Do you use neem for pest control too? If so, how? I read a tidbit regarding neem in a container gardening book but it didn't go into detail on how the oil is distributed, etc.

I have redworm bins and never read anything about using neem with them. Is your reason for health, potential fruit fly issues, or...?

I've read several sources that claim that Neem dramatically increases the size and population of worms, in addition to producing superior castings.

Here are several examples:

"In greenhouse studies, when neem leaves and seed kernels were incorporated into potting soil containing earthworms (Eiseniafoetida), the number of young worms produced increased 25 percent. In field trials there were no differences in the number of worms, but the average weight of each worm was highest in neem-treated plots. Thus, it seems possible that neem products can favor earthworms, at least under certain conditions."

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Author - Rossener,J and Zebitz,C.P.w
Reference - The effect of soil treatment with neem products on earthworms 3rd Intl. Neem Conf, Nairobi, Kenya July 1986,72
Neem seed kernels were mixed with soil at 5% conc., earth worms in treated plot soils showed greater weight and lower mortality compared with worms in untreated soils. Average wt. was highest in neem treated plots.

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Gajalakshmi S, Abbasi SA.
Centre for Pollution Control and Energy Technology, Pondicherry University, Kalapet, Pondicherry 605-014, India.
Vermicomposting of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) was accomplished in "high-rate" reactors operated at the earthworm (Eudrilus eugeniae) densities of 62.5 and 75 animals per litre of reactor volume. Contrary to the fears that neem--a powerful nematicide--might not be palatable to the annelids, the earthworms fed voraciously on the neem compost, converting up to 7% of the feed into vermicompost per day. Indeed the worms grew faster and reproduced more rapidly in the neem-fed vermireactors than in the reactors fed with mango leaf litter earlier studied by the authors (Gajalakshmi et al., 2003). Another set of experiments on the growth, flowering, and fruition of brinjal (Solanum melongena) plants with and without fertilization with vermicompost, revealed that the vermicompost had a significantly beneficial impact.

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As for other uses of Neem...I use Neem for everything I can - insect infestations on my vegetable garden (excellent on white flies), fruit trees (it quickly cured an unknown infestation in my persimmon tree), lawn, flower beds, roses, etc.; flea and tick control on my dogs (my Neem shampoo kills fleas almost instantly); parasite control and food supplement for my laying hens; fertilizer/soil amendment in my garden and potted plants; in my kitchen cabinets for controlling grain moths, etc., etc., etc.

Plants (and my hens) love it. IÂm going to experiment with castings tea and Neem as my plant fertilizer/insect repellent this season.

Taz

the reason the worms in the Neem bin possibly did better could be because in the other bin they were only fed leaves. Worms will always do better with a variety of feedstock as oposed to just leaves that are a high carbon. If you have to pay to add the Neem I would suggest you use it elsewhere as castings are superior without it, but if you have much and want to throw it in go ahead obviously it wont hurt the worms.

Taz - Did you have any luck with using the Neem cake in your worm bin?

i took the risk and added dried neem leaf power. it wiped out in one day all the mites in the bin, the worms appear to be safe and doing OK. no damage to worms so bar. There was massive infestation of mites earlier as i was over feeding. I stopped feeding for a week nearly and then put in neam leaf powder. it seems safe to worms but will keep my fingers crossed and check again after 2-3 days

Great news I see still some flies inside but not any mites. ANC all safe. None

Where did you get the neem leaves from and how much did you use. Just sprinkled on top or mixed in bedding?

Did you have white or red/brown mites? I have the light brown and fast moving mites that go outside the bins. They also crawled up my arms and every where. Never had them before. They came with the last batch of worms that I bought.

Can get in flower shops in Singapore. Some countries you won't. But you can buy neem cake powder online or from garden

In my office there are 3 trees also from where I can pluck. But gren leaves need to be dried in a shade before adding to bin.

I had both red and white mites.. dried neem leaf powder wiped off both in one single day. Still had white tiny worms crawling on sides of the bin all over. So yesterday sprayed neem oil which is slowly killing them I think. Must wait and see. Also fruit flies did not die with neem powder. But I think neem oil spray has taken care of them. Will check results and let you know. Dud not spray too much neam oil. Make sure you keep the bin under light so the worms burrow in then spray neem oil on surface of the bedding

Neem leaf powder or neem cake powder is available online but try in garden nursery selling fetilizers for plants. They sure will have and may be cheaper there. Here I get on packet of 250 gms for 4 dollars. Pure neem powder. Neem leaves one big bunch 1 dollar. I just pluck from office trees and dry them at home. Dries in a few days

Dried leaves are effective for manyknths and can be stored in a container for months. No insects will come nearer. In India we believe neem can ward of most virus including deadly small pox. Having a neem tree at home is considered healthy. Put 2 leaves in drinking water overnight and drink it. It will clear your guts of most unwanted bacteria and worms in one drink.

But should not drink daily as it can wipe out beneficial bacteria

VN: Thank You for all your info. Where I live, dried Neem leaves is rather pricey and they are for human consumption. Will check ebay.

How many grams do you estimate you used to get rid of the mites this time around?

I think a thin layer of powder over the surface will do. Spray some water after you sprinkle the powder. The juice kills mites faster. Depends on your bin size. Look for dry neem leaf powder or Neem cake powder both are very effective. Neem cake powder is basically neem seed dried and powdered