Using Worm Castings During Flowering (Magic Results!)
Plants’ nutritional needs change throughout their life.
For example, they need more of certain nutrients when they are in the vegetative stage (growing more stems and leaves) and more of others when they are in the reproductive stage (producing flowers).
Worm castings are becoming increasingly popular as an organic fertilizer, but is it okay to give plants worm castings right before or during flowering?
Let’s find out…
Can I Use Worm Castings During Flowering?
Worm castings can be given to plants before as well as during flowering. Worm castings contain phosphorus and other micronutrients that promote the development and growth of flowers. Worm castings will not inhibit or hinder flower production in favor of vegetative growth.
The brilliant thing about worm castings is they can be given to plants at any time, in any season. So you don’t have to wait until your plants have finished flowering.
You may be worried that giving your plant vermicompost during flowering may promote the growth of leaves and stems, thereby reducing flower production. This is an issue with some fertilizers, especially ones high in nitrogen.
Worm castings contain nitrogen but at a low level. They also contain phosphorus and potassium – essential nutrients for flowering plants. Therefore, giving your plants worm castings while they’re blooming is a brilliant idea.
A “blooming brilliant” idea 🙂
Let’s explore some of the reasons why castings are so beneficial for flowering plants…
Are Worm Castings Good For Flowering?
Flowering is hard work for plants! Producing flower buds, pollen, and nectar is energetically expensive and requires a lot of nutrients and trace minerals.
It’s important to give plants a little extra nutrient boost while in flower. Not only will this ensure a spectacular display of blooms, but it will keep a plant strong and healthy during this moment.
Worm castings are ideal for flowering plants because they directly increase plant health and improve soil conditions. (This indirectly benefits a plant’s growth and flowering).
There are several reasons why worm castings are an excellent organic fertilizer during blossoming:
- The beneficial microbes in worm castings protect plants against pests. During flowering, plants are especially prone to sap-sucking insects, like aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites.
- Worm castings boost a plant’s natural immunity against diseases. Because of how taxing flowering is for plants, they are most susceptible to diseases at this stage of their life.
- Worm castings enhance the soil’s ability to retain water. Plants need a lot of moisture to produce big, robust flowers, so it is helpful if the root zone can stay moist for longer.
- The nutrients in worm castings are pre-digested and are, therefore, more accessible for plants to absorb. Worm castings give flowering plants instant access to nutrients when they need them the most.
- Worm castings contain trace elements like zinc, iron, magnesium, copper, manganese, borax, and cobalt. These micronutrients help plants produce large numbers of big colorful blooms.
- Worm castings help to balance the soil pH because they are entirely neutral.
How To Use Worm Castings For Flowering
Worm castings are far more versatile than regular chemical fertilizers that must be used in a very specific way. And there are many ways to use worm castings to benefit flowering plants.
You can either add worm castings to the soil as is or make worm tea. If you’ve never used worm castings in your garden before, here’s how:
Mixing In Worm Castings Before Flowering
Mixing worm castings into the soil in which flowering plants are growing is a simple way to nourish plants and prepare them for flower production.
- Before planting your flowers, add some worm castings to the planting hole.
- Then, mix the soil at the bottom of the hole up to incorporate the worm castings.
- After filling up the hole and planting your flowers, give the plant a generous amount of water. The water must penetrate all the way to the roots to allow the worm castings to work their magic.
For established plants in your garden:
- Add a layer of worm castings (around an inch thick) to the soil around the plants.
- Do this about 2 months before they start producing flower buds.
- Use a rake to gently work the worm castings into the soil and water generously so that all the goodness from the worm castings penetrates deep into the ground.
Mixing worm castings into the soil is excellent for giving plants a gradual, steady supply of nutrients before they flower.
Likewise, watering blooming plants with worm tea is a fantastic way to provide them with an instant boost…
Worm Castings Tea During Flowering
To brew your flowering plants a cup, or rather a bucket, of tea, all you need is five gallons of rainwater and two cups of worm castings.
You can use tap water, but you need to let it sit in a bucket for 24 hours. This gives the chlorine time to dissipate.
Mix the worm castings into the water and let the mixture steep for 24 hours. You should notice the solids sink to the bottom, leaving you with a slightly opaque, brown liquid.
Decant the liquid into a watering can and use it on all your plants that are in flower.
Your plants will thank you for it!
Some people like to use an old T-shirt or a piece of muslin cloth as a “tea bag.” You wrap the worm castings in the fabric and place the whole bundle in the bucket of water.
This extra step is optional, but the tea bag method helps keep the solids separate. If large bits make their way into your watering can, they can clog up the nozzle.
Final Thoughts
Did you know worms can eat flowers too? If you have your own worm farm, don’t hesitate to give them the fanned flowers as part of their diet.
Whether you have a cut flower garden or want your shrubs and annuals to flower more spectacularly, you should use worm castings! This wonderful organic fertilizer is ideal for use before, during, and after blossoming 🙂