite. Another formula is to use 20 to 30 percent of worm castings with sand. This is a good germination mixture.
4. Worm Cast tea
There are different methods for preparing the tea. The simplest method involves the use of a “tea bag”. You will need an old shirt or a cheese cloth, once ready put a handful or two inside and tie with string or rubber band. Place the tea bag in a bucket of water (about 10 litres). Make sure to keep the soil inside the tea bag. Let it stand overnight. In the morning, use the “tea” to water your garden. Add the liquid from the slurry to the mix by squeezing out the stocking into the watering can and apply the liquid to your favourite hungry plants. Mixing up the remaining liquid slurry is also a great way to rejuvenate tired potting mix or apply directly to your plants.
5. As Soil Conditioner
As a soil conditioner, worm castings can turn a barren soil into a garden. The process of using worm castings as a soil conditioner is very easy. You just need to mix a layer of worm castings on top of the barren soil. The thicker the layer, the better for the plants. Water the worm castings after spreading them on top of the barren soil. After that, it will be ready for planting.
Happy farming,
The WormBiz family