What are worm castings and how do I use them?
Worm castings are the odorless excrement of worms and are prized by gardeners as an ideal soil enricher. Castings provide many of the essential nutrients needed for healthy plant life and are a totally organic, all natural soil amendment. Worm castings will not burn even the most delicate plants, yet provide a concentrated source of calcium, magnesium, nitrogen, phosphates, and potash in a form readily available to your plants. The worm’s digestive system coats castings with polysaccharides which provide for optimum soil structure, maximizing aeration and water retention (necessary for a healthy root system). You can use them for annuals, perennials, seedlings, African violets, cacti and succulents. Studies done at Ohio State University indicate that adding 10-20% castings to soil, compost, or other potting mixes results in optimum benefits. Higher concentrations show little continued improvement in plant and root growth and using a 100% castings makes the mixture too loose to support
