what is the best bedding for worms

• Aged Horse Manure. Aged horse manure is an excellent choice of bedding for a worm bin. ...
• Shredded Cardboard. Shredded cardboard, especially of the corrugated variety, is a very common bedding source for most residential vermicomposters as more cardboard is delivered to a single home in the ...
• Shredded Paper. Like cardboard, paper is in high supply in most households, offices, and schools. ...
• Compost. Some composts can be a wonderful starter for a worm bin as it is normally free and often (but not always) colonized by microbes.
• Coco Coir. Coco coir is a popular substrate among first-time vermicomposters. ...
• Peat Moss. Similar to coco coir, peat moss is a clean-looking, consistent high-carbon bedding. ...
• Straw. Straw, not to be confused with high-nitrogen hay, is easily procured in rural and suburban areas. ...
• Leaves, Yard Waste, and Wood Chips. Leaves, yard waste, wood chips or a mixture of all the above can be a wonderful source of worm bin bedding, especially for a ...

What bedding can you put in a worm bin?

Here’s a list of common bedding materials you can add into the worm bin. Brown cardboard (cut into small pieces) Paper (not bleached white office paper, shredded) Newspaper (not colored, shredded) The best approach is to add a variety of bedding materials in the worm bin.

What are the characteristics of a good bedding for worms?

Worm Bedding Characteristics. From the moment you set up your worm farm, the most important thing to do is make sure that the right kind of bedding material is used. Good bedding must: Be of neutral PH. Be free of any sharp or abrasive things that can harm the worms’ sensitive skin. Retain moisture. Allow oxygen flow.

What is the best bedding for red wigglers?

The ideal balance of bedding to food is about 60/40, which means more of the red wiggler’s diet may come from bedding rather than food scraps. And that’s why it’s so important to feel confident about what materials you are using in your worm habitats. Now you may be wondering, “What can I use for worm bedding?”

How to choose the correct worm bedding for a vermicomposter?

Choosing the correct worm bedding for a worm composting bin is a high-consequence decision for a new vermicomposter. Choose wisely and be patient, and you’ll be off to a great start recycling organic waste into worm castings, and before you know it, it will seem like you’ll be able to do no wrong.

What bedding do you use for worms?

Instead of soil, composting red worms live in moist newspaper bedding. Like soil, newspaper strips provide air, water, and food for the worms. Using about 50 pages, tear newspaper into 1/2" to 1" strips. Avoid using colored print, which may be toxic to the worms.

What is bedding in a worm farm?

Worm bedding refers to the material that is both high in carbon and also moisture absorbent. It creates a habitat for your worms to thrive in. And if the conditions in the bin are not quite right, it also gives your worms some temporary respite.

Should I add bedding to my worm bin?

When do I add the bedding? When you start your worm bin, and at each harvest time, fill or top off the bin to about three-fourths full with damp- ened bedding. Add a few handfuls of garden soil to provide bacteria and grit to help worm digestion. Maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of dampened bedding at all times.

What is the best thing to make a worm bed out of?

Shred and moisten newspaper to make bedding and create a thick, fluffy layer of it in the bottom of the bed. Add worms, soil, and food scraps and watch your worms turn it into rich organic soil and compost. Keep the bed moist and don't let it dry out or your worms will die.

How often do you add bedding to worm bin?

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).

How deep should my worm bed be?

The container depth should be between eight and twelve inches. Bins need to be shallow because the worms feed in the top layers of the bedding. A bin that is too deep is not as efficient and could potentially become an odor problem. Worm boxes can be purchased or made.

What can I use for a worm blanket?

You can buy worm blankets, or they can be simply made from natural materials such as old cotton sheets, cotton pillow cases or old towels, cotton t-shirts, woollen material, corrugated cardboard etc. Whatever you choose to use, be sure to keep your worm blanket damp, but not soaking wet.

Can I feed my worms shredded paper?

Shredded paper and cardboard, egg cartons, ripped up newspaper, receipts and envelopes should all be a regular part of the worms diet. LOTS of non-glossy paper should go in your worm farm - it is worth repeating!

Do leaves make good worm bedding?

Leaves and other plant waste are the perfect food for composting worms. If you have a yard or garden of any size, you can capture these valuable nutrients by composting. Composting with worms, called “vermicomposting,” is fast and efficient. It's easier than you might think!

How do you maintain a worm bed?

