So I found something I couldn't resist at the garden center the other day--"Dr Sulber's earthworm castings teabags." While I paid too much for them, I know, I couldn't help but think they'd be a good, nonclogging way to add fertilizer/micronutrients to my sprayer that I use to water seedlings.

Anyone else used these or any of their other products and have comments? Anyone practicing vermiculture who can report on castings tea for seedlings?

Nonclogging tea bags. Hmmm. The idea of tea is to grow microbes and relase them to the water. The bags will prevent the microbes from being released.

I wouldn't be too hasty, unless I were a biologist who knew the shoe size of the microbes in the castings tea-bag. It's worth a shot at least once, in my book.

Is there any way you can get more detailed information from the manufacturer??

I've used stockings as teabags for vermipost and compost and manure...can't see why a muslin teabag wouldn't work. If it is pricier, I'd just get regular castings and dump them in a stocking...but then I'm cheap.

Practical, brennewoman, practical!
Not cheap!
Got your seeds too...will send a pic when they "grow up!"

Laboratory filters to sterile filter for bacteria are .2 microns.
Pretty darn small.
I should think anything with the size holes of cheesecloth, stockings,socks, would let gazillions of microbes through.

Good Bacteria YES! Good Fungi NO!

Keep in mind that good mature compost as well as good compost tea recipes are composed of billions of microbes from various species. The more diverse the species, the more soil/plant fertility, disease and pest control, plant immunities, etc.

Fungi, actinomycetes, protozoa, etc. are much larger organisms than aerobic bacteria. Bacteria can tranfer through almost any filter, but not large fungal spores.

That's why I stop using the classic pantyhose, laundry bags, burlap sacks, etc. to filter my compost teas. I now pour all my ingredients in my tea brewer tub, let it brew and aerate 1-3 days, then I pour off the main liquid into another 5 gallon bucket. I dilute it from a 1:1 to 1:3 ratio. Then I apply it to my plants as a foliar/soil drench using a large holed watering can or just a cup and a bucket.

Aye,aye, captain!
Got the idea now that what we are really after are all those large microbial beasties and their associated herds.
Thanks for all your patience and kindness.
I have my pump and five gallon container all set and ready for the new season.