ciratac

If I want to infuse some more nutrients into the soil, is it effective to put down a layer
of some sort of fertilizer on top of the soil, then water so the nutes seep in? With
each watering, a little more would seep in.

Obviously the fertilizer in question must be water-soluble, so this clearly wouldn't work
with bone meal for example.

Specifically, I want a bit of a nitrogen boost. I know I could just get some fish emulsion,
but I have an extra bag of worm castings sitting around so I figured I'd make use
of them. It's pretty hard to burn a plant with worm castings, right? I thought I'd lay
down a 1/2 inch layer on top of the soil.

-ciratac-

3hounds

I sprinkle worm castings in orchid baskets, etc. and water it in, so I don't see what your plan would not work, with one caveat.
These plants are outside? Because exposed worm castings will attract flies, gnats, dogs, cats, and critters of all kinds. (OK, I'm exaggerating, but still....)
If attracting bugs doesn't bother you, go for it. I would scratch it into the surface as much as I could, though, just on general principle.

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ciratac

> If attracting bugs doesn't bother you, go for it.

Well alright! Thanks.

The soil mix with worm castings and composted manure, animal tankage, etc., hasn't
seemed to attract an excess of insects, so I'll take the chance. Then again, that stuff
is all mixed in and not exposed. Maybe that's the reason.

Also, these worm castings are labelled "no odor" and indeed they have very little.
Does this mean I have some weird treated version of worm castings?

3hounds

hmmm..... I don't know.
My WC's come in a plain plastic bag (per lb. bulk packaging, I guess) with no label at all, and they have next to "no" odor.

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ciratac

> they have next to "no" odor.

I wonder what it is that attracts the bugs then, if not the odor.

Anyway, 36 hours or so after watering in the worm castings (and a sprinkle of the organic
fertilizer mix for good measure), the plants have greened up significantly. There's a decent
layer of wc left on top of the soil, so with the next watering, there should be another
infusion of N, I hope.

3hounds

Just because humans can't smell it doesn't mean critters and bugs can't.
We think we're a superior species but when it comes to smell, we are way behind the rest of the animal kingdom.

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Hortus_Ortus

I findthat my worm casting dont smell UNLESS I get them wet and they sit a little while. They begin to ferment something awful

I would try and rake the castings in as best as you can to cut down on the future odiferousness.

Hortus

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ciratac

> Just because humans can't smell it doesn't mean critters and bugs can't.

Good point.

> We think we're a superior species

Well, we did invent Spam and Suzy-Qs. Isn't that sufficient evidence of our superiority?


> I find that my worm casting dont smell UNLESS I get them wet and they sit a little while.

Okay, I'll watch for that. Even in the open air they ferment and smell? Until now I hadn't
used them in any way besides mixing them into the soil, and there's been no noticeable smell
from that (at least to this human's nose ).

Thanks for all the helpful comments y'all.