Wormery

Baggies2

In the winter there were hundreds of worms in my wormery It is now empty of worms and the wormery is just compost and no worms. Does anyone know if this is a common problem. They had plenty of food to munch so where have they gone?

artjak

I did a course recently on composting so I will try to find out for you; it could be that the wormery became too cold and they died, or you did not feed them enough so the simply left,

Lordswood

My wormery is empty of worms too. They didn't escape so I think they may have perished during the cold winter although I moved the wormery into an outbuilding.

They were doing so well.

Birdy13

Had a wormery years ago - same happened there in the cold. I know you can successfully keep a compost heap warm in winter with a bit of old carpet on top. ( it eventually gets a bit yucky and has to be chucked but it does the job of keeping the temperature up to a working level. You may be able to do the same with the wormery - I'm sure the worms will appreciate it.

artjak

I think birdy is right, unless you have fed them something which they didn't like.

Birdy13

I've just remembered that the worms in a wormery can drown if you don't run off the excess liquid their activity produces: could that have happened to yours Baggies?



And what a powerful natural fertiliser the liquid is, (let alone the wonderful compost you get). No need to buy fertiliser if you've a wormery!



The liquid needs to be diluted about 10:1 (or was it 20:1?) it's that good, and it pongs a bit, but that soon dissipates.

artjak

There are some wormerys that allow the worms to retreat from the tank in the base so that they don't drown.

Birdy13

You're right artjak, I'm gradually remembering our old one - the worms can climb higher.

But for those new to wormeries it's worth knowing that even with that capability, if neglected (can happen) the liquid level can reach the higher levels. Perhaps modern wormeries can cope with that; I don't know. I'm thinking now of getting one again

artjak

Birdy, I saw one recently on the internetty thing which is made in Hampshire from recycled plastic, cost about £65 and they have been designing it for years and they think they have got it right re worm drowning.

Birdy13

Thanks artjak. Still thinking about it...????

artjak

I have 2 Daleks, but would like a 'hot bin', as far as I know EVERYTHING can go into it, it is v. fast too, but a.t.m. costs £129, So will wait for price to come down. Was going to get a wormery, but it seems problematical in the winter.