Vermicomposting has become a prevalent method of disposing of kitchen scraps. There are many claims that this type of composting works. Is vermicomposting a good idea? Is vermicomposting more effective than traditional Bokashi or bin composting? What do the worms produce? How does it compare with conventional compost?

This article will take a closer look at vermicomposting and compare it with bin composting.

What is Vermicompost?

Vermicomposting is the biological breakdown of organic wastes through the combined action of microorganisms and earthworms. This term can be interchangeably used with worm composting.

Vermicompost is the material left behind by worms after they eat and digest organic matter. It is also known as worm castings or aged worm poop.

This composting involves both worm digestion and decomposition. The worm poop is left to decompose for several weeks. It is a black, hummus-like substance, which, superficially, looks a lot like bin composting.

There are many ways to make this, but here is the basic recipe for homeowners. Add some food scraps, shredded paper, and the correct type of worms to a plastic container. As you add more food scraps, let the worms do what they want. Vermicompost is formed over many months.

This post will be more focused on home composting, which is typically done in a small container. However, vermicomposting can be done on larger scales.

Vermicompost has many benefits.

These are just a few of the claims that vermicomposting can make.

True claims

• It’s easy to do at home.
• If the process is managed correctly, it will be clean and odor-free
• It can be added to soil to increase the organic content and add nutrients.
• Microbes can indeed be added to the soil. But are there any benefits?
• Increases soil porosity – valid for all organic matter
• Increases soil’s moisture retention capacity – this is true for all organic matter.
• Slow-release nutrients are available for all types of compost
• Synthetic fertilizers will not burn as well as synthetic fertilizers. This is true, but synthetic fertilizers can only be misused and are likely to cause damage to plants.

Some Claims May Be True

• Increases plant vigor. It can be added to soil deficient in nutrients, just like any other type of compost. However, nutrient overloading can make soil toxic to plants if added to fertile soil with high organic content. This is the same as other forms of compost.
• It takes up less space than traditional composting. You can compost tiny quantities of material. Both methods can be used to compost larger quantities of material.
• Produces nutrient-rich compost. However, unlike all compost, it doesn’t contain high levels.
• Your plants will be able to resist or overcome pest infestations from plant pathogens. Too much compost can make plants weaker and more susceptible to pests.

False Claims

• Nutrients stimulate root growth. The absence of nutrients can stimulate root growth more as the plant must produce longer roots to obtain the nutrients.
• The soil may be enriched with beneficial microbes – but there is no evidence to support this claim. The ground already has many beneficial microbes.

Summary of Claims

You will quickly see that many of the claims are false or equally applicable to all forms of compost if you go through the entire list. This surprised me. I expected to find a lot of vermicompost-specific benefits, but I wasn’t surprised.

Vermicomposting: What Happens Inside the Worms?

Worms consume soil and organic matter, which travels down a long digestive tube with several vital sections. As a way to get rid of the calcium, the worm’s esophagus releases calcium carbonate. The food moves through the crop to the gizzard. To mash food into smaller pieces, the gizzard uses swallowed rocks. To aid digestion, enzymes are added. The material is then moved into the intestine, where fluids are added to digest it further. It absorbs nutrients needed by the worm, much like our own intestine.
Although this sounds very normal for animal digestion, there is another crucial ingredient: microbes. To encourage the growth of microbes, the worm regulates moisture and pH levels. These microbes are essential to the digestion and breakdown of organic matter.
The worm’s digestive system is inefficient, and only 5-10% of food is absorbed. The rest of the food is expelled as mucus-coated particles known as vermicasts or worm castings. The worm castings are rich in undigested plant material, nutrients, and soil, as well as a lot of microbes.

Vermicomposting: What happens outside the worm?

The worm doesn’t do much composting. Although it does some digesting, its primary contribution is to the composting process by breaking down organic matter and mixing it with microbes. It is important to remember that most composting methods occur after the casts are removed from the worm. This is the essential part of the composting process.
I assume that worms eat the casts in a compost bin.
Vermicompost can be ready in 6 weeks in a commercial environment that is optimized for productivity. Vermicompost can be prepared in as little as 4 to 6 months in worm bins that receive minimal care. It is unclear how the term “usable” is defined.

Does vermicompost just work for agriculture?

Earthworms are described as a partner of the farmer. They make soil more fertile and porous due to their daily actions. Vermicompost is recommended to be used as a fertilizer that is created naturally in agricultural lands without the need for any input from outside. It can be used in small-scale organic farming, kitchen gardening indoor gardening and container gardening, rather than for agriculture.

What are the properties of Vermicompost?

Vermicompost that is of good quality remains consistent and moist and dark black and is characterized by a pleasant earthy scent. It has water-soluble minerals and is a fantastic organic fertilizer that is rich in nutrients and a soil conditioner. Vermicompost with a balanced balance is composed of NPK Sulphur, calcium magnesium, iron and. It also has micronutrients such as manganese Zinc, Copper, Boron and molybdenum. In terms of nutrition, vermicompost can be superior than cow-dung manure.

Are vermicompost pots a good choice for plants?

Vermicompost is among the most effective fertilizers and soil conditioners which can be used to fertilize potted plants. It can be blended with cocopeat, soil, and even sand. Different combinations of potting mixtures can be created with vermicompost, based on the kind of plant being used. The nutrients in vermicompost are slowly and slowly released to plants, making it a perfect environment to use as potting media.

How to use Vermicompost in Pots?

The ideal way to incorporate vermicompost is to add it in the soil mix during the planting in a fresh plant. A part of Garden soil and one part coco-peat, as well as one portion of Vermicompost (1:1:1) All three ingredients are thoroughly mixed before being put into the container. This mixture is sometimes referred to in the form of a universal potting mix.
What’s the best way to get a dosage of Vermicompost?
As well as being a component of the potting mix the majority of potted plants need to be fed an extra amount of vermicompost throughout their different phases of growth. Vermicompost should add to a pot every 2 to 3 months. If vermicompost is mixed superficially with the upper layer that is the soil it’s called Top Dressing. It will then guarantee the healthy and rapid development of plants.
Utilization of Vermicompost to houseplants
Vermicompost is a great choice for the majority of the ornamental, foliage and flowers that grow indoors. It helps maintain their color, dimension, form and overall appearance of the foliage and branches of houseplants through giving a consistent supply of nutrients.