Worm castings v perlite

[Gingerbeard]

Can worm castings be used in lieu of perlite? Not a combination of both. Just castings.

[Wannabebotanist23]

I don't think so.
Worm castings = fertilizer. Add to soil for plant food.

Perlite = small rocks to help with soil drainage. Soil with fine to super fine minerals have very poor drainage so by adding perlite you now have a mix between medium, small, fine and super fine. Which allows for better drainage because there is more space between the particles.

[PRIMO]

Wannabe nailed it.

[homegrown]

have to agree Gingerbeard ..i think worm castings are more dirt/soil/whatever they been eating shit. I know when im out fishing and you put them on a hook..they dont shit out perlite..they just shit all over the carpet.. lol

[Gingerbeard]

Worms don't shit perlite? That is goddamn funny enough to give me a right roar.

[homegrown]

glad i could help.

[Daskahn]

Another point would be worm castings.. are acidic to plants and must be diluted but I could of got the question wrong

[Cali]

You can use rice hulls instead of perlite for aeration.

[SmashGuitar]

Worm castings don't have much experience with them in a grow but as an avid fisherman after a few beers i have ate a worm with a handful of castings! Nasty stuff. Will never do it again. I would just leave it for plants!

[Gingerbeard]

Looks like y'all have made my decision for me. I'm going to have to find worms that will shit perlite, per homegrown . I'm going to have to eat some, to follow SmashGuitar. Grow rice because Cali said I should.
There's always so much more to do.

[homegrown]

hey Gingerbeard you could always put two or three worms in each pot..they can help with aeration. I put them in my first soil grow..they did their thing until i started to flush for harvest with black strap molasses. That seemed to kill them...or they drowned..one or the other

[Gingerbeard]

I did exactly that with this grow. 3 worms in each pot. I have no idea if they're still down there. Probably not because there are no castings on the soil. Was curious, as well, about nutrients killing worms.

[Cali]

Lol there is no biology in chemical fed plants or soil I should say. Salt based nutrients are no good for soil life. I’m sure you killed them or almost sure I can always be wrong. When run my fingers in top of my soil or grab a hand full 10 times out of 10 there are worms form babies to adults. No bottled chemicals in my soil though.

[Gingerbeard]

My bottled nutes are natures own marine animal squeezin's GO Box. Kelp and squid ink and other stuff.
How do you suppose worms feel about diatomaceous earth? Would it be like pooping glass? Do worms get infections on their poopers? How do worms scratch themselves? How many worms does it take to change a light bulb? Don't be silly. Worms can't change light bulbs. No thumbs. What if worms had thumbs? Do worms hitchhike? Why didn't the worm go hitchhiking? Don't be silly. Worms cant hitchhike. No thumbs.

[Cali]

Exactly lol