Worm Tea (Wee) Usage

[Anton]

My local garden shop now has 5 litre bottles of Worm Tea which they suggest is 100ml to 1 litre dilution.

How are members using it, do you spray the diluted mix over leaves and all, or just pour it into the potting mix as per any fertilizer ?

Too lazy to go back through the archives to find the original threads.

[mayres]

Since it is a little on the spendy side I have used it as a spray (foliar feed) a couple times a week - banking on the pesticide properties as part of the benefit. I have a casual friend in my orchid society that has his own wormery and he thinks it is absolutely crazy to purchase worm pee when you can cheaply (as in FREE once you set up) produce gallons of the stuff yourself. He gave me a half gallon of his high powered dark solution (compared to the tea colored liquid that comes from Our Vital Earth) for free and I have been using that for some time and even for watering occasionally. I'm contemplating potentially setting up my own setup but haven't taken the plunge yet. I put a couple ounces in each gallon.

[Anton]

Thanks Mike.

I will be setting my own farm up, but had a few "distractions" this year and haven't had a chance as yet.

You happy with the results ?

[mayres]

My initial thought was that it helped me with my mealy bug problem, which was why I was inclined to start using it - a natural pesticide solution. Lately I have noted just a few occasional mealies showing up here and there and I have yet to figure out if this is because new ones are coming in or if I need to be spraying more often or more concentrated or ????? I definately like the concept, but have yet to determine how much benefit in measurable terms. Unless we (or someone) do(es) a large test with lots and lots of plants it is hard to know just exactly how much good it does - the good thing is that all of my orchids are growing nicely right now so at least I cannot complain that it is doing nothing. I just have a gut feeling that it is a benefit in both ways - growth and pesticide. At least for the next few months I will continue.........

[Anton]

The garden shop is charging AUD $3.50 a gallon!

They don't know it's worth.

[boxerfan]

I've been using Worm tea as a foliar spray for about 6 weeks now and I think there is some benefit in growth, although, I've no scientific proof. I purchase from OVE. They recommend 1/3 cup/Gallon (US) dechlorinated water to mix; I use 1/2 cup/ Gal. myself. (Anton, sorry I'm not proficient in metrics to convert ). I have a friend who is using it as well at the same concentration and she feels it is helping with growth as well. I belong to another forum as well and few people there put much stock in Worm Tea, in fact, I got royally blasted for expressing a positive viewpoint of the product. I guess when you get right down to it, it is all a matter of who you ask. Does Worm Tea work? Definitely, Maybe, I think. Lisa

[Anton]

Lisa, 4 litres to a US Gallon and a cup is 250ml. Useless information to you I know, but you may as well learn it because I reckon your country will have to go metric soon to keep up with the rest of the world.

Now, if you had a Mac there is a conversion widget that makes life easy when converting. (see sig)

[chefatplay]

Anton, I have used worm tea as the only form of watering and fertilizer and my plants are very happy. I don't have the large number of orchids many of you do, so using worm tea exclusively doesn't hurt the pocketbook that much. I know I don't have the experience that many of you have, but, when I started this, I needed simplicity. #1, if it becomes overly involved, I will grow weary. #2 I don't have the space for a lot of extras.

I took on Kevin's philosophy, keep it simple and organic. My plants are happy, new growths and leaves are growing. Next year will be important since all of my plants were bought this year.

[BillC]

Does it not depend on the size of the cup?

Bill

[Anton]

Now Bill!

We're talikng MEASURING cups, which, if you do any cooking, you would know are a set size.

As I am Chief Cook AND bottle washer in our house, I am knowledgable in these things.

[Sharyn]

Lisa: I've been using the OVE worm tea for nearly six months. I foiliar spray a couple times a week. The insecticidal properties seem to be working. Not sure if it's been good luck or the worm tea, but I've not had any pests.

Since it's a bit costly, I only use the tea for complete watering about once or twice a month. My dendrobiums especially like the worm tea. Not sure if I can attest to terrific growth due to use of the tea because we're in our growing season - so maybe they're growing well due to the worm tea, or maybe just because it's their season to grow. Time will tell.

p.s. Just use the converter link below to recalculate to metrics. It's much faster than having to learn a whole new system.
http://www.digitaldutch.com/unitconverter/

[pikevi]

I saw worm tea ( labeled 'worm-poo' ) in the store for the first time. I thought it was too expensive at $9 CAD approx. per 500ml (17oz).

I don't recall the brand name now.

From what I read here it seems I am right.

Maybe the worms are specially bred like Kobe(cattle) beef

Just in case a precision is required:

1 US Gallon = 3.84 litres
1 Imp. Gallon = 4.56 litres

1 Imp. Gallon = 1.20 US Gallon

[Anton]

Or, if you want to be really pricise 1 U.S. Gallon = 3.7854118 litres.

[Steve B]

I just bought 1/2 lbs. of red wigglers for my compost. I won't be able to harvest any soil until next year. But at the same time I bought 15 lbs. of worm castings. I use flowerchilds recipe and soak 3 parts water to 1 part worm castings in a stocking for 24 hours and mist with it in the mornings. I have just starting doing this so I have yet to see any improvements.

Steve

[NancyG]

I have been using worm tea from OVG for the past 6 months. I haven't had a pest problem except some scale on one plant that eventually hit the dust.

All my orchids really bloomed nicely this past spring even some that hadn't bloomed before. The root and foliage growth has been excellent too.

I use it misting and watering. I have about 30 orchids so not that many by some of your standards. I did switch about 5 orchids to semi hydroponics and most of them are doing well and growing. There was an adjustment period and the one phal is taking the longest to adjust. I use the worm tea solution, 1/3 cup per gallon to water them and just recycle it to use on the other plants too.

I'm hoping the worm tea will help with thrips which took alot of the blooms from a Dendrobrium. It is getting full of blossom right now and last year alot of them didn't bloom right before they were ready to open.

All in all I have been happy with the worm tea.

NancyG

[Maxxreps]

wow guys I'm learning so much... I've used bat **** before, but never worm! I've been using the U of M formula (high cal-mag, low N) lately with good results, but I may start alternating with something else.

[justloveorchids]

Steve while it will take a year before you have worm castings it will only be a couple of weeks before you have worm tea

As soon as that golden liquid appears you know your worm bin is up and running
be sure to house it in a warm dry corner or even in a shed / garage /basement

[Steve B]

justloveorchids,

I decided to not use a worm bin, but rather added them directly to my standard black outdoors composter. They can survive the winter months, as long as we have an even thaw come spring. Time will tell. It's all one big experiment for me, and I'm having a ball with it.

Steve

[mayres]

A note on the side thread that has developed in this one - 45 YEARS ago when I was in grade school they were saying that the US would be converting to metrics like the rest of the world. They started adding kilometers, grams, and milliliters (In paranthesis) to English measurements to start getting people used to the idea. I have not seen much change since the paranthetical addition MANY years ago. Hmmmm? I wouldn't count on it happening anytime soon. mike