Bananas.org

Welcome to the Bananas.org forums.

You're currently viewing our message boards as a guest which gives you limited access to participate in discussions and access our other features such as our wiki and photo gallery. By joining our community, you'll have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload photos, and access many other special features. Registration is fast and simple, so please join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.

Go Back   Bananas.org > Banana Forum > Banana Plant Soil, Additives, and Fertilizer
Register Photo Gallery Classifieds Wiki Chat Map Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Banana Plant Soil, Additives, and Fertilizer This forum is an area where you may discuss the soil to grow banana plants in, as well as soil additives such as teas, composts, manures, fertilizers and related topics.


Members currently in the chatroom: 0
The most chatters online in one day was 17, 09-06-2009.
No one is currently using the chat.

Reply   Email this Page Email this Page
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 03-09-2010, 11:58 AM   #81 (permalink)
Love those bananas
 
cherokee_greg's Avatar
 
Location: Fresno,CA
Zone: zone 9
Name: Greg
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,357
BananaBucks : 288,273
Feedback: 2 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 8,066 Times
Was Thanked 3,946 Times in 1,665 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 335 Times
Default Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting

Quote:
Originally Posted by djmb74 View Post
Most fruit and vegetable scraps, egg shells, coffee grinds, tea bags, shredded paper, even some yard waste that has been composted a bit can go in there as well.

What to feed your worms - WormWiki

Vermicompost - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The worms you get from a bait shop may not be the same used for composting.
Thanks for posting this. I have a worm bin coming Im going to give this a shot. Im excited about trying this out. Thanks
__________________




Greg zone 9 Fresno,CA
http://gardenjot.com/garden/view/1980/Gregs-Banana-Farm

Click for Fresno, California Forecast
cherokee_greg is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To cherokee_greg
Old 03-09-2010, 12:12 PM   #82 (permalink)
 
Lagniappe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,111
BananaBucks : 245,188
Feedback: 22 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 1,378 Times
Was Thanked 1,402 Times in 558 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 535 Times
Default Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting

If you go to your local shopping mall, there's a chance that the cardboard recycling dumpster is overflowing. Get what you can!
My worms turn wet cardboard into castings very quickly. It's fun to watch a 4' pile of wet cardboard be reduced to 1' in a month. I'm not sure why, but they go straight for it regardless of the other nice things in my pile (still no bin, pile works great.) I think other organisms go nuts on wet paper, and this is a food source for the worms.
Lagniappe is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To Lagniappe
Old 03-09-2010, 12:51 PM   #83 (permalink)
Love those bananas
 
cherokee_greg's Avatar
 
Location: Fresno,CA
Zone: zone 9
Name: Greg
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,357
BananaBucks : 288,273
Feedback: 2 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 8,066 Times
Was Thanked 3,946 Times in 1,665 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 335 Times
Default Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lagniappe View Post
If you go to your local shopping mall, there's a chance that the cardboard recycling dumpster is overflowing. Get what you can!
My worms turn wet cardboard into castings very quickly. It's fun to watch a 4' pile of wet cardboard be reduced to 1' in a month. I'm not sure why, but they go straight for it regardless of the other nice things in my pile (still no bin, pile works great.) I think other organisms go nuts on wet paper, and this is a food source for the worms.
Thats good to know I work in the office at a recycling yard I can get all the cardboard I want.
__________________




Greg zone 9 Fresno,CA
http://gardenjot.com/garden/view/1980/Gregs-Banana-Farm

Click for Fresno, California Forecast
cherokee_greg is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To cherokee_greg
Old 05-28-2010, 08:08 AM   #84 (permalink)
I think with my banana ;)
 
Jack Daw's Avatar
 
Location: BA, SK, CEU
Zone: Dfa (Köppen-geiger) <-> 7b/8a? (USDA)
Name: Jack
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,525
BananaBucks : 208,673
Feedback: 2 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 2,771 Times
Was Thanked 2,461 Times in 1,355 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 383 Times
Default Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting

Time to revive this thread a lil bit.
Here's an interesting article about ordinary Earthworms, not the Eisenia genus, but still, very interesting reading.

BBC - Earth News - Earthworms eat live seeds and plants, scientists find
__________________
Thnx to Marcel, Ante, Dr. Chiranjit Parmar and Francesco for the plants I've received.



