Posts Tagged ‘worm compost’
Worm Care Guide
Keep the lid on the bin to protect the worms from light, to prevent escapees, and to keep flies/pests out. Keep bedding damp! When bedding gets dry, add water slowly. A layer of damp newspaper or coffee filters on top helps seal in moisture. Break or tear food into small pieces to encourage faster processing. Bury food below the…
Read MoreRotline: Is it possible to have too many worms in my vermicompost bin?
Rotline Question: Is it possible to have too many worms in my vermicompost bin? Answer: Red wiggler worms are amazing in so many ways, and population management is one of them. So, the short answer to the question is “No, you can never have too many worms!” Here’s why:As worms adjust to their home, they…
Read MoreFrom the Rotline: Why do I need bedding in my worm bin? Can’t I just feed them food scraps?
Rotline question: Why do I need bedding in my worm bin? Is it okay if I just give the worms my food scraps? Answer: Bedding, which can be made of shredded paper, coconut coir, cured manure, or dry leaves, is an absolute necessity in your worm bin. Supplying your wiggly workers with bedding has a…
Read MoreComposting with Worms: Wiggling through Winter
Temperature is incredibly important to the productivity and livelihood of worms. Just like us, worms are happiest in moderate temperatures, so they may also need some help to thrive during the cooler months. Fortunately, most of San Diego County rarely experiences freezing temperatures, which can be deadly to worms. After all, they’re mostly water! Nonetheless,…
Read MoreSquiggling into Summer with Worm Composting
Our temperate San Diego weather is usually perfect for accommodating the red wrigglers used for vermicomposting. Their preference is for temperature ranges of 55 – 77° F, but they can tolerate temperatures above and below this range. Temperatures should be measured inside the bin since they can vary significantly from external measurements. As we approach…
Read MoreRed Wiggler Worm Reproduction
As composters, we definitely love our worms. And if you have a healthy vermicompost bin, then you definitely know there’s lots of love between the worms, too. But how exactly do our worm bins become so populous? Red wiggler worms are frequent reproducers. If conditions in the bin are ideal, each worm can produce up…
Read MoreFrom the Rotline: Are Super Dense Worm Castings Still Usable?
Yes! Thick, fudgy castings are as viable a soil amendment as finer, more granular castings. Denser castings may, however, necessitate some adaptations to traditional methods of harvest and application. First, an important distinction: – Castings/Vermicast = Worm manure – Vermicompost = A mixture of worm castings and decomposed or partially decomposed organic matter that has not been digested by the worm. Worm castings are…
Read MoreWhat should you do if your worms are trying to escape the bin?
If your bin becomes too acidic, too moist, too dry, too compact, full of rotting food, full of food they don’t like, too hot, too cold or they just organize an expedition, your worms can attempt an escape from your bin. This thwarted escape plan (if your lid is on tight) ends up with many worms in…
Read MoreFrom the Rotline: Where can I buy worms in San Diego?
For vermicomposting bins, the type of worms you need are “red wigglers” or “red worms” (Eisenia foetida). These worms, as well as other composting supplies, are available for purchase at Solana Center through the online store. Most garden centers sell them as well. If you are starting a Wriggly Wranch Worm Bin, you will need about 1…
Read More“Rotline” Question of the Week: How can I tell if my worm bin is too dry?
Moisture content is very important when composting with worms. This is because your red wigglers breathe through their skin and need appropriate moisture to do so. Often times the materials you add will give your bin moisture, but you will find that you will need to add water to obtain appropriate moisture content (especially with…
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