what to feed a worm composter

The "Go" List of items you should feed compost worms includes most raw/uncooked fruits and vegetables as well as the following items:

• Worms have a sweet tooth so most fruits are a great idea (just not citrus). Compost worms love bananas and banana peels,...
• Green leafy vegetables (e.g., romaine)
• Pumpkin and squash
• Pulp from juicers (avoid citrus)
• Crushed egg shells

Full Answer

What are the best worms for worm composting?

What are the most common types of worms?

• The Red Wigglers. The most common worm that you will be told to get for your vermicomposting bins, red wrigglers, is native to several countries worldwide.
• Reg Tiger Worms. The first choice of vermicomposters, the regular tiger worm, has stripes across its body while maintaining a rust-brown color.
• African Nightcrawlers. ...

Why do you need worms in your compost?

Why do I need worms in my garden?

• Add nutrients to the soil. Plant residue such as fallen leaves and dead roots are food for the worms. ...
• Improves drainage. Over time, the soil in a garden can become compact. ...
• Mix the soil. Earthworms also help turn the soil. ...
• Improves plant health. With all the above benefits in place, the positive impact of earthworms on plant health is a no-brainer.

What food does a worm prefer in a compost bin?

Urban Worm Chow

• Spent Coffee Grounds. Some folks express concern over high acidity, but this is only true of unused grounds or the coffee itself in liquid form.
• Apple Cores. Another common fruit whose waste is perfect for the worm bin! ...
• Pre-Composted Manures. ...
• Vegetable Waste. ...
• Chicken Mash & Cornmeal. ...

What do you put in a worm compost?

• humus (that’s the dark spongy material that makes good soil the colour of chocolate)
• recycled nutrients
• billions of microscopic lifeforms which create a healthy soil ecosystem.

How often should I feed my worm bin?

Depending on the size of your bin, feed the worms from once a week to every two days with about a cup (240 ml.) of food. You may want to keep a journal regarding how quickly your worms consume certain things so you can adjust timings, amounts, and varieties. A stinky worm bin may be an indicator of overfeeding.

What should you not feed worm compost?

Items you cannot compost in a worm bin:Lemon, lime, orange or other citrus peels and juice (in excess this will make the soil too acidic)Onions and garlic (a good rule of thumb is if it makes you smell, it makes your worm bin smell)Meat, fats, grease, bones or oils (no butter, lard, stocks, soups, etc)More items...

What do you feed worms in a worm bin?

The Best Worm Foods for Your SoilFruit peels (not citrus)Melon rinds.Carrots.Coffee grounds.Teabags (check if biodegradable)Bread.Cereal (unsweetened)Pasta (plain)More items...•

What is the best thing to feed red wigglers?

Best Foods to Feed Red Wiggler Composting WormsVegetable scraps: apple cores, peels, carrot tops and wilted lettuce or trimmings. ... Non-citrus fruit work best, such as watermelon rind, strawberry tops, old blueberries, etc. ... Used tea. ... Coffee grounds and filters. ... Dried leaves.More items...

What is worms favorite food?

Worms love lettuce, kale, Swiss chard, to name a few of these vegetables. Be sure to cut these scraps down into small pieces or even food process them. Remember to thoroughly rinse off all hot spices, sauces, oils, dressings, and cheeses because they can harm your vermicomposting project.

Can I feed worms oats?

Fruits and vegetables (uncooked or peels) – you can feed your worms any variation as long as it's not citrus based (you'll have to stay way from lemons, oranges, pineapples and all that since it has high acidity levels) Starchy food wastes – these can be in the form of bread, oatmeal, and pasta.

Do worms eat banana peels?

Bananas are a great and inexpensive snack for both us and our worms. Those peels are desirable to compost worms no matter what shape they're in. They'll make short work of what otherwise would have taken up space in your trash.

What is the best food for a worm farm?

Worms will eat anything that was once living,Leftover vegetable scraps, fruit and vegetable peelings.Tea leaves / bags and coffee grounds.Vacuum cleaner dust or hair clippings (also animal)Torn up newspapers, egg cartons or soaked pizza cartons.Crushed egg shells (these will also help with the pH balance)

How do you make homemade worm food?

0:322:43Worm Chow - Make your own! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut a little bit of sugar is really good for the microorganisms. And the bacteria that's inside yourMoreBut a little bit of sugar is really good for the microorganisms. And the bacteria that's inside your web and it helps break down the food a lot quicker when there's more microorganisms.

