[jerrymeola]

The large increase in interest in Worm Tea on Orchids is spawning a number of tests. In addition to my own testing which is continuing, The Greater Orlando Orchid Society has made it a club project to test its benefits on orchids in a controlled test environment. They are using OurVitalEarth’s product.

Their initial results are a 30-50% growth improvement over control plants not receiving anything and even greater improvement on a third set of test plants when Worm Tea was used exclusively (although not as great an increase).

I will keep you informed as the testing continues and post the entire test results when they are finished.



A number of people have asked about making worm tea by soaking castings. OurVitalEarth recommended against it, because you would not be getting the live microbes. It is the beneficial microbes, that I have found to be the biggest benefit for orchids. Castings do not have any live microbes. Castings will give you beneficial nematodes, which have a great deal of value in an area like Florida suffering from nematodes.


I found it ironic this week that the State of Florida Dept of Agriculture was polling nurseries about insect problems and insecticides. One of the questions was whether I was using beneficial nematodes in my nursery.



I did some research on Terracycle Worm Tea sold in WalMart and Home Depot. This is made by mixing castings with water. I had not thought it possible to ship and store the live microbe product in a box store distribution chain. If you are going to use this product with its limitations then buy the castings and make your own at a considerable savings of money.



I use a mixture of castings and cow manure (20/80) on my property for my flowering trees and plants. It seems to have eliminated nematodes in these areas. The cow manure is necessary in lace>Florida because our soil is so poor and sterile the beneficial microbes do not have anything to eat, needing the manure for food. Ugh! However the plants look better.

The product is extremely good for golf courses, but I hate golf courses and live in a conservation area where golf courses are banned (yes banned in Florida).