Zeitgeist - Corporatocracy 101 (~2hrs)

Zeitgeist - Moving Forward (~2.5hrs)
Jack Daw is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To Jack Daw
Said thanks:
Old 10-18-2010, 01:54 PM   #85 (permalink)
I think with my banana ;)
 
Jack Daw's Avatar
 
Location: BA, SK, CEU
Zone: Dfa (Köppen-geiger) <-> 7b/8a? (USDA)
Name: Jack
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,525
BananaBucks : 208,673
Feedback: 2 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 2,771 Times
Was Thanked 2,461 Times in 1,355 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 383 Times
Default Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting

Hi guys,

I've been on a newsletter mailing list for quite a while (vermicompost site...) and it's great. Recently a guy who owns and contributes to the vermicomposting family, created an excellent guide for everybody who's interested in this topic. To quote:

Quote:
Learn more about worm composting & stay up to date with all the new and exciting developments here at RedWormComposting.com!
I am happy to announce that ALL subscribers will now be provided with access to the brand new “Red Worm Composting Guide to Vermicomposting”. It is still very much a work-in-progress (I wrote “worm-in-process” on my first try), with two full sections (and images) still to be added, BUT it is still 77 pages – so you might learn a thing or two!

The first section of the guide is devoted to getting people up to speed on the “Basics” of vermicomposting. I next talk about the vermicomposting “system” and how to set it up. I have also included an extensive “Q&A” section to help people find answers to a lot of the common worm composting questions.
To receive access, please sign up for the email list below
The link to the signup page is here:
Vermicomposting Newsletter


It's an excellent piece of book. I strongly recommend everybody with the interest in this topic to sign up.

Cheers!

Jack
__________________
Thnx to Marcel, Ante, Dr. Chiranjit Parmar and Francesco for the plants I've received.



Zeitgeist - Corporatocracy 101 (~2hrs)

Zeitgeist - Moving Forward (~2.5hrs)
Jack Daw is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To Jack Daw
Old 12-31-2010, 05:55 PM   #86 (permalink)
 
Location: provo utah
Zone: 6
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 393
BananaBucks : 33,334
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 692 Times
Was Thanked 481 Times in 251 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 23 Times
Default Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting

ive been using worms for composting for a yr now.. my bedding i too use
shredded up cardboard..some newspaper.. i use 37 gal plastic rubbermaid
bins(on sale from homedepot).. the 1st one i drilled holes all over it.. took
more time than i wanted.. so now with the last 3 tubs i use a sharp knife
and cut holes all over the bins..bottom too..
i use the lid as a catch for the leache.. and a piece of cardboard as the lid..
my worms give me 2-- 5gal buckets of castings every several months..
i use them in plantings.. my bananas and EE seem to really enjoy it as
a soil amendment..
good to see others using worm castings...
have a great new yr everyone...
nannerfunboi is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To nannerfunboi
Old 05-20-2011, 08:33 PM   #87 (permalink)
 
Dreaminofthetropics's Avatar
 
Location: Bronson, FL
Zone: 8-9
Name: Kat
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 424
BananaBucks : 104,353
Feedback: 3 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 422 Times
Was Thanked 549 Times in 173 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 29 Times
Send a message via Yahoo to Dreaminofthetropics
Default Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting

Just thought I would bump this thread! How are everyones worm beds going? I just started mine a month ago and have about 8000 worms or so to start! I'm using newspaper, a small amount of peat, cardboard, composted manure, and scraps. My guys are very very happy. I am wondering if anyone can tell me how long until I have castings as I am new to this. My bin is 3ftx3ft and approx 14" high. I also now have Black Soldier Fly larvae in my worm bin and composting piles which those babies can compost some stuff :-) So what is everyone else up to worm wise!??!
__________________
Kat

Check out my website
http://www.ilovemyplants.com

Intellectual property has the shelf life of a banana.
Bill Gates
Dreaminofthetropics is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To Dreaminofthetropics
Said thanks:
Old 05-20-2011, 08:43 PM   #88 (permalink)
 
Location: provo utah
Zone: 6
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 393
BananaBucks : 33,334
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 692 Times
Was Thanked 481 Times in 251 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 23 Times
Default Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting

great to see another worm fan here
i have 4 - 37 gal rubbermaid tubs for housing my worms..
i use shredded cardboard and newspaper..mostly cardboard though..for the bedding..
if i was more attentive in feeding and turning the bedding i know the worms
would compost alot faster..
as is now i get really well composted castings in 2 months..
ive been harvesting more castings lately to put in my potting mix..
all my tropicals love the addition..
i also add castings to my potted up tomato plants..which are blooming now..and getting huge.. its still to early to put them out in garden..
we always seem to get one last nasty freeze..so i hold off till 1st week of june..
best of luck to ya dreamoftropics
nannerfunboi is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To nannerfunboi
Old 05-20-2011, 09:31 PM   #89 (permalink)
 