Are potato peels OK for worms?

Vegetable Waste Carrot peelings, potato skins, broccoli and cauliflower stalks, lettuce, kale, even onion peels (in limited quantities) are perfect for the worm bin. Vegetable waste like this isn't prone to overheating your bin either, so this is another low-maintenance food.

Can you feed red wigglers bread?

Red wigglers eat most things organic including fruit/veggie scraps, bread, coffee grounds/filters, tea bags, grains, plant trimmings, paper, leaves, etc.

Can compost worms eat potatoes?

Foods that Composting Worms Love Composting worms, or Red Wigglers, are not picky eaters. They will happily digest a wide variety of organic plant material into nutrient rich worm castings. I put old lettuce in there, rotten vegetables, potato peels, fruit, grass clipping, and leaves, just to name a few.

What kinds of materials should not be fed to the worms Why not?

What To Not Feed WormsMeats, bones, fat and anything oily or greasy.Dairy products including butter, sour cream, milk, whole eggs (egg shells are ok) and cheese.Canned sauces, peanut butter and other processed food.Citrus foods like lemons, limes and oranges.Onions and garlic.Spicy foods such as hot peppers.More items...•

Can worms eat banana peels?

Bananas are a great and inexpensive snack for both us and our worms. Those peels are desirable to compost worms no matter what shape they're in. They'll make short work of what otherwise would have taken up space in your trash.

Can I feed my worms moldy food?

The molds that form on most vegetables are usually OK, but the molds on some fruit and bread can be problematic. If you're in doubt, try a small amount first and see if the worms are bothered by it. If not, then it's probably OK to use it, otherwise, you should put them into your backyard bin instead.

Can you put bread in a worm compost?

Yes, in moderation, bread, and in fact, all grain based foods, are worthy of your worms' processing power. Stale bread remains just as full of nutrients and building blocks for worm growth as the fresh stuff. However, these starchy foods can end up a gooey mess.

What is worm compost?

Worm composting, also called vermicomposting, is a great way to use kitchen scraps to create a nutrient-rich compost to feed your garden and keep it producing year-round. In a large container, simply shred some newspaper and leaves from your yard to create a nice loose base, then add in red wiggler worms, officially known as Eisenia fetida, ...

What do worms eat?

Do feed your worms organic fruit and vegetable waste, including the rinds, cores, and peelings of your favorite fruits and vegetables. Feed them crushed eggshells, coffee grounds, and coffee filters (as long as the filters are unbleached), teabags, and aged manure from vegetable-eating animals, such as rabbits, horses, and cows.

What are worm castings?

Worm castings are full of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and humic acids that help improve soil structure. After you gather your supplies: a bin, shredded newspaper or leaves, and red wiggler worms, all you need to do is start saving food scraps to feed them.

How often do red worms multiply?

In fact, red worms are known to double their population size every 90 days. If you started with far too few, it’s okay to purchase more and add them to the mix.

Can you put old kitchen scraps in the compost bin?

A word of caution, however— don’t just throw any old kitchen scraps into the compost bin and hope for the best. Keep reading, and let’s dive into what you don’t want to feed them. Do not feed your worms fatty or processed foods, such as meat or dairy products. These types of kitchen scraps will cause strong odors when they decompose ...

Where do worms get their nutrition?

In fact, your worms’ main source of nutrition comes from the microorganisms that grow in abundance on organic fruit and vegetable waste. That’s why instead of devouring the scraps that you throw in to the soil immediately, your worms will wait around until microbes begin to flourish on the surface of the food scraps.

Can you put salt in a compost bin?

Avoid adding salt, or any salty foods, to the compost bin. Salt is really bad for worms and can kill them if it’s present in large amounts in the compost container. Onions are another kitchen scrap that you may want to consider just throwing away instead of adding to the compost bin to be consumed.

What to feed compost worms?

The "Go" List of items you should feed compost worms includes most raw/uncooked fruits and vegetables as well as the following items: 1 Worms have a sweet tooth so most fruits are a great idea (just not citrus). Compost worms love bananas and banana peels, grapes, melon, pears, berries, peaches, apples, and avocado (but not the pit or rinds) 2 Green leafy vegetables (e.g., romaine) 3 Pumpkin and squash 4 Pulp from juicers (avoid citrus) 5 Crushed egg shells 6 Coffee and tea grounds in small quantities (too many can lead to an acidic bed which can harm the worms) 7 Shredded cardboard, egg cartons, and paper towels 8 Most leaves (as long as they haven't been treated with pesticides or herbicides)

What do compost worms eat?

