Earth Worm Castings

Willow87 · 03-24-2011, 05:48 PM

I was wondering if earth worm castings are safe to use on cuttings that dont have roots?

Jack Daw · 03-24-2011, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willow87

I was wondering if earth worm castings are safe to use on cuttings that dont have roots?

Sure they are. You can't overfertilize with worm castings and they are ideal nutrient-wise.

Willow87 · 03-24-2011, 07:56 PM

Thanks so much Jack. I think I'm going to buy some to put around my cuttings to see if that helps them root

Worm_Farmer · 03-25-2011, 07:39 AM

Yes, Worm castings do not burn plants.

But, too much castings will make you soil muddy and wet.

Willow87 · 03-25-2011, 07:42 AM

Ok So ill just put a little around the plants? I'm trying to get them to root faster, and I've used earth worm castings before with good results

Jack Daw · 03-25-2011, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willow87

Thanks so much Jack. I think I'm going to buy some to put around my cuttings to see if that helps them root

I haven't heard about castings having some significant rooting capabilities, but once the plants start rooting, they will get all the nutrients in just right amounts to survive.

And Worm_Farmer is correct, careful about watering, because worm castings hold water much better than anything else comparable to them.

Willow87 · 03-25-2011, 09:54 AM

Thanks Jack. I got some today and put it around other plants too. I think some of the cuttings have little roots on them.

Worm_Farmer · 03-25-2011, 10:35 AM

I like to mix my castings into my potting soil mixes and add lots of perlite. My larger potted plants I will put around the top of the pot and water in. In ground plants I spread it around the root base water in, add mulch and more water. Make sure to put the castings under a layer of mulch for all in ground plants.

I personall put a shove or two of castings around each banana plant then add a large laywer of mulch. I do this 2 - 3 times a year.

Edit: Just wondering, how much did you pay for your castings? And how much did you get?

Willow87 · 03-25-2011, 10:38 AM

I mixed a little bit of the castings in the top few cm of the soil for my potted plants. i just threw the rest of it around my in ground plants. I hope thats good?
I got a 5 lb bag for $10 Its kind of expensive for me but I heard so many good things about it.

Worm_Farmer · 03-25-2011, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willow87

I mixed a little bit of the castings in the top few cm of the soil for my potted plants. i just threw the rest of it around my in ground plants. I hope thats good?
I got a 5 lb bag for $10 Its kind of expensive for me but I heard so many good things about it.

That will work, just try to cover it with mulch, maure, leafs, anything oraganic. There is a reason for this, if I remember right now the sun will dry it out kill the microorganisms in the castings. Also the microorganisms will grow and spread once applied. Because I only screen my castings once I do went up with a good amount of baby worms in my yard, which cants do anything but good.

Thats right on par at $2 a lb, I sell mine for the same price around town and usually throw some free castings when people buy plants or pups from me.

Willow87 · 03-25-2011, 10:50 AM

Ok so the pots with the cuttings in it i need to mulch those to keep the microorganisms alive? Wow thats nice that you give free castings with your plants. I only had a couple of bananas survive, only the ornamental ones unfortunately

Worm_Farmer · 03-25-2011, 11:18 AM

Mulch will never hurt. On my potted plants I dont use mulch because the leafs usually provide all the shade it needs(IMO).

Willow87 · 03-25-2011, 11:19 AM

Oh ok. I have the dragon fruit in mostly shade right now. They get a little morning sun

Jack Daw · 03-25-2011, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worm_Farmer

Edit: Just wondering, how much did you pay for your castings? And how much did you get?

I have my own worms.

Cecil · 03-26-2011, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willow87

Oh ok. I have the dragon fruit in mostly shade right now. They get a little morning sun

Hi Cameron

What this? Talking dragon fruit on a banana thread, don't get me wrong i love my bananas and i have quite a lot growing and now some in flower.

I an currently trying to establish a dragon fruit plantation and wondering if many other members share our interest.

