Using worms in your pots

[OrganicOzarks]

Anyone out there test worms in your pots? I am reading comflicting things about it, but it seems it would be a fun experiment.

Anyone do any side by sides with worms in their containers?
Any difference in growth, structure, yield?
Did the worms just die?

I know a few guys run leaf litter for mulch, and it seems some worms could help things out a bit.

Thanks for the info!

 

[highstandards]

I've had some red wigglers in 28 10g roots bags for about 2.5mos now. This was my first time trying it, and it doesn't seem to be hurting them at all, in fact, I'd say theyre doing better than my last crop which was grown in a similar soil mix. The crop is about 20 days into 12/12 now and theyre all 7ft tall, super dark green, huge leaves, and healthy as could be Skywalker OGs.

I only put about 5-8 worms in each pot and I think they've definitely multiplied bc whenever I just brush the topsoil back on any pot now they're are a number of fat worms present. I've been feeding them with top dressings of alfalfa and kelp.

 

[hayday]

I get the local worms right out of my compst pile and put them in my recycled soil with flowering plants.I have been doing this for a few years now and when I go to my soil bin and get dirt for flowering plants there is always a visable worm or two.

I dont add more worms too often because I'm not sure on their quality of life in a 3 gallon pot that gets drenched everyday.However I really like it when I see fresh castings coming out of the bottom and on top of my pots.

It's hot right now,I bet worms would dig it in the A/C

 

[Toes.]

not in mmj.

My roses however, have worms in them... I'm guessing from red wiggler cocoons that get deposited when I top dress with their castings.

Only thing I've noticed different is bubbling air pockets in the containers when I water.

I pick them out as soon as I see them, I don't want anything competing with my flowers for nutrients.

It's a fun idea... worms in containers. I just don't know if I could feed them properly w/o sacrificing expensive plant nutrients.

 

[SeaMaiden]

Only ever accidentally, and I've never done a side-by-side. Since my primary growing is done outdoors either directly in-ground or in raised beds, I can't really control the worm populations, but I know they're THICK.

 

[cyat]

reminds me when i put worms in my tub of supersoil.......they all died

 

[ClackamasCootz]

wrong thread

 

[supermanlives]

i find worms in all my pots as i mix in castings with eggs in it from my wormbin.cant say it makes a difference . but i know my soil is healthy.

 

[Smoking Gun]

I pick them out as soon as I see them, I don't want anything competing with my flowers for nutrients.

Worms aren't going to feed on plant nutrients. And even if they did they would simply eat it and poop out nutrients in a form ready for your plants to uptake. So there would be a relative equilibrium in your nutrient levels.

 

[MrSterling]

Would red wigglers be the best bet for putting in your indoor soil though? From what I understand they like a shallower soil bed, and I worry that most people's wet/dry cycle with their plants will leave the worms high and dry(no pun intended) when the pots dry out.

 

[bajangreen]

Worms aren't going to feed on plant nutrients. And even if they did they would simply eat it and poop out nutrients in a form ready for your plants to uptake. So there would be a relative equilibrium in your nutrient levels.

 

[Smoking Gun]

Would red wigglers be the best bet for putting in your indoor soil though? From what I understand they like a shallower soil bed, and I worry that most people's wet/dry cycle with their plants will leave the worms high and dry(no pun intended) when the pots dry out.

This is exactly the problem, lack of space and how often the plants are watered. I would have to say 25 gal. pots or larger would be a safe environment for the worms, the watering would have to be less often and there would be enough space for them to get around. Plus top dressings of compost or even dead leaves would be sufficient food for the worms. Also if the environment is constantly kept moist by drip emitters, sprinklers, or Blu-mats and similar products, would mean the worms environment never gets flooded and is a proper moisture for them to prosper. So I am sure worms can be done beneficially indoors, or in pots, but it would take some extra tending to. This is simply my opinion based on what I have come to understand about worms, I have not tried this so I have no direct experience.

 

[jerry111165]

not in mmj.

My roses however, have worms in them... I'm guessing from red wiggler cocoons that get deposited when I top dress with their castings.

Only thing I've noticed different is bubbling air pockets in the containers when I water.

I pick them out as soon as I see them, I don't want anything competing with my flowers for nutrients.

It's a fun idea... worms in containers. I just don't know if I could feed them properly w/o sacrificing expensive plant nutrients.

Why?

I have had many healthy worms in my no till pots for several years now. I top dress with homemade vermicompost and my own homemade compost and I am sure that they found their way in there from cocoons. If I move aside my compost top dressing I always find many very happy and healthy worms. They create air and water passages. I am more than happy to see them breaking down the organic matter in my pots. I am also more than happy to see them breaking down the soil amendments that I have added to my pots and also top dress with. There is no "sacrificing of expensive soil nutrients" - there is only an ideal further breaking down of those amendments, passing through the worms in a much better form than when they went in.

If I had my way every amendment and rock dust that I use wouldn't first pass through a worm.

Another fantastic reason - they also ensure proper microbial activity in my pots.

I wouldn't want it any other way.

J

 

[shmalphy]

I love having worms in my pots. I have never had such healthy plants until I started using them. They create quite a bit of castings, it looks like the plant is taking a poop out the drain hole on the container, and they turn sections of the mulch into straight castings. I use daily sub-irrigation to keep the bottoms wet and tops dry. I add enough water at lights on so there is none left at lights out. It keeps a super rich dark humus rich soil.

 

[jerry111165]

Schmalphy - you got it.

J

 

[GrowbagUK]

I use 30% loam in my soil-mix. Is this a bad environment for composting worms? I Don't think they would like it.

 

[Smoking Gun]

I use 30% loam in my soil-mix. Is this a bad environment for composting worms? I Don't think they would like it.

It actually shouldn't be that bad, its not like they are only in loamy soil. The worms may also help convert some of that loam into a richer soil.

 

[MrSterling]

Loam is incredibly desirable in soil. Better than straight sandy soil, far superior to clay. I farm on sandy loam and our soil is absolutely full of worms.

 

[Toes.]

Why?

I have had many healthy worms in my no till pots for several years now. I top dress with homemade vermicompost and my own homemade compost and I am sure that they found their way in there from cocoons. If I move aside my compost top dressing I always find many very happy and healthy worms. They create air and water passages. I am more than happy to see them breaking down the organic matter in my pots. I am also more than happy to see them breaking down the soil amendments that I have added to my pots and also top dress with. There is no "sacrificing of expensive soil nutrients" - there is only an ideal further breaking down of those amendments, passing through the worms in a much better form than when they went in.

If I had my way every amendment and rock dust that I use wouldn't first pass through a worm.

Another fantastic reason - they also ensure proper microbial activity in my pots.

I wouldn't want it any other way.

J

That's a good point Jerry.

I still have always preferred them in my bins however, more so than in my pot's pots. I don't really go on worm hunts or anything, I just pick em out on the rare occasion I see them wiggling around.

Aren't you concerned about them crawling out of the bottom drain holes? OD no problem, you release a few store bought worms back to the wild, Indoors however...

Although, I do understand a worms diet of bacteria, probably isn't too much of a nutrient threat, I misspoke on that point.

Maybe next years OD run I'll let a few slide by just to see...

 

[Smoking Gun]

Maybe next years OD run I'll let a few slide by just to see...

Outdoors I would highly suggest it, even in pots.