Compost worms love bananas and banana peels, grapes, melon, pears, berries, peaches, apples, and avocado (but not the pit or rinds) Green leafy vegetables (e.g., romaine) Pumpkin and squash. Pulp from juicers (avoid citrus) Crushed egg shells. Coffee and tea grounds in small quantities (too many can lead to an acidic bed which can harm the worms) ...

How to know if compost worms are processed?

You'll know the compost worms have fully processed the prior feeding when 1) the food is no longer visible on the surface of the worm bin and 2) the worms are not grouped together in a ball where you fed them. Rule #4: Don't bury the food!

How to kill worms?

This is especially true with feeding your worms. Over-feeding, along with temperature, is one of the easiest ways to quickly kill your worm population. Think of feeding your worms like drinking a bottle of wine - you don't usually drink the entire bottle in 1 glass or gulp. You enjoy it in moderation over several glasses or days.

What foods are good for worms?

Meat or other animal products. Cooked foods (due to oil and salt content) Citrus fruits. "Spicy" foods like peppers, onions, garlic, and ginger. Tomatoes or tomato sauce (it's too acidic for worms) Foods cooked with oils. Foods high in salt content.

Do worms eat food?

Worms actually eat microorganisms that are feeding on the food waste, so they like soft food or food that has been cut into small pieces (this helps accelerate the decomposition process and increases the number of microorganisms for worms to eat).

Can you sprinkle worms over food?

It is ok to sprinkle a little of their original bedding (which should already be in the bin) over the food, but the food should never be buried and should be visible to your eye. Rule #5: See rule #1! Rule #6: After the first feeding, feed the worms 1/3 to 1/2 of their weight. So if you purchased 2 pounds of worms, ...

What is worm farming?

Worm farming is a great project for anyone who likes to get their hands a little dirty. The end result is nutrient rich worm castings that your garden will absolutely love. The key to a successful worm bin is to just take things slow, feed your worms sparingly with a proper diet, and be patient.

Why don't you put meat in worm bins?

(You don’t want to put these in your normal compost pile either for the same reason.) Don’t put meat or dairy in your worm bin because these will go rancid.

Do composting worms eat fruit?

Composting worms, or Red Wigglers, are not picky eaters. They will happily digest a wide variety of organic plant material into nutrient rich worm castings. I put old lettuce in there, rotten vegetables, potato peels, fruit, grass clipping, and leaves, just to name a few. They especially love the fruit.

Can you put citrus in a worm bin?

You should avoid putting citrus fruits in the worm bin, as well as garlic, onions, and peppers. Composting worms will avoid these at all costs due to the high acidity. It’s best to reserve these items for your regular compost pile.

What to feed worms?

Some “DON’TS” in the feeding of worms are: 1 Do not add salty or oily foods 2 Do not add tomatoes or potatoes 3 Do not add meat or dairy products

What do worms eat?

Worms will eat any of the following: Pumpkin. Leftover corn cobs. Melon rinds. Banana peels. Fruit and veggie detritus. However, it is best to avoid putting citrus, onions, and garlic in the worm bin. Onions and garlic will eventually be broken down by worms, but the odor in the interim may be more than you can handle!

How much food scraps do worms eat?

One pound of worms (about 1,000 worms) will eat about ½ to 1 pound (0.25-0.5 kg.) of food scraps per day.

Can you feed worms hot manure?

Don’t feed the worms pet waste or any “hot” manure. “Hot” manure is un-composted animal waste and its addition may result in heating the bin too much for the worms.

Can worms eat tomatoes?

Worms will eat tomatoes but make sure to break down the seed or you will likely have some tomato sprouts in the bin. No big deal, however, as you can just pull them out. The same may occur with potatoes and their eyes spouting before the potato is consumed.

Can citrus kill worms?

Citrus pulp or any highly acidic fruit added to the worm bin in large quantities can kill off your worms, so be aware and only add small amounts or just add the citrus peels without the pulp. When vermiculture feeding, basically go “green.”.

Why do worms need grit?

Remember, grit is necessary to speed their digestion process so they can eat more and break down your waste products. Be sure to add a handful whenever you replace the bedding or remove compost. So when you’re torn on what to feed worms, feel free to refer to this list for inspiration.

