Hey Kelly,

I don't know the answer to your question, but I just bought a lb myself. I would like to know the answer.

I put a pound of worms in my Rubbermaid which is about 20x14"x9" with holes punched bottom, sides and top. You might start saving some kitchen scraps for them now so they'll be starting to decompose a bit by the time the worms arrive. You can save them in the freezer too, but be sure they are room temperature before putting in the worm box.

Have fun.

One pound per square foot of surface area. Some people say that the depth of the bedding plays a key role in the potential population also.

Thanks socks I save mine for a compost pile already so it should'nt be a problem.

Is it okay for the food to have mold on it when I feed it to my worms? I had been saving scraps for several days before I ordered my worms, and now some of it is "fuzzy".

1. what is the max temp high and low that you could expect survival with no direct sun?
2. what is the ideal temp range (if everything was perfect)?
3. thoughts on bedding depth?
4. Any easy chemistry tests for ph and the like that are easy to find locally?

Thanks!
Kelly

For pH, I just use a cheap probe type that you can get from the garden store (or home depot). Got 2 probes, measures light, moisture and pH. Cost about $20.

It's not real accurate, but you can get the pH and moisture in the ball park.

I like about 1/2 lb of worms per sq. ft. of bed myself 6 to 12 in deep to start out with. The bigger the bed the less effect mistakes will have on it. As long as you feed a lot of different things and not to much of any one thing ph wont really be a problem. New bed should have a bunch of cardboard, newspaper, cut up well and mixed with some of that compost to help aerate it some. Should be damp but not wet if that makes any sense.

Kelly, I don't know what the temperature range is for a worm bin, but when I left mine outside on a covered patio, they fried! It was late spring/early summer in DFW. Since this was over 10 years ago, I don't remember much more of the details. My new bin will stay inside!

Ideal temp is 77* with 85% humidity. Shoot for these and you should be Ok.