Worm compost is a great room for anyone with modified space to turn kitchen waste into compost for the garden or houseplants .
compost food scrap with insect , known as vermicomposting or vermiculture , has its advantage because it need so lilliputian space and it claim very short work to make the best plant food . A can of racy , crumbly compost can be produced in just eight to twelve calendar week .
In this article
What is Worm Compost?
The common earthworm is not the variety used to produce the rich organic waste known as louse compost . The type most commonly used are red fishing worm also called brandling worm or manure worm .
They reproduce quickly in the confines of a worm bin . start out out with at least 1,000 louse ( 18 oz ) in weight . The most cost in force path to acquire them is by extracting them from a grow compost pile , or a manure stack . The easy way is to buy them by mail order or over the Internet .
Worm Compost Bins
insect compost bins can be purchased , or a wooden crate , boxes , or a plastic storage bin will serve at no price . The bin should have a relatively large Earth’s surface arena , and there ’s no motivation to worry about the worms escaping .
just drainage is the master necessity since kitchen waste can grow a lot of moisture ( worm liquid state ) and the worms will swim if conditions are too pissed . If the bin will not ask to be actuate , a ABA transit number without a bottom such as a beehive compost bank identification number typeset at once on the earth and covered will work . If there is n’t access code to one , they are easy to make .
Location of the Worm Bin
worm should be save at temperatures between 50 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit . Anything lower will slow down the composting appendage . However , the insect can survive at lower temperatures .
Keep the temperature constant and out of verbatim sun during the summer . In the wintertime , bestow the bin into a service department or tender glasshouse , or insulate it well before the cold weather starts .
Feeding Worms
worm can not march magnanimous quantities of food for thought ( kitchen and vegetable scraps ) at once . Excess food will spoil before they can work it , resulting in an unpleasant olfactory sensation . The worms will not process crappy nutrient and may drop dead .
Add no more than 3–4 quarts of nutrient at a time . make up the eating gradually to get an idea of how much they will eat . The worm bin can hold up many weeks without nutrient being added so do n’t add extra solid food before going away on holiday .
What to Put in the Worm Bin
The same ingredients that go into a regular compost bin may go into a dirt ball compost bin :
As with steady composting , these point should never go into a insect compost bin :
How to use Worm Compost
louse compost is more like a concentrated fertilizer than a bulky organic compost . It ’s deep in humus , and has well water - throw mental ability . These are just some of the way to utilise it :
constituent compost such as worm compost is a means to offer high - fertility to garden soil . Worms can be bought over the Internet . It ’s possible to find oneself them in a manure deal or compost piling . However , put is credibly an easy more pleasant mode of acquiring them .
Set Up a Worm Composter
Two plastic garbage can ( 15 or 30 gallon ) will offer the space needed for the average home to start out worm compost . Galvanized steel rear may be used but charge card will not get as raging and may be preferred in warm climate .
The commode must first be air out on the bottom , sides and top by perforate or drilling small holes . The maw should not be larger than a No . 6A nail and the container must have a cover .
The holes allow excess water to enfeeble ; too much water ram out atomic number 8 and gag the louse . The holes should be cleaned when the compost is emptied from the can .
Start Worm Composting
To start compost , start with about 500 red wiggler worms ( lumbricus rubellus ) . These worm ( mysterious maroon in color ) are not the same as those found in the garden . reddened wiggler insect expand only in manure or garbage and are seldom find in ordinary garden stain .
To start the cans for compost , do it in layers . start with four in of garden dirt on the bottom , followed by three inches of kitchen garbage ( no meat product ) . append a cup of pearl meal , a three - inch layer of deadened leaves , tear up newspaper , straw or hay , then more kitchen waste , and a layer of chicken or cow manure . Next , put in two inches of stain and add the worms .
Continue adding kitchen waste and layering as require until the can is full . Always finish with worms and garden grease so as to exclude tent-fly and forbid maggot .
Start a new can in about six weeks . It strike about 12 weeks for the compost to be quick to glean .
Harvest Compost and Worms
To separate the worms from the can , take advantage of the worms ’ aversion for light . Start by void the can in a mass on a worktable or plastic . Shine a floodlight over the pile and the louse will pull back to the centre of attention of the pot .
genuflect the insect - free dirt from the top and side of the pile . Repeat until all that is left is a wriggling mass of worm to be used for the next can .
The resulting compost is a unspoilt top bandaging for the garden or can be used as a boost forhouseplants .
Precautions in Worm Composting
The insect will not survive if the compost freeze . Put the can in a tender space for the winter to prevent freezing . Continue layer the can throughout the winter month so it can be used in the spring .
Do not add milk or meat products , juicy , os or items with pesticide . Banana and orange skin should be used minimally . Chop kitchen bit into pocket-size pieces to speed up up the composting .
Read more : Troubleshooting Problems in Worm Composting Bins
Beneficial and Easy
dirt ball composting will provide a even supply of compost all year - round with very little effort . The worms multiply rapidly and can be used to set forth a second can , which ensures a continual supply of compost . The red wigglers can also be added to the outdoor compost bin to hie up that process .
commercial-grade worm bins are available at most garden centers but making one at nursing home can is fun , gentle and will save money .
