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Worm Castings Sign In/Join 
Picture of CatieCupCake
posted
I've been on the search for them for years, and finally found them locally. I remember reading that they were good for roses, anyone know how it should be applied? I am guessing just work it into the soil like any fertilizer.

Any other suggestions for them?


Cathy


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Grandchildren are God's gift to you for not killing your own!

We don't stop playing because we grow old...we grow old because we stop playing Smile
 
Posts: 7538 | Location: Northern California USA | Registered: Oct 10, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Far better than purchasing worm castings, which are good for the soil, is to create a soil that the earthworms like to live in so they supply the castings without you buying them. If your soil has adequate levels of organic matter then earthworms will be working in that soil suplying castings. If your soil has little organic matter dumping castings will do little since the soil biology needed to convert the castings into plant food will be missing.


The sign of a good gardener is not a green thumb, it is brown knees.
 
Posts: 7949 | Location: Twin Lake, MI USA | Registered: Aug 19, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Picture of muddyshoes
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Make your own Worm Bin! Several years back many of us here did just that! A few of the original worm queens still around!! Our local nursery sells them ~ a small bag about $8 to $9. Bookie that used to stop here used to give lectures on the topic! Plenty of info online regarding building your own bin. I did it for a few years.


"Those that throw mud, lose ground!" :>)
 
Posts: 11526 | Registered: Apr 01, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Picture of CatieCupCake
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I'm sorry, I should have explained that we live in a small condo with a tiny patio out front. No room for a worm bin and all my roses are in pots. When I transplanted them I tried to mix the best soil that I could come up with.

I use to be able to grow things, but here lately I have had lots of trouble...guess my green thumb has turned black.


Cathy


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Grandchildren are God's gift to you for not killing your own!

We don't stop playing because we grow old...we grow old because we stop playing Smile
 
Posts: 7538 | Location: Northern California USA | Registered: Oct 10, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Picture of Barb in Mississippi
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Hi Cathy, this is a strange short cut and you may or may not want to use it, but I've done this in the past with containers.
Go to walmart or a bait shop and buy some red wigglers, some people prefer night crawlers, but I've always used red wigglers. When you replace your soil or enrich it, put some red wigglers in each container. Every week or so, feed the worms by putting kitchen waste in the containers. If you don't put meat, gravy, milk, fat or anything that you would not want in the compost bin, it won't smell and will feed your worms. Instant Worm Bin!
 
Posts: 2928 | Location: Holly Springs, MS USA | Registered: Sep 19, 2002Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Picture of CatieCupCake
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Thanks Barb, that's a great idea. I remember my Aunt putting coffe grounds and egg shells in the soil around the plants in her garden. I am SURE she had worms too, just don't remember.


Cathy


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Grandchildren are God's gift to you for not killing your own!

We don't stop playing because we grow old...we grow old because we stop playing Smile
 
Posts: 7538 | Location: Northern California USA | Registered: Oct 10, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Picture of Barb in Mississippi
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GOOD LUCK! I know it works and you don't have to worry about your soil being good, it'll be GREAT!
 
Posts: 2928 | Location: Holly Springs, MS USA | Registered: Sep 19, 2002Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Picture of ga.karen
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Fantastic advice Barb! And a good way to recycle some of our waste!


"The soil is the source of life, creativity, culture and real independence." David Ben-Gurion
 
Posts: 3097 | Location: SW Ga. 8a/b | Registered: Apr 21, 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Picture of daciab
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I have my own worm bins. I sprinkle worm castings on my house plants on the top surface. Then when I water the nutrients trickle down. Also, I use my worm tea (leachite from worm bin) as a fertilizer. 1 part tea to 10 parts water and water my plants with that. If you have a closet, you have room for a bin. :-)


~DaciaB

UPDATED 06/20/11
http://user.midlands.net/dacia/

"Worms Eat My Garbage"

http://pinterest.com/daciabb/
 
Posts: 4850 | Location: zone 4 | Registered: Sep 26, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Picture of vera ellen
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Barb, great idea. I've bought red wigglers and just put them into new lasagna'd beds to get the process started a bit faster. Never thought about tucking them into containers. Thank you.

ve
 
Posts: 2394 | Location: southern middle Tennessee | Registered: May 05, 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Picture of Barb in Mississippi
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GLAD TO HELP!!!
 
Posts: 2928 | Location: Holly Springs, MS USA | Registered: Sep 19, 2002Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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