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Compost vs. Vermicompost
- Thread starter sunnydog
- Start date
TACOE
Member
I'm thinkin:
EWC's get the benefits of bacteria + goodies from inside the worm's tracts.
EWC's are very uniform - physically and nutrient-ly
EWC's are like fully composted compost if ya ask me... no question if it's gunna burn your shits
can it be said that EWC's are like... stable humus??
I use mostly Fish + farm compost from a local farm, mixed with some bagged lobster compost.. i like to "inoculate" it a little more with a handful of EWC's
EWC's get the benefits of bacteria + goodies from inside the worm's tracts.
EWC's are very uniform - physically and nutrient-ly
EWC's are like fully composted compost if ya ask me... no question if it's gunna burn your shits
can it be said that EWC's are like... stable humus??
I use mostly Fish + farm compost from a local farm, mixed with some bagged lobster compost.. i like to "inoculate" it a little more with a handful of EWC's
madliberated
Member
think of worm compost as "heatless" compost. Basically, you are producing worms instead of heat, and producing humus at a pace comparable to a hot pile.
C
CT Guy
Vermicompost won't kill weed seeds like thermal compost will. I get so many worms in my thermal compost after the heat cycle that I don't worry about it.
For the average homeowner/grower though, I'd lean towards EWC for it's consistency, and it's harder to screw up.
A well made thermal compost can compete, but I think it takes a slightly higher knowledge and attention to detail. (a microscope never hurts either!)
For the average homeowner/grower though, I'd lean towards EWC for it's consistency, and it's harder to screw up.
A well made thermal compost can compete, but I think it takes a slightly higher knowledge and attention to detail. (a microscope never hurts either!)
johnnybsmokin
Active member
I use both mixed together as a grow medium (best of both worlds) as well as adding coir and perlite, seems to be working for me.
As well as C21H30O2 has suggested, I will also add some compost into my worm bin as benning and they love to eat it too.
I have also started to use a little WMC as a mulch with a notible difference. The main idea was to add/help the microbes, but it has also lengthed time between watering now and also drop my humidity levels a little as well.
I say use both together, as they compliment one another nicely.
As well as C21H30O2 has suggested, I will also add some compost into my worm bin as benning and they love to eat it too.
I have also started to use a little WMC as a mulch with a notible difference. The main idea was to add/help the microbes, but it has also lengthed time between watering now and also drop my humidity levels a little as well.
I say use both together, as they compliment one another nicely.
jaykush, how much homemade EWC would be ideal for brewing compost tea per gal or 5 gal?
G
greenmatter
i wish i owned a microscope .....
is there a difference in the bacteria/fungi ratios between EWC and hot or cold compost? my worms love unfinished leaf mold, which i understood is high fungal, but the way i understand things the worms turn things bacterial as they break things down. am i understanding things correctly?
My worm bin has been more bacterial or fungal at different times.
Recently, it's had lots of hyphae, but I'm not seeing any complex bacterial structures anymore (curlicues and such). I"m suspecting the rice hulls may be responsible.
Recently, it's had lots of hyphae, but I'm not seeing any complex bacterial structures anymore (curlicues and such). I"m suspecting the rice hulls may be responsible.
smokesalot420
Member
thanks for this thread as I am finally embarking on making both of these!
I plan on using my avatars manure as he only eats veggies and hay for the compost pile and as a bedding for my worm bin.
By the way, we have 2 Yodas in this thread, we can't go wrong!!!
I plan on using my avatars manure as he only eats veggies and hay for the compost pile and as a bedding for my worm bin.
By the way, we have 2 Yodas in this thread, we can't go wrong!!!
we have two yodas, a spear wielder with fantastic tits, a mushroom, and an x-ray homer head.
can't go wrong.
can't go wrong.
This is kinda what I was thinking. As I would have to employ a tremendous army of worms to accomplish my needs.
Vincent VanGrow
Member
Agrowinn EWC is almost as good as making your own, and they sell it in 40 pound bags
Just wanted to bump this thread because I was thinking about this subject and have a question or two.
If vermicompost is simply compost and EWC, what benefits do thermal composts retain that vermicomposts wouldn't?
What makes a compost good? Is it the amount of organisms present? If a thermal compost was made without much diversity in the materials that went into it, but had a high organism count, would that be preferable to a thermal compost that was made with a wide variety of materials, but had fewer organisms?
Thanks
If vermicompost is simply compost and EWC, what benefits do thermal composts retain that vermicomposts wouldn't?
What makes a compost good? Is it the amount of organisms present? If a thermal compost was made without much diversity in the materials that went into it, but had a high organism count, would that be preferable to a thermal compost that was made with a wide variety of materials, but had fewer organisms?
Thanks
C
CT Guy
I've seen highly fungal EWC from MM, and I use a combination of all 3 methods in my composting process (takes 2-3 years). That being said, I think that quality of starting materials, and attention to detail have a bigger impact on bacteria/fungi levels and ratios.
Thermal compost will tend to be bacterial on a commercial level due to the speed at which they produce and distribute it. Vermicompost can be highly bacterial as well, though like I mentioned I've seen some very good fungal activity in EWC and MM has documented it with some great microscopy.
While this is only my observation and is not scientific in any way shape or form, here is what i have done. My "worm farm" is the el-cheapo tote box deal. (not something i would recommend) This summer during a heat wave I noticed many of my worms were escaping, so I dumped the tote box of worms and castings into my compost pile that had gone through it's thermo phase weeks before.
The worms appear to be flourishing, and I have to believe the compost has stepped it up a notch. The compost was good before and I really don't know if the worms did much of anything, but the simplicity of this works for me and it is something i will continue and refine as I go forward. To me it's kind of like the peanutbutter and chocolate coming together deal. Better worm habitat and better compost.......scrappy
The worms appear to be flourishing, and I have to believe the compost has stepped it up a notch. The compost was good before and I really don't know if the worms did much of anything, but the simplicity of this works for me and it is something i will continue and refine as I go forward. To me it's kind of like the peanutbutter and chocolate coming together deal. Better worm habitat and better compost.......scrappy
C
CT Guy
you're exactly right on Scrappy.
IncredibowlBoss
Member
This is somewhat like what a friend turned me on to - I'll sift my thermocompost, then feed that humic material to my worms. If I understand correctly, what makes something humic is that it has reached a point of chemical complexity that prevents it from being readily broken down by soil life, so I'm presuming the worms can't be doing it any harm.
Been doing the thermo to vermi for a little while and making teas. Plants love it!
