Worm casting is a great way to improve the structure of the soil and improve the soil aerates. You can fulfil the nutrients needed by plants with the help of worm casting. Not only this, but also you can repel different pests from the plants via it.
It will help you keep the spider mites and aphids away from the plant, which will protect the plant from various diseases. As the name indicates, worm castings contain worms.
Now you might question what worm casting is. Well, it is an organic form of fertilizer generated from earthworms. This earthworm waste is also called vermicast. If you observe the shape of worm casting, you will notice that it has football-shaped particles.
You can promote the drainage and aeration of the soil using worm castings. Apart from soil aeration and drainage, you can also improve soil water retention with it. Below you learn what worm castings are and their benefits.
How Are Worm Casting Made?
The process usually used to make worm casting is vermicomposting. In this process, the decomposition of organic waste takes place. The earthworms and microbes decompose the organic waste and convert it into useful organic matter.
You can produce worm casting on both small and large scales. Following are a few simple steps that you can use to make worm casting at your home.
Step 1: Get a Vermicomposter
First, you will need a vermicomposter. If you are good at making DIY things, you can make vermicomposter quite easily.
However, if you do not want to buy the vermicomposter yourself, you can purchase one from the shop. There are large varieties of vermicomposters available in the market. These vermicomposters arrive in various materials and prices.
Step 2: Select a Suitable Location
Another vital step that you should follow is to select a suitable location. The ideal space that experts usually recommend for a vermicomposter is a shaded spot. Make sure that the shaded spot is safe from the rain and wind. You can also place it under a tree if you have a garden.
Step 3: Make the Bed
After selecting the desired location to place your vermicomposter, the other thing that you should do is to place the bed of coco coir or peat.
Some users also place a composting matter layer as bedding. However, it is up to you which item you want to choose as bedding. While adding the bedding, ensure that it is up to three fingers deep.
Step 4: Add the Worms
Once you are done with preparing the bedding for your worms, another thing that you will need to do is to add worms. Different types of worms are present that you can use as per your preference.
However, most gardeners use Eisenia Foetida as worms because they are more beneficial. One prime use of Eisenia Fetida worms is that they can produce a large amount of casting in a short time.
After choosing the worm you want for casting, ensure to put the worm on the top of the layer. Put all the worms and put the lid on the container. The worm will get used to the location after one day.
Step 5: Fill it with Organic Matter
After adding the worm to the worm composter, you will require filling it with organic matter. Remember not to add the organic matter immediately after placing the worm in it.
Try adding the organic matter to the vermicomposter after one to two days of adding worms. You can also use vegetable scraps as organic matter for the worms. Initially, you should add less quantity of the organic matter.
You can increase the quantity of organic matter once you notice growth in the worm population. Upon adding organic matter, be sure to cover it with a layer of the same type of material used as initial bedding.
If everything goes well, you will notice that the storage tray present at the bottom begins receiving the liquid produced by the worms. Some suitable kitchen waste that you can use as an organic matter to make the worm composting are dry leaves, fruit, and vegetable scraps.
Other than this, many people also use eggshells and coffee grounds as organic matter. Besides, you should avoid using meat, fish, and oily food as an organic matter if you want to make a better worm composter.
Step 6: Wait For a Few Weeks
After completing all the above-given steps, you should wait for a few weeks for the worms to do their job. After a few days, you will notice the worm doing its job. You will find faeces in the storage tray after a few weeks. These fences are the fertilizer that you can use on your soil.
Step 7: Harvest the Castings
The last step that you will need to follow is to harvest the casting. Once you begin noticing the worm casting in the storage tray, make sure to collect it.
If there are too many worms in the compost, you can put them in the sun to make it easier for you to collect the material. The reason that you should put the worms into the sun is that they hate sunlight.
Once you place the worms in direct sunlight, they will begin moving into the tray bottom. If there are still some worms left, you should not worry about them as they will not damage your plant.
Benefits of Using Earthworm Casting
The reason that many expert gardeners use earthworm casting in their garden is that it has many benefits. These earthworm castings can help in the nourishment of the soil as well as plants.
One prime advantage of earthworm casting is that it is a natural fertilizer. Without spending a lot of money on fertilizers, you can use earthworms as a fertilizer to optimize your garden.
Numerous microorganisms present in the earthworm casting can play a vital role in improving the plant’s health. Therefore, whether you want to improve the health of plants or the soil, you should try earthworm casting to get effective results at a much lower cost.
Another positive thing about worm casting is that it is odourless. Compared to horse manure or cow manure, the worm casting produced from earthworms does not smell.
Using the worm casting on the soil, you will get a smell similar to the damp soil. Because of the odourless property of the earthworm casting, you can also utilize it on indoor house plants.
Rather than purchasing pesticides, it would be best if you used worm castings instead for effective outcomes at a budget-friendly cost. The best thing about worm casting is that it will give you multiple benefits.
It will help you fertilize the soil and also work as a pesticide. Keeping the worm casting around the plants will protect the plants from pests such as aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites.
A recent study has shown that adding earthworm casting to the soil will produce certain enzymes beneficial for plant growth. Therefore, for the protection of your plants and soil, you can utilize castings worm. By using worm casting, you can control the plant damage.
Balance Soil pH
The pH level of the soil has a crucial role in the better growth of plants and herbs. If your soil has too acidic or alkaline behaviour, you will find it hard to grow your desirable plants there. Therefore, you should focus on maintaining the soil pH level.
There are different methods by which you improve the soil’s pH level. One prime way is by adding worm casting to the soil. By adding a certain amount of worm casting to the soil, you will observe various positive effects.
One big benefit of worm casting is that it can work as a neutralizer for the soil. It will neutralize the soil’s pH level, making it suitable for the growth of a large variety of plants and herbs.
If the pH of the soil is high, the worm casting will help to minimize the acidity. On the other hand, if the soil’s pH is too low, the worm casting will let you achieve neutral pH. Therefore, to improve the state of your soil, we would recommend you use worm casting.
Improve Soil Fertility
Do you want to improve the fertility of your soil? If so, then you should use worm casting. The reason that most gardeners use worm casting is that it improves soil fertility.
It is a ready-to-use fertilizer that will give you quick results. Further, it also enhances the root structure of the plant. It will add all the vital nutrients to the soil and make the plant give healthier outcomes.
If you want natural pesticides and fertilizer, then you should try worm casting. If used well, worm casting can help you balance the pH level of your soil and also improve its fertility. It will provide a better growing environment for plants which is why experts recommend it.