Should you add diatomaceous earth to your organic mix?
- Thread starter Wooderson
- Start date
I won't answer the question but I will point out that organic soil contains diatoms in some quantity.
montanaorganics
Member
Of course you should! It is very high in silica, an immune booster. Also contains calcium and something else,(lime?) I believe. Basically the same thing as hygromite, but finer ground.
It will only kill bugs once it has dried out and will not hurt worms.
It will only kill bugs once it has dried out and will not hurt worms.
I believe you were searching for silicon Montana.
Off the top o me head tho.
Off the top o me head tho.
OrganicMonkey
Member
It contains a lot more than something else and all together it's only hard on some insects. It's really not required as long as you have a micro-nutrient source. I see a lot of micronutrients flushed out with watering, little metal and mineral flakes and chunks. Check your run off, if you see something settle at the bottom take a closer look.
Rock dust, it's easily replaceable. I don't think most glaciers picked up ever single type of rock, so I wonder.
Good for bedbugs too.
I just top dress it in the spring.
And this year I am mixing it with bran to fight slugs.
I just top dress it in the spring.
And this year I am mixing it with bran to fight slugs.
i use it to deter gnats as a topdressing but i wouldnt mix it into my soil or use it in any great quantity because i have also read that it deters worms - and i recycle all my weed soil onto my garden.
VG
VG
beejium
Member
DE will work on most bugs (when dry) and will not harm worms, unless you are talking about intestinal worms of course i.e. tapeworm. There are two types of DE one being fresh water and the other being saltwater. I would suggest only using fresh water DE as it is the only option I have seen that is food safe. Most salt water DE is listed as an Eco-friendly pesticide and found in products like Control (This is not an advertisement). I like to add 1 cup of fresh water DE to 5 gallons of soil, as well as sprinkle a little around the floor and under the drip pans in the grow cab. DE has some trace nutrients, but I have never used it without Dolomite Lime and Green sand. DE is commonly used in bonsai plants as the sole growth medium. I can't add much about top dressing with DE, other then the fact that it clumps up a lot. Please wear a dust mask while working with this stuff indoors for your sake.
Last edited:
can you be sure it doesnt discourage earthworms beejium?
i have read in a couple of places that they avoid soil that has DE in it...
VG
i have read in a couple of places that they avoid soil that has DE in it...
VG
well I could do a little experiment, seeing as I have oodles of worms.
sounds good mad 
gimme a couple weeks. I actually have work at the moment.
I have a friend who keeps trying to pawn off a couple buckets of used soilmix with too much DE in it on me. He figures I can grow in any old mix, so I should be fine with it. He went nuts with top dressing the stuff and now the used mix holds way too much water and won't drain for anything. I told him I didn't even want it for my backyard. Never heard that it pisses off worms, but it makes sense. I'll use that defense (defence for ya'll over the pond) next time he mentions it!
Hey Green, you could maybe use it for a top dressing against some unforeseen pest some day?
beejium
Member
I have not had a problem with my worm bins and DE. If you are unsure pull a little soil aside in a separate tub. Place worms on top and if they go down within 30 or so minutes and stay in the medium, you should be fine. You won't need more then a cup of soil and a few worms to test. I rarely find an escape artist dried on the basement floor, which i figure is normal with any bin.
"Diatomaceous Earth will not harm warm-blooded animals or earthworms
Earthworm farmers use it to treat their worm beds for parasites, fungus gnat larva etc. Earth worms are structurally different from insects in that they can actually digest particles of DE. The particles are then eliminated in their castings."
http://www.ghorganics.com/DiatomaceousEarth.html
I found this with a quick search.
"Diatomaceous Earth will not harm warm-blooded animals or earthworms
Earthworm farmers use it to treat their worm beds for parasites, fungus gnat larva etc. Earth worms are structurally different from insects in that they can actually digest particles of DE. The particles are then eliminated in their castings."
http://www.ghorganics.com/DiatomaceousEarth.html
I found this with a quick search.
interesting. so it could be beneficial to the worms then, by acting as grit for their gizzards?
