Worms in potted plants?

ForeverCharmed · Mon Feb 28, 2011 7:45 am

So when I used to have a section of garden in my back yard, I would add worms from a local bait shop to help aerate the soil. So since I'm starting a garden in my dorm room (a planter box and some pots) I was wondering if adding worms would be recommended or even possible in potted plants. Somehow I think it might damage the roots, as potted plants roots are more clustered.

Bobberman · Mon Feb 28, 2011 8:44 pm

Worms need moisture so it can't et too dry! They also need something to eat! A pint container is not that big!. Watering from the bottom may help keep it alive. A piece of fruit burried in the dirt one a month may work. Indoors probably not a good idea unless it is a gallon pot!

DoubleDogFarm · Mon Feb 28, 2011 9:13 pm

This is part of Applestar's bag of tricks. She should have some information for you.

I will say, one of anything is never good. Two dogs, two ducks and two worms!

Even worms need friends.

Eric

applestar · Wed Mar 02, 2011 12:21 am

Thanks, Eric.

Here are a couple of posts detailing my earthworm in every pot approach:

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=181582#181582

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=177156

You might want o read the rest of this thread:

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=138912#138912

Bobberman · Wed Mar 02, 2011 12:53 am

Hey APPLE you are the greatest! Good stuff!

ForeverCharmed · Wed Mar 02, 2011 2:21 am

applestar wrote: Thanks, Eric.

Here are a couple of posts detailing my earthworm in every pot approach:

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=181582#181582

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=177156

You might want o read the rest of this thread:

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=138912#138912

Great stuff thanks for the post

. I regularly use coffee grounds mixed in with my water so its good to know it can act as a food source for the worms so they don't much on my roots. I'll have to give the tea idea a try too, as there s always an empty tea cup or two in my room.

rainbowgardener · Wed Mar 02, 2011 7:16 am

earthworms don't eat roots, though some kinds of nematodes and other soil worms do. Earthworms swallow dirt, leaves, etc, passing it through their bodies and absorbing from it nutrients from decaying vegetation and from microbes.

alaskagold · Wed Mar 02, 2011 11:47 am

Okay, on the question of what types of worms eat roots. I pulled up my celery last fall and noticed I had worms... which is almost unheard of here. They were attached to the roots.

Any ideas? Because it is bothering me now that I have read this thread.

applestar · Wed Mar 02, 2011 3:47 pm

Thanks! My kids call them "Mama's pet worms"

I love it that people appreciate my wacky ideas here.

I rather obsessively try them out, then tell it like it is -- your mileage may vary. Good luck with your little pets -- hope they're as hard working as mine.

alaskagold, give us a description. Color, length, thickness? "last fall" so cooler temps?

alaskagold · Wed Mar 02, 2011 3:53 pm

oppsy! Sorry AS.

They were the same color as earthworms (dark browish), about half as round as pencil and maybe 2 inches long. It was getting chilly... 40-ish at night high 50's during the day. Normal fall for here.

We do not have a lot of worms here unless it rains warm and that rarely happens, so seeing them wrapped around the roots was awesome, until I read the thread.

EDIT: I should have added that I know what earthwoms look like as I lived in WY as a wee tiny kid and played with them and they were huge! 12 inches at least.