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Compost worms making bid for freedom!

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  • #1

    Compost worms making bid for freedom!

    For a number of weeks now, I find lots of compost (brandling?) worms at the top of the plastic bin and immediately under the lid. There are loads of them but I don't know what to do to encourage them down into the compostable material.
    Any thoughts?
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  • #2
    Hmm - sounds like you need to turn the heap. It may be too wet for them?
    Whooops - now what are the dogs getting up to?

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    • #3
      Chuck in more compostable material

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      • #4
        They go up the top if the heap gets hot

        Put some damp shredded newspaper on the top layer for them to nest in
        Last edited by Two_Sheds; 12-11-2011, 09:36 PM.
        All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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        • #5
          Like TS says... I have a paper sack on the top of my wormery and the worms are up there. Its new lot of kitchen and garden waste so i turn it back into its self every month and drain off any surplus liquid.
          Roger
          Its Grand to be Daft...

          https://www.youtube.com/user/beauchief1?feature=mhee

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          • #6
            A glut of compost worms

            Thank you for your helpful thoughts. However, what seems odd is:
            - the heap definitely isn't too wet - almost the opposite because it had a lid on it.
            - I don't think its too hot - it's quite cold, in fact.
            Someone suggested I take the lid off to let it get a bit damper and that the worms don't like the light so they'll go back down if I do that. I've tried it and it does seem to be working.
            I've noticed, however, that the bin is absolutely full of worms - could it be that there are just too many and, if so, what should I do about that?
            Last edited by Nottinghamnewbie; 22-11-2011, 04:05 PM.

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            • #7
              Start another wormery? Give some away on Freecycle? Add some to your compost heap?

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              • #8
                Originally posted by Nottinghamnewbie View Post
                I've noticed, however, that the bin is absolutely full of worms - could it be that there are just too many and, if so, what should I do about that?
                Don't worry about it, just keep feeding them. If you really have too many, then start another wormery.

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                • #9
                  Compost (tiger/brandling) worms don't like the light, and they do need to be damp.

                  They will breed if there's enough food; if there's not enough food, they will go elsewhere to find some, or die
                  All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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                  • #10
                    It isn't a wormery - it's a compost bin.

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                    • #11
                      Start another compost bin? Put the spares in there?
                      All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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                      • #12
                        I have two dalek compost bins, one inside the other. Sometimes all the worms seem to be in the space between them, and on the lid. It doesn't seem to prevent them from doing the job on the compost though, so I just leave them to it. It's a pain when they're all round the edge of the lid, because it's too easy to chop them in half when you put the lid back on, but I tend to just sweep them onto the inside of the lid with a bit of paper or peeling and shove the lid back on.

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Nottinghamnewbie View Post
                          It isn't a wormery - it's a compost bin.
                          I think you will find it has become a wormery

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                          • #14
                            It's possible that the contents have become too acid. Try sprinkling some powdered eggshells on the mix. Also, a couple of pitta breads might entice them back down - they seem to be a favourite with my wrigglers.

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