Worm Compost for Container Plants

Question

I’ve heard excellent things about worm composting using the non-invasive red wiggler type. I have one concern, however, which has kept me from investing in a worm composter. I mainly do container gardening (flowers and vegetables) and I have heard that worms are not a good thing to have in containers, even though they are normally considered good for open soil. I am concerned that if I add worm compost to potted plants, I will introduce worms either directly or by their eggs and thereby actually harm, not help, my plants. Is it true that worms are harmful in containers? And how likely is it that I will introduce them from the compost?

Answer 1

The compost you would be placing in the containers should not contain the worms themselves but rather the worm castings, which are collected from the vermicompost. The following articles should help, especially the one on how to harvest worm castings for you plants: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/composting/vermicomposting Worms can be harmful if added to containers in that their burrowing can actually use up the potting soil, reducing the amount of soil needed for plant roots to survive and airing it out, which in the ground is fine but in containers that already dry out fairly quickly, this isn’t good.