Worm Tea (All Natural Fertilizer, Anti-Fungal, and Pesticide)

[Douglas Scanlan]

Does anyone else here have any experience with using "worm tea" as an orchid food. It is the concentrated excrement from worms (used in composting tanks) diluted in water at a ratio of 50 to 1. It is supposed to be a very effective all natural fertilizer as well as antifungal and peticide all wrapped into one. You can spray the whole plant with it, as well as water the roots with it. Claims are that it is so effective that it is almost like a growth boosting steroid- with miraculous results.
My question is whether I would have to be apply it only every other week like with chemical fertilizers, or if I could accually apply it as often as desired- perhaps even with every watering. Im not sure if this kind of fertilizer can burn the roots of my plants or not, but it is said to be high in nitrogen and phosphorous.

[jkofferdahl]

I've used it in the past, but more in organic gardening than orchid growing. It's essentially the same as using cow manure tea, which is also extremely effective. The teas are best as fertilizers. But as with any other fertilizer, you want to not over-fertilize. I would use it sparingly.

I don't know anything about the pesticidal qualities of worm casting or manure teas; it's always been my understanding that there really aren't any. I suppose it's possible that the stuff just smells to nasty for insects to want to eat the plant!

As a fungicide, the tea is really completely ineffective. However, as a preventative it is excellent. In other words, treating a plant already infected with a fungus with the tea isn't going to do anything. What the tea does, though, and does well, is act as a barrier against fungi, blocking them from being able to settle onto a plant.

[Douglas Scanlan]

I've researched two retailers that both claimed it is also a pesticide, but I don't have a problem with pests anyhow. I do have to be on the guard for fungus though. This is good feedback because I was thinking of using the worm tea in every watering, which sounds like a bad idea now (unless perhaps at a 1/4 strength mix?).