Why use an urban worm bag?

Using an Urban Worm Bag gives you plenty of surface space, excellent depth, and provides that all-necessary air to keep your bin from getting too soggy.

How much food do red wigglers eat?

Most red wigglers or European nightcrawlers will eat almost anything. The average worm will consume half its body weight in food and bedding per day. If you start with a pound of worms, they should eat a half-pound of food and bedding per day, and so on.

Do worms eat bedding?

Remember, worms aren’ t limited to the same things that we eat. They also consume their bedding, any other plant material, and so on. If it’s the dead of winter and you’re low on fruit and vegetable matter, and you’re out of homemade worm feed, don’t fret. Here’s another list of options for you!

Can worms eat citrus?

Worms will eat citrus rinds, but too much citrus can cause skin irritation for them. It’s best to pre-compost your citrus in a standard compost bin or compost spinner. Onions and other alliums like leeks often get ignored until they’ve broken down a bit. This means they can make your worm bin smell.

What type of worm is used for composting?

The type of worm most commonly used for vermicomposting is the red wiggler. That’s why this method of vermicomposting is also called red worm composting. The red wiggler species ( Eisenia fetida) loves living in rotting organic material and manure and is extremely efficient at breaking it down.

What is a worm composter?

A worm composter is, at its simplest, a bin with holes for ventilation and moisture. It’s almost always made with plastic and raised off the ground to allow water to drain out the bottom. For indoor worm bins, this is done with a plastic storage bin or tote with a lid. Simply drill a series of holes in the sides and bottom a few inches apart, ...

How long does it take to compost worms?

Worm composting, also known as vermicomposting or vermiculture, produces natural, odor-free compost that takes about 30 minutes per week to maintain.

How much does a worm composter cost?

A homemade worm composter costs about $30 and a luxurious store-bought worm hotel usually won’t cost more than $150.

How many worms are in a pound?

A pound of worms includes about 1000 worms and should be more than two large handfuls. Here’s a video of what one pound of worms should look like. It’s important to know how many worms you should be getting, because your worm bin could fail without this information.

Why do worms crawl out of my bin?

This will include moisture, temperature, and possibly even infestations. If the bin is too dry, add some water. If it’s too wet, add more bedding.

What is a lowly worm?

The lowly worm gets almost no respect and is synonymous with an insult. This humble creature toils tirelessly eating the garbage of life and bulldozes its way through the dirt almost blindly, with no eyes or ears to guide it. But, as you might guess, worms have an important place in every ecosystem.

What to feed worms?

Feeding the Worms. Collect food scraps, such as vegetables and fruit scraps, bread, tea bags, coffee grounds, and cereal in your food scrap container as you prepare and clean up after meals. Do not include any animal by-products (fat, bone, dairy, meat, waste).

How to get rid of worms in a worm bin?

Gently use a trowel to create a hole to put the scraps into. Throw in a small handful of shredded paper. Add all the food scraps on top of the paper. Cover ALL of the food scraps with dirt and moist paper.

How to make worms in a paper bin?

Preparing the Paper, Soil, Water Medium and Adding the Worms. Combine shredded paper, soil and just enough water to dampen everything. Put the mixture into the tall bin and fill the bin about three inches deep. Add your worms to the mixture and let them get used to it for a day before feeding them.

How to get worms to thrive on paper?

A little bit of water – Some water is needed to moisten the paper and dirt to create a comfortable medium for the worms to thrive. Soak the paper and then drain it before using. 8. Worms – A pound of red wrigglers are recommended because they consume waste quickly, but earthworms also work.

How deep is a worm tea bin?

A bin made of rubber or plastic and that is approximately 15 inches deep, 25 inches wide and 5 inches high works great. The extra length allows you to scoop out the extra liquid or “worm tea” for use elsewhere (e.g., in the garden, for plants, shrubs, etc.).

Can you use a worm composter inside?

A worm composting bin, known as a vermicomposter, can be fairly inexpensive and easy to maintain. There are several ways to vermicompost. Below are instructions on how to build one kind of worm composting bin designed to be used inside. It is also possible to purchase worm composting bins. You will want to put your bin in an indoor space as you do ...

Foods Thatcomposting Worms Love

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Exceptions to The Organic Materials

Otherthings to Keep Out of The Worm Bin

Conclusion