A task i have taken on at the present time, is testing the results of a product called Bd Max a Herbal Activator,witch is designed to prevent the damage caused by cold frosting on plants. So i am testing it on my dragon fruit, as it can get pretty cold where i live in Australia.

What colour flesh do your dragon fruit have?So far i only have white red and yellow.

Thanks Cameron

Cheers Cecil

Cecil · 03-26-2011, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willow87

Oh ok. I have the dragon fruit in mostly shade right now. They get a little morning sun

Hi Willow 78
What's this talking about bloomin dragon fruit on a banana show.

That is how i got involved to start with,not that i don't like bananas i love them and i have quite a few growing and now flowering.

Wondering if there are many other folks with any interest in dragon fruit like us pair. Must mention i live in Australia and i am trying to grow quite a few dragon fruit, hoping to make a few bob out of them one day.

Where i live it gets pretty cold in winter, so i am currently experimenting with a product called Bd Max or Thermo Max witch is designed to protect plants from frosting so we will have to see

sunfish · 03-26-2011, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cecil

Hi Willow 78
What's this talking about bloomin dragon fruit on a banana show.

That is how i got involved to start with,not that i don't like bananas i love them and i have quite a few growing and now flowering.

Wondering if there are many other folks with any interest in dragon fruit like us pair. Must mention i live in Australia and i am trying to grow quite a few dragon fruit, hoping to make a few bob out of them one day.

Where i live it gets pretty cold in winter, so i am currently experimenting with a product called Bd Max or Thermo Max witch is designed to protect plants from frosting so we will have to see

http://www.bananas.org/f13/dragon-fr...html#post40362

Dragon Fruit update

Jack Daw · 03-26-2011, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cecil

...Where i live it gets pretty cold in winter, ...

Honey, there's no place in Australia that can actually be classified as pretty cold in winter.

Willow87 · 03-26-2011, 02:41 PM

Hi Cecil. I just started growing dragon fruit(cuttings) I have American Beauty and Natural Mystic. I think they are the pink flesh variety. I'm looking for the yellow variety now.

Lagniappe · 03-26-2011, 11:51 PM

I start seeds in pure castings. they seem to drain very well, but I've never attempted to start cuttings with them. With Pitaya cuttings, however, I started mine in damp compost so castings should be fine.

03-24-2011, 05:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
Willow87 Willow87 Willow87's Photo Gallery Location: Plano, Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8a Name: Cameron Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 2,815 BananaBucks : 119,731 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,016 Times Was Thanked 2,524 Times in 1,487 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 6 Times	Earth Worm Castings I was wondering if earth worm castings are safe to use on cuttings that dont have roots?

03-24-2011, 07:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
Willow87 Willow87 Willow87's Photo Gallery Location: Plano, Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8a Name: Cameron Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 2,815 BananaBucks : 119,731 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,016 Times Was Thanked 2,524 Times in 1,487 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 6 Times	Re: Earth Worm Castings Thanks so much Jack. I think I'm going to buy some to put around my cuttings to see if that helps them root

03-25-2011, 07:39 AM	#4 (permalink)
Worm_Farmer Worm_Farmer 's Photo Gallery Location: Palm Bay, FL Zone: 9b Name: Mike Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1,533 BananaBucks : 44,083 Feedback: 14 / 100% Said "Thanks" 5,326 Times Was Thanked 1,830 Times in 679 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,866 Times	Re: Earth Worm Castings Yes, Worm castings do not burn plants. But, too much castings will make you soil muddy and wet.

03-25-2011, 07:42 AM	#5 (permalink)
Willow87 Willow87 Willow87's Photo Gallery Location: Plano, Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8a Name: Cameron Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 2,815 BananaBucks : 119,731 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,016 Times Was Thanked 2,524 Times in 1,487 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 6 Times	Re: Earth Worm Castings Ok So ill just put a little around the plants? I'm trying to get them to root faster, and I've used earth worm castings before with good results

03-25-2011, 09:54 AM	#7 (permalink)
Willow87 Willow87 Willow87's Photo Gallery Location: Plano, Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8a Name: Cameron Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 2,815 BananaBucks : 119,731 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,016 Times Was Thanked 2,524 Times in 1,487 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 6 Times	Re: Earth Worm Castings Thanks Jack. I got some today and put it around other plants too. I think some of the cuttings have little roots on them.

