{"product_id":"ogs-worm-castings","title":"OGS - Worm Castings 25L","description":"\u003ch2\u003eWhy our castings?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur worm castings are created on a boutique worm farm that utilizes only the highest quality inputs. These include manure, food scraps and various grain\/bran.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis ensures our castings exceed the quality of all others since 'you only get out what you put in'.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMOST IMPORTANTLY\u003c\/strong\u003e, our worm castings are NOT screened for worms or eggs. This means you not only get worms in your castings but also more worms over time, creating a higher-quality soil structure and quality over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat Are Worm Castings?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWorm Castings are a nutrient-rich compost that worms have refined to have a neutral pH and excellent water-holding capacity. Humic substances within the Worm Castings act as chelating agents that enhance the availability of micronutrients to your plants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the same time, the negative surface charge of organic materials within our Worm Castings provides additional cation exchange sites to retain nutrient cations.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn addition to this, the substrate maintains an active complex community of decomposer organisms, which, in addition to earthworms, may include enchytraeids (pot worms), nematodes, protozoans and countless microorganisms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmongst the microcosm of microbes include rock phosphate solubilizing actinomycete microbes (which are responsible for the petrichor smell when it rains).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEarthworm Castings have been shown to have a Mycorrhizal spore density upward of 4 times that of conventional No Till field soil.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a result, the worm castings in your soil mix will cause the micro life in the container to act as vectors for viable Mycorrhizal fungi propagules to inoculate your plant roots with AMF.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow Do I Use Worm Castings?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFor Top Dressing: \u003c\/strong\u003eYou can't use too much! Distribute the desired number of castings into the mulch layer.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAs Compost: \u003c\/strong\u003eWe recommend you use worm castings as ⅓ of your soil mix, with the remainder composed of ⅓ base and ⅓ aeration.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor Aerated Compost Tea: Add 1-2 cups of worm castings into an appropriate filter bag and suspend it in a solution of 10L water into which air is being bubbled (bubble air into water for up to two hours before adding the castings).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAllow the tea to brew for 48 hours at 15-25 degrees Celsius. Use within 6 hours of the brew finishing.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eA Note on Casting Quality\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOur Worm Castings have over 85% porosity and 70% water holding capacity, giving them an ideal bulk density, translating into both fantastic water penetration and retention in your soil mix.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe worms are fed a premium diet consisting of manure, food scraps, grain\/bran, as well as thermophilic compost, high-quality soil amendments and a mixture of green and brown waste to maintain an optimal C:N ratio and prevent Nitrogen Immobilization.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWorms did not feed a wholesome diet will produce castings with a low bulk density, which can cause excessive substrate aeration and, concomitantly, a decline in water available to your plants.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWorms digesting the same matter repeatedly will produce castings with a very high bulk density, which reduces porosity and air-holding capacity and should be avoided.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhile the moisture content of vermicompost can be modified by adding water or drying, the capacity of a material to retain moisture remains largely constant, and it saves, in the long run, to buy high-quality castings initially!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSold per bag, at approx. 25 liters per bag.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Organic Gardening Solutions","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48520545435891,"sku":"HH-4168","price":80.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0657\/1599\/4867\/files\/WORM.jpg?v=1771368237","url":"https:\/\/www.hydrohub.com.au\/products\/ogs-worm-castings","provider":"Hydro Hub","version":"1.0","type":"link"}