Dreaminofthetropics's Avatar
 
Location: Bronson, FL
Zone: 8-9
Name: Kat
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 424
BananaBucks : 104,353
Feedback: 3 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 422 Times
Was Thanked 549 Times in 173 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 29 Times
Send a message via Yahoo to Dreaminofthetropics
Default Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting

Quote:
Originally Posted by nannerfunboi View Post
great to see another worm fan here
i have 4 - 37 gal rubbermaid tubs for housing my worms..
i use shredded cardboard and newspaper..mostly cardboard though..for the bedding..
if i was more attentive in feeding and turning the bedding i know the worms
would compost alot faster..
as is now i get really well composted castings in 2 months..
ive been harvesting more castings lately to put in my potting mix..
all my tropicals love the addition..
i also add castings to my potted up tomato plants..which are blooming now..and getting huge.. its still to early to put them out in garden..
we always seem to get one last nasty freeze..so i hold off till 1st week of june..
best of luck to ya dreamoftropics
I've had mine for about 3 weeks now and I'm just wondering how I will get the castings from such a large bed, will I have to wait until the whole bed turns to castings or??? I mean I've read how to harvest the worms etc, but I just can't figure out if I should just let it sit until I obviously have alot of castings or??? I mean I have 8000 worms there have to be castings in there LOL and should I not add anymore bedding until its mostly castings!?!? I'm sure I'll figure it out when it comes I'm just impatient hahaha
__________________
Kat

Check out my website
http://www.ilovemyplants.com

Intellectual property has the shelf life of a banana.
Bill Gates
Dreaminofthetropics is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To Dreaminofthetropics
Old 05-20-2011, 11:05 PM   #90 (permalink)
un-Retired
 
Richard's Avatar
 
Location: Vista, CA
Zone: USDA 10b
Name: Richard
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,674
BananaBucks : 500,843
Feedback: 9 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 3,636 Times
Was Thanked 12,543 Times in 4,721 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,685 Times
Default Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting

I use worm castings, but they are not a panacea. Here's a synopsis from another thread:

Worm Castings have two categories of use in horticulture:
  1. Soil Conditioner. (a) to inoculate a soil mix destined for pots or planter beds. You really don't need more than a cup per cubic foot. (b) Applied 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick on the soil surface of a planter bed or orchard, under a 3 to 5 inch thick layer of mulch (1/2 to 1 inch diameter variety). If the surface of the ground freezes during your winter, then apply once per year in the spring - or at least every other year. If the ground does not freeze during your winter, then every 5 to 7 years is sufficient provided you maintain a thick layer of mulch.
  2. Fertilizer. Well, its better than no fertilizer at all, but it is not a very economical choice in terms of volume, labor, or cost. Mainly worm casting are an unbalanced source of micronutrients -- which cause the "greenup" you see after application. (a) When worm castings are moist (not soggy or dry) then the levels of major nutrients is about 1/4 to 1/2 % each. You'll need about 25 pounds of worm castings per plant per year to deliver a significant impact of major nutrients on the fruiting banana plant, and about 300 lbs / plant / year to reach the plants' capacity. (b) Worm tea contains less micronutrients and less total nutrients than the castings. If you are going to make it then it should be over night and it should never be in a warm container more than 30 minutes because the nitrogen will leave. After 18 hours the beneficial micro-organisms in the tea will be dead. Foliar application (spraying on leaves) is not recommended for many parts of the world because the solution provides an environment for mildew and other fungi to grow.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dreaminofthetropics View Post
As far as the worm tea, does the aeration and adding molasses make this more valuable and nutrient rich?
The two things I've noticed about worm tea:
1. It is easier to apply than worm castings.
2. The person making it obtains a sense of accomplishment.

Worm tea is used by industry in very controlled conditions involving aeration to grow certain beneficial strains of bacteria. Despite the claims of sellers of aeration pumps, most people are not going to accomplish this in their backyard.

Some plants respond well to wood sugars (e.g., molasses) as part of an overall nutrition plan. Wood sugars are also used to chelate nutrients in liquid fertilizers and supplements. Typically though we use ligno-sulfate instead of grocery store molasses because:
1. The grocery store variety is missing essential oils (higher sugar content).
2. The grocery store variety costs much more per pound.
__________________
Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com
Richard is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To Richard
Old 05-21-2011, 05:02 PM   #91 (permalink)
 
Location: provo utah
Zone: 6
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 393
BananaBucks : 33,334
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 692 Times
Was Thanked 481 Times in 251 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 23 Times
Default Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting

so true richard..
i started making my own aerated castings tea last yr
ive thought of trying in big 50 gal outside..but still kicking it around..lol
right now i just have 2 - 5gal buckets going.. im truely a newbie with it
so i dont have alot of yrs experience to show plants do better with it..
but as you mentioned.. with proper conditions you can get good bacteria
growths that plants benifit from...
ive used it on my roses and whether its from the tea.. or just a "washing" from the tea..i have little problems with aphids..
but the leaves sure do look great..
hope others will try and post their results..
nannerfunboi is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To nannerfunboi

Join Bananas.org Today!

