If it doesn’t feel wet, add some water.
It should feel wet, but water should not come out.
#HAPPY FARMER KITCHEN COMPOSTER KIT HOW TO#
Here’s how to test if the moisture level is just right: You can read more about the liquid and troubleshooting it in this article.
But it is a sign of adequate moisture in the bin. People often refer to the liquid that drains from the bottom of a bin as worm tea but it’s not. At the same time, it should not be flooded with water. Worms like their bedding moist, so the compost bin should not be left to dry out. Ensuring the Right Conditions for the Compost Bedding Read my troubleshooting guide for worms that won’t eat. If you notice that your worms are not eating, something is likely out of balance. Doing this will discourage pests like flies and rats and will help reduce odor. Moreover, when choosing the right food, make sure that food scraps are cut into smaller pieces as they break down faster. Just manage the amount you put in at one time since it can day a few days for them to break it down. Note: Melon rinds can actually be great for worms when you have a healthy population. Watermelon rinds and other food that is hard to break down*.Other compostable materials like grass clippings, herbivore animal manure, hair, and shredded brown cardboard can also be added.Īvoid giving them food scraps that would take too long toīreak down, as well as food items that can quickly spoil the bin. Feeding the Right FoodĮven compost worms need a healthy diet. Click here to learn how long red wigglers can go without food. If you are noticing that the food is not being consumed before it begins to decompose, ease off of the amount you are feeding and see if the worms can catch up. When this happens, the bin can begin to smell. This would cause unconsumed food to mold and rot. People tend to throw in every little fruit and vegetable scrap into their compost bin, but the worms might not be able to keep up. Several things guarantee that compost worms are happy andĮnsure that worms have enough kitchen scraps, but don’t overfeed them. How to Keep Compost Worms Happy and Healthy The scraps may be too big to break down, or there is food waste that shouldn’t have been added in the first place. If the bin stinks, it may mean that there are too many food scraps that the worms cannot keep up with and cannot digest. A bin with a healthy environment for worms should not smell foul. And for them to do this, they first need to stay alive and thrive. Worms need to eat to produce worm castings. So even with only a few worms at the start, you can expect them to multiply, fill the compost bin, and eventually meet whatever demand for recycling organic waste that you have. Worms can easily double their population every 90 days, given the right environment. You can tell that your compost worms are happy and healthy by looking out for three signs: How to Tell Whether Compost Worms Are Happy It helps to know how much food is adequate for the worms, what environmental conditions are right for them, and what things should be avoided.Ĭheck out the DynaTrap Mosquito & Flying Insect Trap – Kills Mosquitoes, Flies, Wasps, Gnats, & Other Flying Insects – Protects up to 1/2 Acre (link to Amazon). The key to happy and healthy compost worms is to give them a good home, adequate food, and maintain the right conditions in the compost bin.įor those who are new to composting, there are several factors to be considered when setting up a compost bin. Best of all, I can do it indoors which makes it great for someone living in an apartment or cold environment where traditional composting isn’t practical.īut how do you know if your compost worms are happy and content? You can tell that compost worms are happy and healthy if they multiply and produce compost that does not stink. It is an excellent way to reduce waste and help the environment. The process, called worm composting or vermicomposting, allows worms to feed on the nutrient-rich food scraps and then turn these into nutrient-rich compost. For some time now I have been using worms to recycle organic waste and food scraps into valuable soil medium for growing plants.
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