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struggling with worm bin!!

katakelly9yahoocom

11 years ago

I have a worm bin, I just can't seem to get the little buggers to move up. I've been at this a couple years now, and I just don't know what mistake I am making. Clearly I am missing something fundamental here. I have chopped the rottable matter into small pieces, added shredded newspaper, kept everything moist but not soggy . . . what am I missing? Thanks for any help!! KB, gardening in the Pocono Mts. of PA!!

Featured Answer

hummersteve

11 years ago

Worms are slooooow movers, there will almost certainly always be a few worms in the bottom tray regardless almost like they are guarding the ship. So what I do sometimes is dump the bottom tray out on a sheet of plastic or something and make one big pile or several little piles. scoop some of the vc off the top and let the little buggers move down which they will if you are doing this either outside or under some kind of good light.

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Comments (6)

Gerris2 (Joseph Delaware Zone 7a)
11 years ago
I hope it works out for you. Try putting some worm soul food like watermelon in the upper tray?
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MaryMcP Zone 8b - Phx AZ
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I agree about the watermelon but also try used corn cobs......the little wigglers love to wrap their little bodies around corn cobs. They will never devour the entire cob but they sure do like to meet up there. ;-)
bassopotamus
11 years ago
Is it that none of them move up, or that some of them stay in the bottom? It is pretty normal for some to hang around the bottom. You could try a sieve for your compost when you harvest so you don't throw them out.
chuckiebtoo
11 years ago
Feed them soft (pumpkin, cantaloupe, watermelon, etc) on top of the bin contents and they will come.
hummersteve
11 years ago
Im guessing there is still food wherever your worms are staying otherwise they will move looking for it.

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