Are you a banana plant enthusiast? Then we hope you will join the community. You will gain access to post, create threads, private message, upload images, join groups and more.

Bananas.org is owned and operated by fellow banana plant enthusiasts. We strive to offer a non-commercial community to learn and share information. Receive all three issues from Volume 1 of Bananas Magazine with your membership:
   

Join Bananas.org Today! - Click Here


Sponsors

Old 08-10-2012, 06:30 AM   #92 (permalink)
I think with my banana ;)
 
Jack Daw's Avatar
 
Location: BA, SK, CEU
Zone: Dfa (Köppen-geiger) <-> 7b/8a? (USDA)
Name: Jack
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,525
BananaBucks : 208,673
Feedback: 2 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 2,771 Times
Was Thanked 2,461 Times in 1,355 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 383 Times
Default

OK, so today I'll hopefully send Ante some worms and add some resources and material to this thread at some point this month. If the time allows me to.

Quote:
Originally Posted by nannerfunboi View Post
ive used it on my roses and whether its from the tea.. or just a "washing" from the tea..i have little problems with aphids..
but the leaves sure do look great..
hope others will try and post their results..
My friend from Nicaragua mentioned that they use vermicomposting tea to treat plant leaves against Sigatoka. It is supposed to decrease the probablity of sigatoka's occurence.
__________________
Thnx to Marcel, Ante, Dr. Chiranjit Parmar and Francesco for the plants I've received.



Zeitgeist - Corporatocracy 101 (~2hrs)

Zeitgeist - Moving Forward (~2.5hrs)

Last edited by Jack Daw : 08-10-2012 at 06:31 AM. Reason: Grammar
Jack Daw is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To Jack Daw
Said thanks:
Old 08-10-2012, 06:17 PM   #93 (permalink)
 
Location: Kapolei, Hawaii
Zone: 11
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 34
BananaBucks : 27,862
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 49 Times
Was Thanked 32 Times in 14 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 4 Times
Default Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting

if one had to choose between worm castings vs. composted chicken manure, which would be the better soil additive?

thanks!
dkf85281 is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To dkf85281
Old 08-10-2012, 06:56 PM   #94 (permalink)
Banned
 
Location: San Diego
Zone: 9-11
Name: Tony
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 18,429
BananaBucks : 938,457
Feedback: 8 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times
Was Thanked 20,591 Times in 7,760 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times
Default Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting

Quote:
Originally Posted by dkf85281 View Post
if one had to choose between worm castings vs. composted chicken manure, which would be the better soil additive?

thanks!
Don't think it would make a heck of a lot of difference
sunfish is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To sunfish
Old 08-18-2012, 05:24 PM   #95 (permalink)
Let there be light
 
Dalmatiansoap's Avatar
 
Location: Makarska, Croatia
Zone: 9
Name: Ante
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 9,160
BananaBucks : 604,697
Feedback: 10 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 6,507 Times
Was Thanked 8,381 Times in 3,031 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 720 Times
Send a message via Skype™ to Dalmatiansoap
Default Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting

[quote=Jack Daw;202184]OK, so today I'll hopefully send Ante some worms and add some resources and material to this thread at some point this month.[quote]

OK, worms are here, on the glorious joy of my kids, I dont what to talk public what some other family members think about that, and now I have to prepare bed for this colony tomorrow.
Thanks Jack!
__________________
https://abnb.me/AXJty518xib
Dalmatiansoap is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To Dalmatiansoap
Sponsors

Old 08-22-2012, 07:46 AM   #96 (permalink)
Let there be light
 
Dalmatiansoap's Avatar
 
Location: Makarska, Croatia
Zone: 9
Name: Ante
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 9,160
BananaBucks : 604,697
Feedback: 10 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 6,507 Times
Was Thanked 8,381 Times in 3,031 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 720 Times
Send a message via Skype™ to Dalmatiansoap
Default Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting

Hey Jack, whats the scientific name for thid worms?
__________________
https://abnb.me/AXJty518xib
Dalmatiansoap is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To Dalmatiansoap
Reply   Email this Page Email this Page

Previous Thread: 13-13-13 How Much to Use?
Next Thread: Would this work?





Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 2 (0 members and 2 guests)
 
Thread Tools



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:38 AM.





All content © Bananas.org & the respective author.