I’m a little curious about the method/reason, because most people tend to use (burlap cloth cover+then straw on top), from what I understan. I hope you are still around and can/will reply. Thanks! I’m NOT knocking yourself setup or choices, I’m trying to learn the “why” for my own education, so Thanks!

Is it because of the temp range where you are located? Why so drastic/complicated a setup?

On an aside, just fyi, there is a reptile heating cord that is basically, Plug it in and the ’cord’ you can run where ever, and it is waterproof, so you can lay it on dirt, and it is low cost (less than $20, just fyi)..

This is the 1st year that I’ve done a worm bin, and I started it during the winter months (don’t ask me why, I just had the worms from my outside raised bed, and some baby red wrigglers just because I planned to use them when it was warmer but getting colder, but ended up postponing due to health reasons, until it was colder, so started indoors..

My understanding of worm bins & worms is that they prefer temps like humans, not too hot & not too cold. Too hot, too wet, too ph and they try to escape (understandably), and too cold, they stop moving & Hibernate,,.🤷🏻‍♀️

Also, in case you have an answer to this question, since you seem experienced..

QUESTION: Do you know of a way to treat & lessen “Spring Tails” in a worm bin (without removing the worms 1st)?

Thanks!

Bonnie, from what I understand and have observed in my worm bins, the springtails are a normal part of the composting cycle and will not interfere with your worms. Springtails seem to be in all my bins and I haven't seen any sign of problems. Who knows, maybe they are actually providing a benefit to the whole process.

Good luck and have fun!

I have used ZooMed reptile cable heaters, combined with thermostats for many years until a few years when some sizes became unavailable or VERY expensive. For people living outside of US (continent), access/ availability and cost are way different. Then came the closed borders due to Covid-19 restrictions and people lucky enough to have a US address to p/u parcels no longer are that lucky. Last year I paid over US $60 for 50 Watt cable heater through Amazon + shipping. This is not my way of worm farming (reuse, recycle, re-purpose) but couldn't find another solution in this case. Needed to keep a foam bin enclosure (2 x 2 x 8) around 60F, the old cable heater died.

When I started using these cable heaters, a 25Watt cost around US$10 + thermostat $15. I do not want to risk overheating, hence the thermostat. even when using germination heating mats where the manufacturer stated it will not overheat, I still use thermostats. Better safe than sorry; and dead worms smell horrible.

I did use burlap before. Got them from a local coffee roaster until about 3 yrs. ago the worms became very thin and small and hardly moving. BTW., the burlap bags were soaked and rinsed and left in the rain on top of my shrubs before use. I suspect the bags were treated with something to protect the beans during storage and transport (from South America mostly). Another thing I noticed: NO mites in the bins which is highly unusual.

No more burlap for inside the bins. I now use old clothing and sheets, BEFORE they go in the laundry.

Using damp cloth as cover is OK. However, it also works as a wick, taking moisture from the bedding below to be released up top. With a heat source in the substrate, there is a lot of condensation on the walls and lid. I lined the walls with corrugated cardboard (with ribs going vertival) to absorb. Worms clumped just where the CB ends under the lid, sometimes, many even managed to escape.

I changed from using buble wrap to styrofoam trays and from newspaper to damp cloth. Bublewrap got too cumbersome. I re-used the styrofoam trays from buying meat/fruit etc from the super market. Placed upside down on top of the damp cloth (instead of newspaper). they trapped damp air that worms are after, and condensation went back onto the cloth. This allowed me to leave the bins unchecked a day or 2 longer before the surface dried. I had less worms climbing the walls and lid. I still used the crumpled newspaper balls to fill the void. Logically, the creases between the "crumples" should trap some of the heat for some time. Just my guess (and hope).

Sorry for the late response. I used to be notified of any respons/comment to my post(s) but didn't for the past year. I came across this one just by chance when I saw Harry's post, also by chance.