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03-25-2011, 10:35 AM	#8 (permalink)
Worm_Farmer Worm_Farmer 's Photo Gallery Location: Palm Bay, FL Zone: 9b Name: Mike Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1,533 BananaBucks : 44,083 Feedback: 14 / 100% Said "Thanks" 5,326 Times Was Thanked 1,830 Times in 679 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,866 Times	Re: Earth Worm Castings I like to mix my castings into my potting soil mixes and add lots of perlite. My larger potted plants I will put around the top of the pot and water in. In ground plants I spread it around the root base water in, add mulch and more water. Make sure to put the castings under a layer of mulch for all in ground plants. I personall put a shove or two of castings around each banana plant then add a large laywer of mulch. I do this 2 - 3 times a year. Edit: Just wondering, how much did you pay for your castings? And how much did you get?

03-25-2011, 10:38 AM	#9 (permalink)
Willow87 Willow87 Willow87's Photo Gallery Location: Plano, Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8a Name: Cameron Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 2,815 BananaBucks : 119,731 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,016 Times Was Thanked 2,524 Times in 1,487 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 6 Times	Re: Earth Worm Castings I mixed a little bit of the castings in the top few cm of the soil for my potted plants. i just threw the rest of it around my in ground plants. I hope thats good? I got a 5 lb bag for $10 Its kind of expensive for me but I heard so many good things about it.

03-25-2011, 10:50 AM	#11 (permalink)
Willow87 Willow87 Willow87's Photo Gallery Location: Plano, Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8a Name: Cameron Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 2,815 BananaBucks : 119,731 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,016 Times Was Thanked 2,524 Times in 1,487 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 6 Times	Re: Earth Worm Castings Ok so the pots with the cuttings in it i need to mulch those to keep the microorganisms alive? Wow thats nice that you give free castings with your plants. I only had a couple of bananas survive, only the ornamental ones unfortunately

03-25-2011, 11:18 AM	#12 (permalink)
Worm_Farmer Worm_Farmer 's Photo Gallery Location: Palm Bay, FL Zone: 9b Name: Mike Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1,533 BananaBucks : 44,083 Feedback: 14 / 100% Said "Thanks" 5,326 Times Was Thanked 1,830 Times in 679 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,866 Times	Re: Earth Worm Castings Mulch will never hurt. On my potted plants I dont use mulch because the leafs usually provide all the shade it needs(IMO).

03-25-2011, 11:19 AM	#13 (permalink)
Willow87 Willow87 Willow87's Photo Gallery Location: Plano, Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8a Name: Cameron Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 2,815 BananaBucks : 119,731 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,016 Times Was Thanked 2,524 Times in 1,487 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 6 Times	Re: Earth Worm Castings Oh ok. I have the dragon fruit in mostly shade right now. They get a little morning sun

03-26-2011, 02:41 PM	#19 (permalink)
Willow87 Willow87 Willow87's Photo Gallery Location: Plano, Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8a Name: Cameron Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 2,815 BananaBucks : 119,731 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,016 Times Was Thanked 2,524 Times in 1,487 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 6 Times	Re: Earth Worm Castings Hi Cecil. I just started growing dragon fruit(cuttings) I have American Beauty and Natural Mystic. I think they are the pink flesh variety. I'm looking for the yellow variety now.

03-26-2011, 11:51 PM	#20 (permalink)
Lagniappe Lagniappe's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,111 BananaBucks : 245,809 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,378 Times Was Thanked 1,402 Times in 558 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 535 Times	Re: Earth Worm Castings I start seeds in pure castings. they seem to drain very well, but I've never attempted to start cuttings with them. With Pitaya cuttings, however, I started mine in damp compost so castings should be fine.

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