Can someone give me a definiative answer here? Google is getting frustrating. Do worm casting naturally contain Mycorrhizal fungi? I believe the answer is yes but would like to know definatively.

Hi Dave,
That's a good question! I've done a lot of research on this, and while I don't know for sure if VC contains the actual fungus per se, but as I understand, it does contain Mycorrhizal fungi spores.

From what I've read, Mycorrhizals live around plant roots, where they form a relationship with the plants, and act as an extension of the roots themselves. Perhaps a worm bin environment would not be as suitable for the fungus to thrive as say, in a garden? So I would assume, that if you were to use VC on your garden plants however, you would be thereby innoculating the plants with the fungal spores.

This is the reference I had bookmarked:
(maybe you've already read it?)
http://www.revitalfertilisers.co.nz/index.asp?PageID=2145820807

Miss D

I do belive they do contain Mycorrhizal spores.

Dean

Thanks for the info guys. That was my basic understanding of it. I just wanted to make sure that I understood it correctly so that I as I teach others about our favorite ammendment I was giving them the correct information.

Also, I've read there are two types of teas depending on the plants your feeding. Those high in bacterial content and those high in fungal content and those microbes are encouraged by additives you put in the tea; i.e. kelp, rock powder and other stuff. Does anyone know about this? What plants like what?

Apparently one of these additives encourage fungal growth in the tea, so I'm guessing the fungus wouldn't grow if it weren't already in the castings but I'm just guessing.

Mrs.M wrote: "Also, I've read there are two types of teas depending on the plants your feeding.

I dont think that there are two types of casting tea. I think that the difference is between casting tea and compost tea.

Casting tea is just that; tea made just from worm castings.

Compost tea is made from traditional compost.

Not that the two cant be used together, or the materials mixed to make a &quot;SUPER TEA&quot;.<br><br>Post edited by: squirminwormfarm, at: 2008/04/03 11:18