Whether buying pre-made compost from your local nursery or doing traditional composting from home, you need to know that not all composts are the same. Conventional composting may have been a winner back in grandma's day, but today our garden soil requires much more TLC than ever before.

You might be wondering, are worm castings the same as compost? Traditional compost, such as a mixture of plant growth, organic matter, cow manure, and other organic waste, no longer have enough nutrients to restore the previous balance of the biome due to severe deforestation, overpopulation, soil degradation, and pollution.

To produce a bounty from your backyard, you must first consider the condition of your soil, and that is where fertilizing compost comes in. To find out why vermicomposting is the way to go, stick with us as we consider all the facts.

Worm Castings vs. Regular Compost

Worm castings are one of the earth's natural methods of fertilization. The earthworm has provided the earth's soil with nutrients far longer than humans have walked the earth. If you don't know what worm castings are, they are nothing more than worm manure. Worm castings are made when earthworms digest the compost left in their worm bins and excrete the leftover organic material. Worm castings are superior to synthetic or artificial fertilizers because they're completely natural, ensuring your garden's overall health and prosperity.

As we mentioned above, worm castings are the best organic fertilizer you can use. High-quality worm casts result in up to six times more of a nutritional yield per liter than other plant growth regulators and organic wastes. If your garden is struggling to flourish, worm casts could be the Midas touch that it needs.

Worm Castings

Worm castings are collected in a small container called a worm bin. Layered worm bedding, such as shredded newspaper, is placed in the worm farm together with compost piles. You can use compost from your home, including food scraps, kitchen waste, discarded paper, and much more.

The byproducts of this process include earthworm castings, worm tea (a mixture of water and worm castings), and vermicompost (a mixture of organic matter and worm poop).

Pros

• More nutrients than plant hormones, which have harmful side effects
• Better fruit yield and healthier flower beds
• Healthier plants
• More vibrant indoor container plants
• Produces fruits and vegetables with a higher nutrient content

Cons

• Harder to establish than a traditional composting system
• More expensive to buy pre-made composts (both organic and non-organic)

Regular Compost

Traditional composting can be done at home or is pre-purchased from the store. Some are organic, and some are not. It is always best to opt for organic matter where possible. It's much safer to use, and your soil and produce will be healthier as a result.

Those who compost aim to improve the soil structure by collecting kitchen scraps and other organic material and sometimes some worm poop (worm castings). Other organic matter not found in a worm bin, such as cow manure, is periodically added.

There are more benefits to the soil as it adds nutrients and assists with water retention at the same time. These days, gardening without compost will often result in a failed crop because of soil erosion and degradation, which is prevalent throughout the world.

Pros

• Fortifies existing soil and assists with aeration and soil health
• Cheaper than buying worm castings or other worm products

Cons

• Sometimes doesn’t provide as many nutrients as alternatives
• Could contain weed seeds that would be harmful to the health and growth of your gardens
• Might need additional soil amendment or other additives, which will cost you more in the long run
• Less favorable physicochemical properties than worm produce

How Do Worm Castings Compare to Other Organic Composts?

If your choice is between inorganic composts and organic composts, then, by all means, opt for organic. After all, synthetic and chemical fertilizers can have more drawbacks than they do benefits. Chemical fertilizers, even in small doses, can burn your plants.

That said, our favorite organic compost will always be worm castings. Worm castings increase the nutritiousness of your soil, making it so that your plants can grow big and strong. Moreover, worm compost takes up far less space than a traditional organic composting system.

Can I Mix Worm Castings and Regular Compost?

If your budget is small and you don't have your own worm castings on hand, you could consider mixing worm castings or worm tea with other composts. However, you should ensure these composts are organic. As we’ve mentioned previously, organic composts are far better for your garden than chemical or synthetic fertilizers.

While mixing the two fertilizers might not be the best solution, it is by far better than no worm love at all. Furthermore, worm tea is ideal for this and can be used topically as a liquid fertilizer and herbicide, which is safe for consumption and not in any way harmful to the environment.

Conclusion

So, when looking to use organic fertilizer on your lawn or garden, consider worm castings instead of traditional compost. Worm byproducts are entirely natural and by far more nutritious. Your flowers will bloom brighter, veggies will grow larger, and fruits will have more flavor.

Establishing your own worm farm at home is an easy DIY project that you can do alone or with your kids. Once it's all set, it will cost you almost nothing to maintain yet will provide you with a reliable source of high-quality organic fertilizer. If you wanted to, you could even make an extra buck by selling your own worm castings to fellow gardeners in your area. There are little to no drawbacks to using worms to nourish your soil, so feel free to try it out yourself. Your plants will thank you for it. Happy gardening!