To maintain a thriving worm farm, you need to do the following 9 things:Know exactly what do worms eat. ... Add carbon such as paper, cardboard etc… – this is called worm bin bedding.Neutralize the pH level (acidity) of the worm bin.Regulate bin temperature.Keep the bedding moist.Keep the bin dark.More items...•

Can I use potting soil for worm bedding?

Because it is intended to drain quickly, potting soil is a poor choice for a worm bin. Worms must have some moisture, but not enough to pool in the bottom of the bin. Worms not kept moist have trouble burrowing and often fail to reproduce.

How do you keep worms in a worm bed?

How to Prevent Worms from Crawling on the WallsKeep Your Bin Less Moist with Lots of Dry Bedding. The food waste you're likely using in your bin is going to feature a much higher water content than you'll want your worm bin to have. ... Keep the lid open. ... Keep a Bright Light Above the Bin.

How do you set up worm bedding?

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. Make sure the mixture is very moist, but not forming puddles of water.

Can I use potting soil for worm bedding?

Because it is intended to drain quickly, potting soil is a poor choice for a worm bin. Worms must have some moisture, but not enough to pool in the bottom of the bin. Worms not kept moist have trouble burrowing and often fail to reproduce.

Can I use straw for worm bedding?

Straw/Hay Straw and hay are key aerators for worm compost bins. Their structure ensures plenty of air flow penetrates bin contents. This material also provides a hearty amount of carbon (approximately a carbon to nitrogen ratio of 75:1).

Can you use leaves for worm bedding?

Leaves and other plant waste are the perfect food for composting worms. If you have a yard or garden of any size, you can capture these valuable nutrients by composting. Composting with worms, called “vermicomposting,” is fast and efficient. It's easier than you might think!

What is the best bedding for worms?

For most households, the most easy-to-find source of worm bedding will be paper and cardboard, which will need to be shredded and soaked.

What pH is good for worm bedding?

Has a low, sub-5 pH and may need to be rinsed and/or mixed with other substrates to create a good worm bedding.

What is a worm bin?

A worm bin is like a fire; it's much easier to keep one going than it is to start from scratch. This dovetails with the advice to mix up the beddings as well. If you start with existing worm compost and one of the choices above, it is going to be a diverse habitat. And a successful one too.

Why won't my worm bin fail?

Your worm bin will not fail because you did not provide enough food.

Why is carbon important for worms?

Once high-nitrogen food waste is present, the high levels of carbon help to slow down the rate of decomposition and give microbes a food source while they decompose the nitrogen-rich foods in a worm bin. The microbe part is important! A high-carbon substrate is a necessary, but not sufficient habitat for composting worms, ...

Can compost be used as a worm bin?

Some composts can be a wonderful starter for a worm bin as it is normally free and often (but not always) colonized by microbes. Large-scale vermicomposting operations “pre-compost” organic waste, so the idea is well-established. Composts, especially with leafy or woody material often promote a more fungal vermicompost.

Do you need carbon bedding for worm bins?

It is not necessary to purchase a carbon-heavy worm bedding with which to start your worm bin. Full stop.

What is the best bedding for worms?

Your worm bedding must be: 1 Non-toxic 2 Sufficiently moist 3 Neutral with a pH balance of 7 4 Breathable with sufficient air flow and air holes 5 Easily eaten 6 Soft and gentle

What is the best bedding for a vermicomposting bin?

You can mix several types of bedding together. These are our top household beddings for your vermicomposting bin: Coconut Coir. Made from coconut husk in blocks. Coconut coir is sold in 1.4 lb blocks at Uncle Jim’s Worm Farm and your local gardening store.

How to make worms happy?

Apply your creativity to create an everlasting beautiful world for your worms. Remember, a variety of beddings best simulates nature. A mixture of bedding also keeps your worms happy and comfortable. For example, add a small amount of untreated wood chips to an already existing composting bed.

What do worms do in compost?

They’re the best worms for composting. That’s because these worms love devouring kitchen scraps. In return, they produce humus, the prized organic fertilizer perfect for gardens. To start your composting bin, you need to make bedding. Bedding is your worms’ world. It needs to simulate their natural environment.

What is Uncle Jim's worm farm?

Uncle Jim’s Worm Farm is #1 in the USA for composting worms and supplies. For vermicomposting, we recommend our Red Composting Worm Mix. For composting, fishing, and releasing into the garden, we have our Super Reds (European Night Crawlers). We offer mealworms for fishing and pet food as well as for science experiments.

