They’re more expensive (than standard chemical fertilizer) – though by no means a particularly pricey product – especially amongst organic fertilizers in general – you’ll get more bang for your buck if you buy cheap liquid fertilizer vs organic worm castings.ģ.
So, if your plants are bigger and/or starving for nutrients, you may want to give them a liquid fertilizer boost too.Ģ.
It’s not a quick fix – the way the nutrients are “packaged” in worm castings means they release slowly. Worm castings are quite the wonder material in my books. Thankfully, worm castings are never going to do this. They won’t cause nitrogen burn – some fertilizers can harm plants with excessive nitrogen levels if you’re not careful. They’re naturally pest-resistant – worm castings have been shown to be effective at increasing plant resistance to a variety of pests, including aphids, spider mites, mealy bugs, and caterpillars.Ħ. They increase water retention and improve soil structure – worm castings are an excellent soil additive that can help boost soil aeration and keep your plants fed and healthy.ĥ. Bringing a lot of other useful elements to a healthy soil mix that regular liquid fertilizers don’t, e.g., iron, sulfur, and calcium.Ĥ. They provide a diverse range of micro-nutrients – worm castings are a complex blend of nutrients. The nutrients are far more bioavailable – worm castings reportedly come with a variety of beneficial microorganisms, and their unique microbial activity helps plants to absorb and utilize the available nutrients.ģ. They provide a slow-release fertilizing solution – the digestive tract of the worms coats the material and effectively bundles it up into tiny, long-lasting fertilizer granules. The final product of Earthworm castings looks like any old pile of earth to me…Īnd before you ask, no – it doesn’t smell like poop. They essentially look and smell like earth. People often say they have a consistency of fine coffee grounds, and I’m inclined to agree. The idea is that the worms digest the soil, processing and refining it, and eventually leaving behind a much more nutrient-rich organic material (with some extra beneficial components). That’s essentially what we have here with worm castings! Or at least with nutrients, hopefully not flavor… The weasel eats the coffee cherries, and its digestive system (somehow) produces a superior product full of depth and flavor. Kind of like that expensive Indonesian coffee that’s made from weasel dung (Kopi Luwak). It’s a lot more interesting than it sounds, honestly. Worm castings are as natural as they come.
0 kommentar(er)
