What Is Vermicomposting?
First, the definition of vermicomposting is using sludge to make fertilizer! These environmentally friendly animals can help reduce waste. I keep the red wobblers indoors in a vertical stacking box. The area I currently live in does not recycle unless someone pays a private company several hundred dollars a year to pick up the trash.
I grew up recycling, and I love nature, so I wanted to find a way to help reduce waste. I ordered the Worm Factory 360 indoor composting bin, and it’s surprisingly fun. There is no smell, and it is the right size for a family of two. They turn my kitchen scraps into a dark, rich, healthy soil enhancer. I use compost or “worm castings” to mix into the garden soil. My plants thank me for growing and producing delicious fruit.
They can also live in outdoor compost systems, plant beds in aquaponic systems, improve the health of your garden, aerate potted plants, and return nutrients to the soil and farmland. They can be produced as juveniles, and grown for use as bait for fish.
Should You Use Red or Blue Worms?
The worm that composts faster than the red wiggler (Eisenia fetida) is the Malaysian or Indian blue worm (Perionyx fossils), named for its deep purple color. They grow large and reproduce quickly. However, it is a tropical insect that requires warm temperatures, 45 – 92 °F (7 – 34 °C), and will die in the winter.
Malaysian blue worms are sometimes mixed with red wiggler culture and outcompete red worms. Next time there’s a storm and you see bugs crawling up the walls and not just the floor, you may have accidentally stumbled upon blue bugs! They react strongly to changes in pressure and are also known as stirrup bugs because they are found with their tails raised up to the ceiling to avoid the rain! Make sure you order from a trusted worm farmer!
Why do worms try to escape?
Well, you’ve made the decision and started creating a worm compost, but your worms have decided to take a break. What happened? Aren’t they happy in their new home? In fact, they are not! Here are some proven tips to prevent them from escaping.
1. Did you leave the lights on?
The insects are somewhat photophobic or fearful and react by digging immediately. New arrival insects will feel anxious after traveling from their old home and being placed in a new environment. They will leave the compost bin with the light left on for 24 to 48 hours. This is enough time for them to settle into their new home. Encourage this behavior by lining the box beforehand with some coco coir and peat moss.
2. Is it too wet or dry?
They like a moist environment. If they are too dry, they will suck the moisture right out of their skin and literally shrink. This often occurs in hot outdoor compost piles. A light spritz with a spray bottle will help support it. On the other hand, sealed plastic containers retain moisture well. It is best to purchase a compost that has a spigot at the bottom or attach it yourself. Excess water will collect at the bottom and drain out.
This is called worm leach and can be added to your feeding bowls. Adding a dry material such as newspaper or cardboard will help absorb any excess swelling. Typically, kitchen scraps such as lettuce or watermelon peels contain enough moisture to make adding water to the worm bin unnecessary.
3. What are you feeding them?
Some foods, such as tomatoes, coffee grounds, tea bags, onions, pineapple, and lemon peels, are high in acidity. It’s perfectly fine to put them in your vermicompost bin in moderation. Maintain a balance of non-acidic foods such as stale bread, spinach, cabbage, and potatoes. A pH between 6.0 and 7.0 is ideal. Chemical burns can also occur. Be careful not to add too much salt to the compost, like old pretzels. The bleach in white printer paper can also kill insects if it is present in large quantities. The key is moderation! Mix and match everything.
4. Are they getting enough air?
Vermicompost can be kept indoors because it has no smell! When one removes the lid, the contents smell like well-drained, wet earth. If it smells like rotting garbage, the environment has likely become anaerobic. They exchange gases through their skin. If the compost looks too boggy, throw it away! They will sink, and smelly anaerobic bacteria will take over the decomposition process instead. Insects and their bedding materials also require ventilation.
Drill a few extra holes in the sides of the box to increase airflow. Another possibility is that the composting material may be too compacted due to gravity. Shake out the bedding and some extra filling to create air pockets. Shredded cardboard egg boxes are ideal.
5. Are they in a quiet environment?
Children, newborn pets, and new owners love messing around with vermicompost. It’s okay to open the lid once a day to check for errors. No more fumbling to open the lid ten times a day. Imagine trying to sleep in the bedroom, and your roommate keeps opening the door, turning on the lights, and then starts shaking the bed! He won’t pressure you and make you quit? Insects feel the same way! Excessive shaking indicates they are in danger (eg from a plow or mole), so try to keep your vermicompost in an accessible but quiet place.
6. What species are your worms?
There are more than 4,400 known types of earthworm and not all of them are suitable for compost. The red wiggler (Eisenia fetida) does very well indoors and can handle seasonal changes to some extent. They can survive extreme temperatures of 40 to 80°F (4 to 29°C) and thrive at 68 to 77°F (20 to 25°C).
Other common species used for composting are the European nightcrawler and the Alabama jumpers. However, they may not suit your local soil conditions and require deeper soil or box depth.
