Question 1

How do worms breed?

Accepted Answer

Red worms are hermaphrodites which means they are both male and female (although it does take two to tango). They produce eggs or capsules from the saddleback which you will see on the 13th segment on their bodies. The egg looks like a tomato pip and starts off a yellowy-green colour and as they age they go a brownish-red. Each one will have between 5 and 15 tiny worms inside, and these take about 10 days or so to hatch out.

Question 2

Will i end up with too many worms in my worm composter?

Accepted Answer

The worms will breed to match your food supply. They regulate their numbers and size to match the conditions. As the adults eat the waste and move upwards the eggs hatch out so to make best use of your wormery you need to add waste really regularly.

Question 3

What Is The Average Life Expectancy Of Composting Worms?

Accepted Answer

Without predators to chomp them in the wormery worms will live for upwards of three years! Compare that to most creatures of their size and you can start to understand why Mr Charles Darwin found them so fascinating! PS Worms show no visible signs of aging either, I understand they have done trials in face creams!

Question 4

Which Worms Are Used For Composting?

Accepted Answer

Our composting worms are a mixture of species (mainly reds and dendras) selected for their composting ability. Available with or without bedding. These types of worms are productive at consuming organic leftovers. Common garden earthworms don't perform as well in the same conditions.

Question 5

Does The Urbalive Worm Compost Smell?

Accepted Answer

The worms like to eat the food when it has gone soft, but before it rots. This is why it doesn't smell. Usually, if it's starting to smell, it means it's either getting overfed, or it needs a little more fibrous material added. (Worm treat, leaves, shredded paper, cardboard etc)

Question 6

How Long Does It Take A Wormery To Compost One Full Container?

Accepted Answer

Creating quality composts takes approximately 2-3 months. It mainly depends on the number of earthworms and the quality of 'food'.

Question 7

Should I Rake My Wormery Compost Regularly?

Accepted Answer

Not at all. The nosy among you beware and also make your children understand this - it's not useful to disturb the compost, particularly during the initial breeding. Add the food to the top. This prevents you from disturbing the worms and disrupting their homes, they only lay eggs in specific places. You can carefully rake the compost if it appears too wet or lacking air.

Question 8

How Can I Dilute And Use Worm Tea?

Accepted Answer

Worm tea is an excellent liquid fertilizer for herbs and indoor plants as well as the garden. It contains high amounts of nutrients and enzymes that promote growth and help build plant resistance against pests. You can collect worm tea in a plastic or glass bottle. It's ideal to dilute it with 10 parts water. Use the diluted worm tea for watering plants or spray it on their foliage.

Question 9

Where do I put my wormery? Indoors or outdoors? Which temperatures are optimum for my worms?

Accepted Answer

Composting with worms operates year-around. You can place your wormery either indoors or outdoors. It is important to always ensure that the earthworms have an optimal temperature of approximately 20 C/ 68 F as well as a correct level of moisture in the substrate.

During winter you shouldn't leave your wormery without insulation, so it doesn't freeze through. In the summer it shouldn't be exposed to direct sunlight, to prevent water evaporation and overheating. The temperature in your wormery should not drop below 5 C or exceed 25 C.

Question 10

What Happens If I Cut A Worm In Half - Does It End Up As Two?

Accepted Answer

If you cut a worm in half you do not end up with two surviving worms – but the section with the head and the saddle back (the fatter pink part) will survive and actually grow another tail!