The Benefits of Worms

Below is a paper about worms that I used in my classes when I worked at a nursery. I still get many inquiries about why I use them, so here you go. You can find worm casting at many garden centers, other wise have a look on line to find them, they are worth the effort. I found these at the Greenhouse Garden Center in Carson City. 

The Benefits of Worms

Worms have the ability to travel through the soil take the organic and mineral fraction of the soil digest them releasing them back to the soil as castings which are full of nutrients.  These nutrients are order free, slow released, and stay in the soil even when watered.  The nutrients do not leach out like a chemical fertilizer; they are stored in the soil profile so the plant has access to them when needed.

Worms also create an aggregated soil which allows for more oxygen in the soil. This allows more oxygen in the soil to which allows the roots to move easier through the soil increasing root structure and helps roots breathe. Better soil structure also helps soil hold moisture.

Worm Castings

Castings have an amazing nutrient package that when added to soils carry a diverse population of microbial life. Adding casting will increase diversity of beneficial organisms in soils, promote soil structure and aid in disease and pest suppression.

Castings have even more beneficial microbes than composts that are worm free. Nutrients from worms casting go to solution easily, which means they are broken down by water so the plant can benefit quickly and continually. These nutrients go to solution easily making them readily available to the plant quickly and whenever needed without burning. Applying casting 3 to 4 times a year will fortify soils for continued use and health in the garden. 

Worm casting naturally have 5 times higher nitrogen, 7 times richer in phosphorus,  3 times richer in, magnesium, 11 times richer in potassium and 1.5 times richer in calcium.

Worm Tea

With worm castings demonstrating such tremendous benefits to soil, why should we take steps to generate worm tea? Worm tea contains billions of beneficial microbes.  These microbes can be absorbed by the leaf surface directly into the plant.  The beneficial microbes have the ability to outcompete the harmful pathogens trying to hurt the plant. Teas also carry the soluble nutrients and beneficial growth regulators contained in the solid matter used to make the tea. Many of these compounds can be absorbed through the leaf surface, feeding and enriching the plant.

Leaf surfaces, like plant roots, harbor rich microbial populations that protect the leaf, and thus the plant, from infection and attack by disease. When the microbes in leaves encounter environmental damage, it can exposes leaf surface, opening infection points.

We can reintroduce beneficial microbes to the leaf by applying the tea made from compost and worm composting. Further, teas can be applied as soil drenches and root washes to reintroduce beneficial microbes to the soil. The microbes can then continue to provide protection from pathogens to the plant as well.