Worm castings have dramatically increased sales, especially after trends inclined towards organic farming and foods. But what is this hot ingredient that has become the talk of the town?
Worm casting, also known as vermicompost and worm humus, is a natural, purely organic fertilizer used on all sorts of plants. These tiny black balls, often called black gold, are the waste excreted by earthworms living in the soil. It contains all essential nutrients required by the plant to grow.
If you’ve been suggested to use it for your little plants, this is your sign to get one immediately!
Where Do They Come From?
The answer’s pretty simple. The earthworms feed on the organic materials present in the soil. On harvest farms, they feed on the organic material provided to them. This could be anything from kitchen waste to rotten fruits, live and dead plants, animals, insects, and animal poop.
Now, as a natural process, they excrete what their body doesn’t need. That’s it, your most valuable, nutrient-rich fertilizer.
What do they Look Like?
At a distance, your naked eye cannot differentiate them from the soil. Often black and sometimes dark brown, they look quite like the soil. When you look closely, you’ll see tiny dots-like structures that can easily clump together and crumble apart.
Not too dry and not too soggy, but the best quality worm castings have a little sheen, reflecting the moisture and an appearance like a worn-out sponge.
Sometimes, they have leftover organic material, such as food bits, leaves, or maybe shredded newspaper, too, but before they are packed and commercialized, vermicompost is sieved out and leaves the extras behind.
Benefits of Using Worm Casting
This section will amaze you!
- They contain all vital nutrients for optimal plant growth.
- While chemical fertilizers can be specific to certain types of plants, the organic vermicompost is beneficial for all kinds of plants.
- It doesn’t burn your plants, so you can also sprinkle it directly over the plantlets.
- You simultaneously reduce the waste your garden produces – the worms eat it all!
- Perfectly balanced pH naturally, so it doesn’t alter any soil conditions.
- The best part is they do not smell. It might be difficult to believe initially, but worm casting smells like forest soil.
- Your soil becomes more absorbent with the use of this fertilizer, and thus moisture content is evenly spread out and available at all times.
- It can also remove wavy metals and toxic compounds from the soil, allowing your plants to flourish in a much healthier environment.
- Say goodbye to the hassle of keeping pests away, as this black gold is a natural pest repellent.
- It also helps curing and preventing diseases like crown rotting and wilting.
- Drought heat and dress resistance are features that you’ll observe in plants treated with vermicompost.
- The soil structure is greatly improved with the addition of worm castings, which increases aeration and enhances drainage capacities.
How To Use Worm Casting In Potted Plants?
Are you tempted to use these castings for your pots? Whether you’re growing flowers for some aesthetics on your front porch or vegetables to consume in the freshest form possible, it’s suitable for all types of plants.
People most commonly use the following four methods to use vermicompost in potted plants:
1. Mixing with the soil
In a ratio of 1:5, mix the compost with the soil. You can do it inside the pot or mix it outside and then transfer it into the pot. It will allow the fertilizer to mix evenly with the soil without the risk of over-fertilizing.
This must be done before sowing the seeds or planting the plantlets.
2. Top Dressing
Sprinkle about a tablespoon of this black gold onto the soil surface. It’ll rest there, and slowly, the nutrients will steep into the soil as it gently breaks down.
This method works for fresh pots and the ones already with plants.
3. Side Dressing
This method involves making a trench around the pot. In that trench, add your castings and water the area generously. This way, the nutrients will seep into the soil through the sides; thus, this method is called the side dressing method.
Ensure that you are using this method only for well-established plants.
4. Casting Tea
This one is the audience’s favorite. All you gotta do is steep a small amount of vermicompost in water and use that to water your potted plants.
Be mindful of the dilutions to avoid over-fertilizing your plants.
These castings can be used twice as often as chemical fertilizers without damaging plants or soil. You change the frequency by observing how your plants react to it. Remember to always store these in a cool and dry place and avoid exposure to direct sunlight!
Conclusion
The next time you hear the word warm casting, you’ll know exactly what it means, where it comes from, how it is used, where it is used, and how beneficial it is for the plants and soil.
Call it the MVP of your gardening essentials or a high-end conditioner for the soil; you know it can be a game changer.
Happy Planting!
Confused about where to buy your organic castings from? Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered with that, too!