Worm castings benefit all types of plants and cannot harm them even if overloading the amount applied. They will not burn the roots and can be applied directly around the roots or sprayed via a worm tea.
Worm castings do not have an odor; hence they are excellent for both indoor and outdoor plants. If purchasing worm castings, be sure they do not come in an airtight sealed container as this will kill off the aerobic microbes which are one of the main reasons to use them.
For many the questions arise on what rate to apply worm castings. In order to assist you on this I have written down some spread rates and how often to apply based on successful experiences.
- Vegetables and Annuals – Place 1-2 inches of worm castings in planting holes and seed furrows. Set plants or seeds, cover with soil and lightly water. Side dress during the growing season with ½ a cup of worm castings per plant or 1 cup of castings per linear foot for each row every 2 months.
- Perennials – Work a ½ cup of worm castings above the root zone, cover lightly with dirt or mulch and water. Take care not to damage shallow roots while working the castings in. Apply in spring, early summer and again in early fall.
- Planting Seeds / Transplanting Potted Plants – Use 1 part worm castings to 3 parts soil.
- Established Potted Plants, Hanging Baskets… – Mix in 1-2 inches of worm castings to top of soil taking precaution not to damage shallow roots and water. Repeat every 2 to 3 months.
- New or Freshly Transplanted Roses, Trees, Shrubs and Berries – Mix 1 part worm castings to 3 parts soil. Surround newly dug hole as well as drape roots over a mound of the mixture, cover and water thoroughly.
- Established Roses – Mix 4 cups of worm castings 2-3 inches below the surface for each plant once a year.
- New Lawn Seed – Apply at the rate of 10 pounds per 100 square feet. Work into top of soil, plant seed and water.
- Established Lawns – Apply at the rate of 10 pounds per 100 square feet in spring and again in early fall.
- Worm Casting Tea – Soak 1lb. castings in 5 gallons of water for 24–48 hours. Use an aquarium air pump to aerate and add 1-2 teaspoons of unsulphured molasses. Casting tea is excellent for fruiting, flowering or difficult to access potted plants, especially indoors. Apply weekly for best results.
- Compost Piles – Spread a thin layer of worm castings over each new layer of material to be composted.
For a more elaborate organic soil matter mix which works great for most plants, vegetables, flowers, potted plants, seedlings and more, you can find a previous post for and print out the recipe here.
Using these ratios will ensure your plants thrive during the growing seasons.
If you do not have any worm castings, you can purchase them from the Organic Worm Farm online store.
Bruce Galle
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