Worm Castings

[Darkhorse]

I use HVH potting soil already, which is made with worm castings.  I'm going to start boiling used soil so I can stop throwing it away, and will do like you said Charlie-- add worm castings to the boiled mix to reintroduce the beneficial microbes.  Couple of questions related to this.

1-- Do the castings have a shelf life, and should old unused soil be "refurbished" with worm castings before it is used to pot a plant?  (I have a little left over HVH soil from last year.  It has been outside in the sun and heat in the summer time.)

2--  If a little is good, is more better?  i.e. If I got the HVH soil and mixed it, say, 50/50  or even 75/25 respectively with worm castings, is this a more benefical mix for the hibs than the potting soil alone?





I really think I had another question, but I forgot.... arg

[motherof4]

 CHARLIE....I PURCHASED SOME WORM CASTINGS....SHOULD i PUT THEM IN MY GARDEN NOW...OR WAIT UNTIL THE RAINY WEATHER PASSES...ALSO HOW MUCH AND HOW OFTEN??I LIVE IN SANBERNARDINO AREA....THANKS

[Charlie]

Jordan, yes castings have a shelf life but I don't know any way to tell if they are still viable. If they did not freeze or bake in the sun too much they should still have life in them. I would for sure add some to old potting mix in order to turn it into a living potting soil.

I asked George Hahn about the ideal amount to use and his thought about it is that you do not need to use more than 15 percent in any soil mix. Too small an amount might not be enough to get a viable community of organisms going but more than 15 percent is not needed, or so he said. Remember, the potting mix also has physical properties and too high a proportion of castings would change those properties toward less air space and a heavier mix which we don't want.

Charlie

[Charlie]

Motherof4, I would wait one more week and then go ahead with the castings. Rain is actually good for them, we just don't want to put them out before risk of a freeze is past. If you are putting them in a garden rather than in a pot just spread a 1/2 to 1 inch layer of them on the top of the soil and work them into the soil a little with a hoe. Then wet them which is important to activate them and keep them moist for at least 2 weeks. If they are hard to wet then work them into the soil some more until you can water them more easily.

Charlie

[motherof4]

thanks...bye the way my name is lynette........I  mixed up some of that worm castings tea today.....because I have somethind eating my hibiscus leaves....I have used other insecticides...a couple different ones and they have not worked...and i do not know what is eating them!

[Darkhorse]

Ah, I didn't think about the worm castings adding too much weight to the mix.  I think I will order some to re-invigorate the little bit of soil I have.

Can't wait 'til spring.  My new plants will be shipped, I can do some re-potting, and I can move all my existing plants outside and start getting blooms again!   

[Charlie]

I know, we're all ready for spring!

Charlie