How long do Worm Castings feed..........

[Omega Rasta]

.....in your soil mixture, soilless build, standing along with perlite and vermiculite or used in a tea.....

Just how long will worm castings last....meaning feed the much needed and used "N".

What I use in a soil build of Foxfarm Ocean Forest Soil mix, Worm castings, Blood and Bone meals, Mexican and Jamaican Bat Guanos, Sea Kelp (Ascophyllum Nodosum), Dolomite Lime, perlite and vermiculite.......all in proportion to a total quantity of 7 gallons of soil

.....just how long would the Worm Castings continue to feed the plants what they supply ??

 

[BurnOne]

That's a very good question. I'd say they're good for a month or more. Remember, the bacteria they provide will multiply and grow in number if fed properly. It's the humus that I think would dissipate. When I water, I always use worm castings in the water as a tea. That includes when I feed nutes.
I hope that helped.
Burn1

 

[Guest]

There's no way to tell how long they will last...Depends on how hungry your plants are and your grow enviroment....LC

 

[Omega Rasta]

Nothing like feeding the soil.....and the soil feeding the plants .....

I was thinking this because....if they last for a long long time...::more than 3 months or so....we're developing a constant N feeding to the plants....sure in flowering they feed slightly on N and more on P and K, but I was seeking if it's been measured.
May be a fun experiment on bagseed:::but I only have good genetics

Humates ruuu....yes tru.

Now with temps staying between 68*F - 75*F and humidity ranging around 34% - 47%...Veg feedings as needed approximately weekly and weakly.
Flowering feedings I'm about every 3rd day and could push it to the 4th.
This might be a good experiment.

 

[minds_I]

Hello all,

I find with a ffofo/ewc/perlite/dlime mix I only get about 3- 4 weeks before I become N def.

So what I do is coordinate my transplants with grow space and scheduling so that I never go longer then 4 weeks before a transplant until two weeks before goin into flower.

This works well as I use ewc/guano/molasses/liquid kelp teas with every watering and I just regulate the amounts of ingredients depending on the stage of growth.

I have been having the best results with organics and a simple plan. That and being able to read the plants.

So, back to your question- witht he added admendments and the slower breakdown time I would think it would go onger then 3 -4 weeks. And from what I understand, how long prior to planting did you let yoru soil sit? This will make a difference in availability.

minds_I

LC- good to see you again.

 

[Omega Rasta]

Hello all,And from what I understand, how long prior to planting did you let yoru soil sit? This will make a difference in availability.

minds_I

LC- good to see you again.

The soil is always cooked for atleast 2 weeks....turned and aired daily....I store my soil blends in large sturdy plastic bags within a 55gal cooler.

 

[jaykush]

when the plant tells you it needs additional food, thats when.

 

[FunkBomb]

I agree with Jaykush on this one. Its always good to have reserve goodies in the soil but not too much....


-Funk

 

[Guest]

I might add that w/c's is a "potting mix amendment" not a fertilizer source for N.....Even though you have to take the N content into consideration, you shouldn't worry about the N content in w/c unless you're taking your plants to "max feed" just before N burn.....Then worry about it....Casting can easily be fed w/c's through teas...

How's it going mindsI, good to see ya again....LC

 

[vonforne]

I don't use WC as a N source either, I like to use it as a top dressing. Continious feed of W/C's. In combination with a bubbling fert solution with W/C's added is perfect for your hungry plants.