Should worm farms be covered?

On really hot days, you may need to cool down the worm farm by watering it with a watering can and rainwater. Make sure there's some form of cover material (the 'worm blanket') in place such as newspaper over the bedding and food, to keep the worm's environment dark and moist.

Does a worm farm need to be covered?

Coverings protect the worms from the elements such as rain. They also keep the top of the bin dark, and worms like it dark. Keep your bin covered and keep your worms happy! Uncle Jim's Worm Farm ships high-quality live composting worms (Red Worms), as well as Super Reds (European Night Crawlers) and mealworms.

What do you cover worm farms with?

Spread them out over the bedding and cover with moistened newspaper or moistened hessian. Let them settle in for a week or so before you begin feeding them. Store the worm farm in a cool place out of the sun because they really need a constant temperature.

Can I leave the lid off of my worm bin?

Your worm bin should have a lid. Keeping the lid on discourages escapees. A poorly designed bin might not have good drainage. Maybe it doesn't have enough air holes, or the holes are blocked.

Do you need a worm blanket?

Whether your vermicomposting bin is situated indoors or outdoors, you should consider adding a worm blanket. Even though most bins are already equipped with a lid, a worm blanket comes in handy. It helps maintain moisture, protects your worms from the elements, and keeps the bin dark.

7 Common Worm Farm Problems Solved

What is the best bedding for a worm farm?

Can I use a towel as a worm blanket?

A worm blanket can be made from hessian, layers of newspaper, cardboard and even an old cotton towel or sheet.

How wet should a worm farm be?

The moisture in the worm bin bedding should be as moist as a wrung-out sponge. Grab a handful of bedding and squeeze it tightly in your hand. You should see only a few drops of water. If you can't, then your worm farm may be too dry.

Is it OK to have maggots in my worm farm?

There are flies or maggots in the farm!

Tiny little vinegar flies are occasionally present in worm farms (and compost bins) and are absolutely nothing to worry about. If larger flies or maggots are present, it is generally a sign that food (especially meat) is rotting rather than being eaten by your worms.

Should I stir my worm bin?

There is definitely no need to completely mix up your worm bin contents. The worms themselves – along with various other critters do a lot of mixing on their own.

Why is my worm farm so wet?

Reasons Why It's Too Wet

A bin gets too wet usually because something is out of balance. The food scraps you add are moist; the worms are eating away in there, and the drainage and air holes are supposed to compensate. However, you might have fed the worms too many high-moisture foods.

How can I keep my worm farm warm in the winter?

How often should I water my worm farm?

Once every week, pour about five litres of fresh water into the Top Working Tray, which will flood down through the lower trays, ensuring the entire worm farm remains very moist. The sudden 'flood' will not harm the worms. Adding water is especially important in the hotter months of the year.

How often should you change worm bedding?

After worms are added, bedding should be kept moist but not soggy and the top 6 to 8 inches turned every 7 to 10 days to keep it loose. About every 6 to 9 months the old bedding should be replaced with properly prepared new bedding. To change bedding, remove the top 5 or 6 inches (where most of the worms are).

Can I use tap water in my worm farm?

Its likely that the worms would prefer rain water but tap water is fine even with chlorine in it.

How do I keep my worm farm healthy?

The farm should be well insulated and put in a shady spot so the worms don't get too hot or cold. Ensure it can drain, and liquid can flow out of the bottom - worms need to be moist, but they breathe through their skin and can drown in too much water.

What are the little white things in my worm farm?

These tiny little insects are springtails, or Collembola, and they're usually found in areas with high moisture and decomposing organic debris, such as soil, leaf litter, and decaying vegetable matter. They can also be found in compost piles, mulch, beneath logs and rocks, and under potted plants.

Can I put dog poo in my worm farm?

Worm farms can dispose of your dog's poo without the need for chemicals and products. All you need is a separate worm farm set up for your dog poo, some worms and of course some doggy doo and you are on your way to converting mess into great compost for your garden.

How often should I feed my worm farm?

Plan to feed your outdoor composting worms about once every 2 or 3 weeks. Be careful not to overfeed your worms. If you add too much food for your worms they will not be able to eat it before it rots. Rotting food can attract fruit flies and cause a bad odor.

Should I put dirt in my worm bin?

Add dirt and moist paper to the bin until the worms have made enough compost to use to cover the food scraps. Notice what the worms are eating and what they are not. Remove any scraps that your worms have not eaten for a while as they may not like that type of food.

Can you over water worms?

Water makes up around 70% of an earthworm's body weight, so having moist conditions in a worm bin is a critical element to their survival. That said, the rule of moderation applies to watering your bin. Similar to over-feeding, there is tendency to over-water worm bins when getting started.

Will ants hurt my worm farm?

Although most species of ants will not harm the worms (other than depleting the worms' food source), the ants in our worm bins were aggressive, and ended up killing some of our worms.

Will worms eat grass clippings?

Grass clippings are a great addition to a traditional compost pile and worms will eat these as well in their natural setting, but in your vermicomposting system, they will heat up the soil and can kill all of your worms.

Can you put moldy food in worm bin?

Yes, you can! The composting process requires composition, so when you add moldy foods, you're just adding in foods that are already decomposing. Worm and compost bins can have both moldy foods and fresh foods added and you will end up with great compost either way!

Can worms eat tea bags?

Tea Bags: Yes! The tea bags will start to break down in the worm bin, and the worms will finish off the contents.