Putting a couple worms in to soil in potted vegetables?
Ok, so worm castings are a good fertilizer... and I have run a couple successful worm bins to collect the castings to use as fertilizer... however, I am looking into the concept of "cutting out the middle man" so to speak, and tossing 2 or 3 worms into the potted plants... The dangers are known to me... worms in a confined space such as a bucket may burrow through roots... however, the burrowing will keep the soil loose and fluffy... I figure put them in, toss in a fruit or veggie peel here and there... and the worms will keep the soil fluffy and organically fed... Anyone have any opinions/ideas/experiences/advice? Thanks
FarmCzar2012-02-13T10:57:47Z
Favorite Answer
I use live worm castings in all my potting mixes, including seedling mixes. I have small populations of worms in all my houseplants, salad table trays, potted vegetables, and window boxes. There are even worms in 6-pack vegetables I start, and in every 4" pot I transfer seedlings to. All of my plants thrive.
Red compost worms help cycle organic nutrients in potting soils, converting them into plant-available forms. The worms don't eat roots--they eat bacteria and fungi that live on and near the roots. They'll thrive in any good organic potting mix that gets adequate water.
Worms in pots are generally a bad idea, they compact the soil in the small volume of the pot and they make tunnels that cause the water to drain too quickly to the bottom of the container. So what you are really doing is making the pore space in the soil much smaller in most of the pot and making tunnels that when they become wet harden after they dry (the slime from the worms makes the soil along the tunnels like mud bricks and water is less likely to soak in along there lengths especial near the top half of the pots).
If you feel that you have to add worms to your potted plants use the smallest species you can. Also keep in mind that the worms have to have food too and they add no nutrients to the soil that are not already there: if the nutrients are tied up in organic materials (fruit or veggie peel) they can liberate them quicker so other organisms can use them. They might be good to add to old pots that already have compacted soil for which you do not have the time or resources to repot, because there tunnels can help add more oxygen to the root zone.
construct a three foot wide by 5 foot lengthy field out of two by six lumber. conceal one area with a piece of solid high quality plywood. position the field in a shady position ideal on precise of the airborne dirt and dirt. Fill with precise soil or a commercial potting soil mix, and head out on your backyard. Dig up a dozen or so worms and lay them on your new soil field. Viola' , you're literally contained in the computer virus farming agency. construct more suitable in case you agency takes to the air. solid luck.