What is the best worm farm for composting?

Keep adding water, a little at time, and stirring until the bedding is the right consistency. A happy and healthy worm makes a great composting worm. Uncle Jim’s Worm Farm is #1 in the USA for composting worms and supplies. For vermicomposting, we recommend our Red Composting ...

How to get rid of chlorine in bedding?

You need to moisten the bedding. Ideally, let the water sit overnight to release any chlorine. Add a small amount of water, then stir. The bedding should have the feeling of a wrung-out sponge. Squeeze a handful. If water runs through your fingers, it is too moist, so add more bedding. Keep adding water, a little at time, and stirring until the bedding is the right consistency.

How to keep worm bins healthy?

The key to maintaining a healthy worm bin isn’t choosing just one “best” bedding material , it’s using a variety of materials and adding them to your worm bin often. Most vermicomposters could do a little better at adding new bedding to their worm bins more frequently.

Why do you need to use a combination of materials in a worm bin?

The key is to use a combination of materials to allow your system to operate most efficiently. This is because some materials are inherently better than others and adding several types into your worm bin will make up for certain weaknesses in some of the materials you may have on hand.

What is the most important thing to do for worm farm?

We can all agree that bedding is one of the most important elements of upkeep in a worm farm. Adding at least some bedding on a regular basis is essential to keep your red worms happy and productive. Failure to do so can result in all kinds of problems, even death to your worms!

What to do when setting up a worm farm?

From the moment you set up your worm farm, the most important thing to do is make sure that the right kind of bedding material is used. Good bedding must: Be of neutral PH. Be free of any sharp or abrasive things that can harm the worms’ sensitive skin. Retain moisture.

What do worms eat?

Good bedding can also be eaten by the worms. In fact, up to 50% of a worms diet may consist of its bedding. One material that works extremely well for both bedding and food is brown cardboard. Red worms love to eat brown cardboard. It should be shredded up into small pieces to allow for better air flow and so that the worms can eat it more easily.

What material is best for bedding?

This makes the following materials most suitable for bedding: Shredded cardboard (without the waxy layers), peat moss, coconut coir, straw and hay.

Why do carrots attract worms?

Mashed/shredded potatoes and carrot wastes are also known to attract worms due to its soft texture, however they are also known to start producing odor quickly and easily. Things such as thicker plant stalks may resist degradation, making shredding of the waste necessary before adding into the wormery system.

Can you use sawdust as bedding?

Leafs, sawdust and woodchips are not very good in absorbing and retaining water. Therefore it shouldn’t be used as starter bedding. If you do use these materials then mix them with some of the things listed above. Although these materials are not good in absorbing moisture, they can be used as a carbon source for feeding. Leaves should only be fed as they are decaying and brown/red during the autumn. If they are still freshly green, adding large amounts may heat up your wormery system.

What is bedding in compost bins?

Once you understand these simple bedding facts, you’ll be off on the right foot. Bedding is what makes up the bulk of what we add to our worm compost bins. If you add it to the bin and it isn’t naturally juicy (considered a green ), then it’s a brown, and it can be considered bedding.

What is the purpose of worm compost?

Aside from being a food source, another vital function of worm compost bedding is to create that ideally moist environment where worms can eat, mate, and lay their cocoons. Bedding that is light and fluffy is great, but if it is basically dry, it no longer fits the bill.

Why is it important to keep bedding fluffy?

If bedding is too compact, it doesn’t allow for aeration. That leads to a risk of anaerobic decomposition-which leads to rotting and smells in the worm bin. So, keep it fluffy, my friend, keep it fluffy.

What does PH mean in worm farm?

PH refers to the acidity, neutrality, or alkalinity of something. Red wigglers require a very stable and neutral pH for optimal health. Using bedding to maintain pH is a quick and easy way to be sure your worm farm is a safe place to be …but not if you use materials like these next two offenders!

What happens if matted bedding closes off holes?

The holes throughout each layer support ideal conditions. However, if matted bedding closes off the holes, the benefits are lost. When in doubt, use your claw or other accessories to fluff the bedding and regain that oxygen flow your worms need.

What happens after you squeeze bedding?

After squeezing wet bedding, it often holds together in a tight ball. Break it apart and fluff it up.

Do worms need oxygen?

Consistently and appropriately moist bedding in the worm bin decomposes aerobically – with the help of billions of bacteria who require oxygen for life. They feed on the organic matter, then become the primary food source for the worms.