Worm Tea - further testing -accerated growth rate

[jerrymeola]

I have been running numerous tests on Orchids with Worm Tea.

I took two flowering Paphs to my office after the Orlando Home and Garden show to see if Worm Tea would extend the life of a flower. It was not too good a test since I did not know how old the flower was when it started.

Well the flower fell off in a month (2-3 months from bud is my expectation) and then a real interesting thing happened.

Paphs which are normally slow growing started to grow like a weed. Paul who shares my office says he can sit and watch it grow. It grew three new pups 3-5 inch's high in only 8 weeks.




It is growing hydroponically in Worm Tea without any drainage. It is 28 feet from the nearest window. I tried to measure the florescent light level, but it was so low as to be useless.

If you look at the picture the little black vertical stem in the middle is the original flower stem and that was the height of the plant. The pup in front grew another inch in the week since I took the photo and the two pups in back are 4 1/2 to 5 inch's each. The shine on the leaves is Worm Tea sprayed directly onto the leavs.

The original plant has lost three leaves already and I expect the two left (yes only two of the leaves in the photo were on the plant 8 weeks ago) will fall off soon.

I will do another posting to show how to grow these in a closed vase.

[chefatplay]

Great picture, Jerry. Are you misting your orchids daily? I have received my worm tea, thank you, and misted today for the first time. I'm anxious to have your opinion. It looks like you really wet the leaf. Should I do this for my Phals?

[siriusmk]

That's exciting news. I had just received my shippment of worm tea last week and used it on all my miltoniopsis. I wasn't sure what dilution I should use because it came with vague instructions (up to a 1/4 cup per gallon). I used a teaspoon per three quarts. How much would u recommend I dilute it?

[jerrymeola]

ChefAtPlay

I mist it whenever I feel the need to do something. It is a lot safer than watering too often.

When I am doing an outdoor show I mist 6-10 times during the day. The flowers and leaves hold up to the heat like that. I had Oncidium in full sun at the St Petersburg show and at the end of the day the flowers were still bright and strong.

Siriusmk

The recommended dilution is 50 to one. It can safely be used at more than double that amount, but I have no idea if the higher levels are beneficial.

35 to 1 dilution is about once ounce of concentrate to a quart of water. Remember to use non-chlorinated water or the chlorine will kill some of the microbes.

[sandra]

I keep putting this off and keep regretting it. As soon as I log out of here, I'm placing my order. I could just kick myself but I have others that will gladly stand in line to comply.

[chefatplay]

OMG, the bottle said to mix with a gallon of water, so I did. I have SUPERTEA. Now I know I can dillute further. Thank you for the instructions.

[jerrymeola]

It you have the four ounce bottle that is 4 ounces to a gallon or one ounce to a quart. That is about a 35-1 ratio and works fine.

you can dilute it with another quart of water to make about a 50-1 ratio.

[sandra]

Jerry, the way in which you've spoken about worm tea from all your threads and being a huge grower of orchids for many years, this must be that once-in-a-lifetime (almost) miraculous discovery you've hit on.

All of your advice and suggestions have been well taken. I've read most of your threads and pay very close attention to everything you suggest. I'm glad you're here and especially being that you live in Florida, the same region that I'm growing my 17 orchids in...compared with your thousands.

I just ordered a gallon of the worm tea concentrate from Our Vital Earth and am looking forward to start using it.

Thanks so much for being here. I appreciate your enthusiasm.

[chefatplay]

Ditto that, Sandra. Maybe we could get together and make a journey to our FL ORCHID DOCTOR some time. Would love to his collection. Have you ever been there?

[flowerchild]

I purchased worm casting to make my own worm tea as it would have cost me over $30.00Cdn to have the worm tea sent to ontario. I went to the hydroponics store and bought worm castings in which I put into a stocking and let sit for 12-24hrs voila worm tea, I have been using it for about 3wks now misting my 20ish orchids and water into the medium and so far so good, my maxillaria tenufolia is doing something(not sure what) that is has never done before, not even grow and I have owned this little gem for 2yrs now. This site is a fountain of useful info, my aunt grows orchids as well and she thinks that I am crazy for trying all this stuff, but we at orchid geeks really know who the crazy one is!!!!!

[chefatplay]

Very interesting, flowerchild. I would have never thought of that. hmmmm

[sandra]

Originally Posted by chefatplay

Ditto that, Sandra. Maybe we could get together and make a journey to our FL ORCHID DOCTOR some time. Would love to his collection. Have you ever been there?

Now that would be fun Ellen...............

[gerneveyn]

Flowerchild, did you add anything to the worm castings to make the tea? I went to a local hydroponics store and bought castings. The store owner told me to mix in molasses with the castings. I wish I'd thought of using a stocking.

[justloveorchids]

Sorry but i simply do not understand all of your reluctance to simply start a wormerie of your own

they are so easy and ecological
they do not need to cost much as you can use any old large plastic container with a lid

any fishing tackle shop will sell you brandling worms and all the peelings and food scraps from your table feed the worms

[flowerchild]

Originally Posted by gerneveyn

Flowerchild, did you add anything to the worm castings to make the tea? I went to a local hydroponics store and bought castings. The store owner told me to mix in molasses with the castings. I wish I'd thought of using a stocking.

Gerneveyn: No I did not, the back of the bag didn't say anything about molasses. What did the person you bought the worm castings from say that it was for and how much do you add? Thanks Cindy aka flowerchild

[gerneveyn]

I didn't ask why. But I read on other sites to add molasses and other nutrients. On one site, it says one liquid ounce of molasses and an equal amount of sea kelp will encourage bacterial development of the tea. Here's the site: http://www.allthingsorganic.com/How_To/09.asp

[flowerchild]

Originally Posted by gerneveyn

I didn't ask why. But I read on other sites to add molasses and other nutrients. On one site, it says one liquid ounce of molasses and an equal amount of sea kelp will encourage bacterial development of the tea. Here's the site: http://www.allthingsorganic.com/How_To/09.asp

Gerneveyn: here's what it says on the back of package of worm compost that I bought: Casting Tea, soak 1 part castings in 3 parts water for 12-24 hrs. Stir well and add water as usual;Casting tea is excellent for fruiting , flowering or difficult to access plants.

[gerneveyn]

How dark was the tea you applied to your plants?

[chefatplay]

Jerry, I'm going to try misting them daily and see what happens. I misted them last night, and it dried before I went to bed. I didn't drench them, but there was water on the leaves. Even misted the violets. The leaves drank it right up!

[flowerchild]

Originally Posted by gerneveyn

How dark was the tea you applied to your plants?

It is black when shaken, but you must shake it before you use it otherwise the sediment lays on the bottom of the spray. But I have seen some improvement in my orchids.