Using worm castings

mogie

Well-Known Member
How to use worm castings in a soil mix?

Worm castings can be used in a multitude of ways - mixed into a soil mix, a soilless mix, or as a tea or slurry.

Usually worm castings is thought of as an additive. Recommendations vary wildly, but I would recommend adding one tenth to one fifth in any organic mix (10-20%).

Top dressing with worm castings would work well, too, especially with indoor containers. Making a worm castings tea by steeping the castings in clean well aerated water makes for a life giving plant-nutrient. I recommend filtering worm tea before use and returning the dregs into the worm bin after a couple of rounds.

One can use plain worm castings as a growing medium, and in my experience it works very well. But usually finished worm castings tends to be mud-like in consistency, and needs something to aerate and lighten up the texture. Perlite and expanded clay work very well for this. 50% of expanded clay (multiple size) and 50% worm castings makes for a nice quick-n-dirty primo soil(less) mix.


The Classic Shabang Mix

"The mix that I recommend is basically nothing but castings and drainage. I used to cut it with all sorts of things, including soilless peat-based mixes like pro-mix.. but then you're introducing a source for pH problems-- especially when others try and duplicate it but can't find the right brands then substitute with a peat-mix that is too acidic. So down to the bare basics of a mix:

40% castings
30% perlite
30% vermiculite"


Quoted from GrowFAQ #781 here: 781.htm

102% Hyper Veg Mix by Aallonharja


* 25% coco peat
* 25% expanded clay
* 50% worm casting
* 2% alfalfa meal pellets
* 1/4 tablespoon of dolomite lime per liter (1 per gal)
* lemon juice (or 8% citric acid solution)
* seaweed extract according to taste
* silicon nutrient additive

Note:

- This is a guideline, not a recipe. Know your ingredients!

- If things get too sticky, muddy or water retaining with the worm castings, add more coco peat, peat, perlite or expanded clay.

- The stretching due to alfalfa can last up to 5 or more weeks.

- For alfalfa meal pellets 2% is a careful estimate. More can be used if the plants can take it.

- This mix should last about 4 weeks, ie. supply the plant with nutrients during the vegetative period, PK and N+Mg+Ca additive may be needed in bloom.


Meek Flowering Mix

* Worm castings, from bin fed with fruit and vegetables and peels (High K, Medium P)
* Optionally in the first 4 weeks of flowering, add as needed:
Pinch of dolomite lime or epsom salts
Pinch of gypsym
Pinch(es) of clean, pure wood ash


Mix in a bucket of water, and filter solids. Water during flowering.



Note:

- This is a guideline, not a recipe. Know your ingredients!

- Yields very vivid aromatic tones

- Basically a high K + P + Mg + Ca + S solution - all thats needed in bloom.

- N supplementation may also be necessary.


Oh also, you could talk a bit about Casting Tea aswell.

Well I've usually simply spooned some more or less finished castings into a cheapo nylon stocking and dumped that in a bucket and a reservoir.

A surefire way would be using 100% finished worm castings with a high quality filter material, and place that in a bucket with water, aerate the water for 48 hours, and then use that water for watering, provided it didnt contain visible pests and didnt smell like rotten fish (aerobic teas shouldnt smell bad in the first place).
 

canadianherbman

Active Member
im going to be going with 50 % castings and 50 % soil, or would 75% castings 25% soil work better, im just lookin for the best mix that ill be able to find at my hardware store in one trip.
 

jmegvil

Member
I am going to experience the 100% worm casting as it is the only decent growing medium available in my area ... Bought some soil in the store, PH was 5 - 5.5 !
 

Lord Indica

Member
I bought some worm castings and some worm tea today and it smelled like a horse farm smels. I thought it smelled very rich and as a good organic compost should smell, hoever I have been reading that it should smell like dirt and the truth is mine smells like a very rich compost. Is this normal? Or should I be worried? The material has already been used and I am hopeful but like any decent grower I guess I just need a little positive reinforcement. This is my first go with worm castings and tea so any experienced insight is greatly appreciated. The tea smells of a strong manure/dirt smell. I am curious as to what others have experienced with their successful use of these two products. I am using the tea to help guarantee a pest free grow (who doesn't want that ?) and add some beneficial nutrients without the risk of burning. I also have been told that they do not leave large build ups of salts that require extensive flushing. Is that true? Thanks for your insight it is always greatly appreciated. Indi...:confused:
 

Lord Indica

Member
I am going to experience the 100% worm casting as it is the only decent growing medium available in my area ... Bought some soil in the store, PH was 5 - 5.5 !
Yeah the soil anymore is glorified beach sand in a flashy label. The castings should do great. Try adding some lime to the mix it will keep your PH in the desired range. Good luck.
 
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