When referring to worm tea it can be one of two types of liquid fertilizers. The tea I was referring to in my post about my orchids is a byproduct of keeping worms for composting kitchen scraps. In a worm bin, liquid collects as the worms and microorganisms work at breaking down the kitchen scraps. This liquid is commonly called worm tea.
My worm bin is nice as it features a multi-level system that the worms migrate up through. At the bottom of this worm tower is a collection tray for the worm tea as it seeps down through the levels. At the collection tray there is a little spigot for me to turn on to collect the worm tea. I like to collect and store this “tea” in recycled plastic bottles.
When I use this worm tea I dilute it with about 50% water. You can use this to water anything really. I do not know the NPK makeup of this tea and I am sure it varies greatly but whatever it may be my plants really love it!
The other type of worm tea that I mentioned above is made in the same way one makes compost tea. You simply place some worm castings in a bucket and fill with water. This mixture is then allowed to steep for a few days before it is applied to the plants either by watering or by foliar feeding. This tea is equally amazing in the results one sees in their plants after applying.
I have been keeping worms for many years now and I really can not imagine my garden without them. The castings are like magic and I guard and protect my bin like it is a baby.
Below are some pictures of my worm bin. As I was taking these I was thinking to myself that this might be the strangest thing I have ever photographed before!
This is my worm bin. Each level is actually a tray that once it is filled with scraps you place another tray on top of it and fill that one and so on.
This is one of the trays that go with my worm bin. You can see the holes in the tray where the worms can migrate up into the next tray.
This picture shows me collecting some of the worm tea into a recycled bottle.
Interesting container. I’ve seen them advertised in gardening supply magazines. Thanks for sharing the process with us.
-Cynthia
Hi PGL, I’ve seen different types of worm bins before and this design is by far my favorite.
Yum!
I’m sure it does its intended job — your orchids are proof!
Hi Nancy, I was thinking when I wrote today’s title that it sounded awfully appetizing but it is what it is!
-Cynthia
I have always been afraid to try this, since I have to admit I’m kind of grossed out by the concept of a whole bunch of wriggly worms and their poop, but it seems like the results are amazing in your garden and that bin looks super easy to use. Right now, I’m ashamed to say, I’m giving the city all my food scraps to compost and not doing anything with them myself. Another couple of resolutions for the next gardening season – worm tea and hot compost!
- Karen
http://greenwalks.wordpress.com
Hi Karen, I agree the thought is a little gross and I have gotten a lot of strange looks from friends and neighbors when they ask me what is that thing for and I tell them. The bin makes it really easy to take care of them though. In fact they pretty much take care of everything themselves as long as you feed them that is! Maybe one day I’ll have to do a more indepth post on how I compost with worms. There are certain things like bedding and how wet the bin should be, etc.
Don’t be ashamed! At least you are still having your scraps composted and not going to the dump right??
-Cynthia
Everywhere I go, I hear about people vermicomposting. I read somewhere that it is possible to vermicompost in the space underneath a kitchen sink. I think I might try that, as it would be a convenient to just toss my food scraps into the vermicompost bin, and as someone who lives in an apartment, it’s not like I have tons of other places to chose from!
Hi Fern, thanks for visiting my site!
I have heard of people doing this too and as good of an idea as it sounds I have always been a little unsure of it. The worm bins can draw some types of insects (gnats, etc.) and that would make me a little leary of keeping one indoors. It would be very convient though as I get tired of lugging the kitchen scraps out to the worm bin and compost pile! -Cynthia
Cynthia – when I was filling in my name thought maybe I should be supplying passport # – what a fun blog & great photos. Will be visiting Portland in the next few weeks – never been & can hardly wait to see all the gardens. Can you keep your worms outside all year long? Our vermicomposting requires an indoor spot because of the cold.
Hi Barbara! Thanks for visiting my blog.
I *believe* you can keep the worms outdoors all year here but I bring the bin into my garage come winter as I feel better safe than sorry. Enjoy your visit to Portland as there are lots of beautiful gardens here! -Cynthia
Cynthia said: “Maybe one day I’ll have to do a more indepth post on how I compost with worms. There are certain things like bedding and how wet the bin should be, etc.”
Oh, please do. I have an entire winter before me to plan and dream about how I can have a productive worm bin next year! By the looks of a few of my plants, they could use a nice cup of tea right now
Annie’s Granny
Hi Annie’s Granny, I will be sure to pull together a more indepth post on my worm bin then!
It might have to be a two parter though as I am sure I can say a lot about them! -Cynthia