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If you spend most of your time maintaining your garden, you might be interested in fertilizers and worm castings. Worm castings are quite beneficial for your garden. But do you know what they are? 

If you think they are only some kind of fertilizer or compost, they are more than that. 

This write-up explains all you need to know about worm castings; What are worm castings? are they some kind of compost produced by worms? Where and how you can use them in your garden and the distinction between fertilizer and worm castings. 

What Are Worm Castings?

Worm castings are the contribution of worms to the degradation of organic material. Worms, present in the soil food web, eat the organic material in the soil. 

The food scraps are turned into castings as they pass through the worms' digestive system. Consequently, worms release them into the soil.

Earthworm castings are the best fertilizer available, as it is free of any chemicals and preservatives. This organic fertilizer can be of great help throughout the growing season.

There are a lot of other animals that can produce natural fertilizer. So, why do worms produce more useful manure than other animals? It is because worm manure is the most balanced and stable manure among all animal manures.

You can use worm castings in your garden for herbs, veggies, perennials, annual flowers, etc. They are mild but rich in nutrients, also containing humic acid. 

So, they can benefit almost all species of plants without any particular side effects. 

Worm Castings Vs Animal Manure

Animal manures and compost have been used to enhance the soil structure for ages. However, not all manures are effective. Usually, you cannot use the manure immediately, as its temperature is high. 

You have to wait for animal manure to cool down. But, when it comes to worms, they are different. They have moderate temperatures and can be used immediately. 

They can effortlessly contribute to the healthy soil of your garden.

Unlike other animal manures, regular compost, and chemical fertilizers, worms produce slow-release fertilizer. They do not release large nutrients at one. Instead, they release the nutrients gradually in the soil. So, the soil can absorb it in bits. 

Also, you can harvest worm castings on your own with red worms. All you need for homemade worm castings is your worms and worm bin. 

Creating a worm farm for your garden is not difficult, but purchasing them is an effortless option. 

Usage of Worm Castings

There are many ways worm castings can power plants in your garden. Using worm castings can be suitable for your plants in many ways.

Besides their versatility, worm castings are available in dry castings and liquid forms. It makes their usage further effortless. Here are some common uses of worm castings.

Vegetable Plants

You can use worm castings to fertilize vegetable plants in raised beds. When transplanting vegetable plants, you can use worm castings to enhance the nutrient constant of their soil. 

Young vegetable plants need a gradual supply of nutrients and moisture retention for plant growth.

Hanging Baskets/ Container Plants/ Potted Plants

If you have hanging baskets, container plants, or potted plants, you would know how difficult it is to maintain them. You can mix worm castings to the potting soil of hanging baskets for improving drainage. 

In this way, the plants in the hanging basket will get the necessary nutrients. 

You can add worm castings monthly to potting mix or the soil of hanging baskets for better results. 

Perennials 

The primary reason plants get damaged is transplant shock. The best way to prevent transplant shock is to use worm castings in planting holes while planting perennials. It increases the nutrient content of garden soil and allows the plant to adjust easily. 

Growing Seedlings

You can use worm castings in the planting hole while planting seedlings. It will provide nutrients to the plant's roots and help in early sprouting. 

The early stages of sprouting are the most crucial for plants. Adding worm castings in the planting hole helps enhance the quality of seed starting soil. 

The mixture of worm castings and seed starting soil can also result in healthier transplants. 

Worm Casting Tea

It is a liquid form of worm castings. Though worm castings themselves are an immediate source of nutrients, worm casting tea contributes to the faster leaching of nutrients to the root zone of established plants.

The benefits and methods of using worm castings are similar to compost tea. Compost tea is a way to power plants by extracting beneficial microbes through a brewing process carried out in a compost bin.

You can use worm casting tea for all kinds of plants, and it is sure to enhance the growth of the plant and nutrient provision to the soil. 

There is a fear of burning plants when using animal manure because animal manures have a high temperature. 

But worm castings don't burn plants. They show mild and stable behavior towards plants. It is why they are widely used for hanging baskets and container plants. 

Distinction Between Worm Castings (Organic Fertilizer) and Fertilizers (Synthetic Fertilizer)

Are worm castings fertilizer? The simple answer is NO! Worm castings are not fertilizers.

Up till now, you must be acquainted with the positive effects of worm castings on the soil. Whether garden soil or potting soil, worm castings can transition it into healthy soil. 

So, the main distinction between fertilizers and worm castings is that fertilizers feed plants, and worm castings contribute to soil amendments. 

Fertilizers are helpful for certain species of plants and have a higher concentration of particular nutrients, such as nitrogen or sulfur. You cannot use a single type of fertilizer for all plants. 

However, unlike synthetic fertilizers, worm castings are natural, offer different nutrients, and are suitable for all types of plant species as it is added to the soil.

Conclusion

Using worm castings in the garden for planting and maintaining veggies, herbs, and other plants can be highly beneficial. Additionally, you can combine them with coffee grounds and vegetable scraps for the ultimate backyard garden.

These castings are slow-release fertilizers. Like compost made up of beneficial bacteria, you can save extra costs by harvesting them in a worm bin using worms.

Are worm castings good for all plants? Yes, unlike fertilizers containing nitrogen and sulfur, worm castings, like Simple Grow, are helpful for all plant species. Use them for as many plants as possible.

Grow Bigger Plants with Simple Grow

Do you wish your plants would grow bigger? Was your garden less than it should've been last year?

If you're tired of growing puny vegetables and fruits, it's time for an upgrade...Simple Grow Worm Castings!

What are worm castings? Another term for worm manure. Why would you want to use it in your garden, raised beds, and house plants? Because it makes them grow bigger, faster and healthier...with no chemicals!

How do worm castings do this? It's like giving your plants a powerful multivitamin with everything they need to grow. Trace minerals, nutrients, and most importantly...worm castings are chock full of beneficial microbes. Why does that make a difference?

In recent years, we've learned the importance of gut bacteria for humans and know that it impacts so many different parts of our health. The same thing applies with worms. Gut bacteria from the worm's digestive tract gets into the soil from the worm castings and promotes plant health. Plants have a symbiotic relationship with the microbes from the worm's digestive tract. Plants respond to it and grow really big...really fast!

If you've never tried worm castings before, you owe it to yourself to give them a try. Instead of using traditional chemical fertilizers from the big box store, why not try fresh, certified organic worm castings this year? You'll be able to grow bigger, healthier plants that you actually can feel good about eating. 

Take advantage of our special bundle sale on 25lb bags today!

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