Q: Can I add cooked food waste to my worm composter?

I would avoid this – first of all there’s the trudge to the bottom of the garden but also this sort of waste has a tendency to attract pests if anything is going to. The best methods for kitchen waste are Worm Composting or Bokashi and for cooked waste Bokashi is the most flexible - the Japanese fermentation method is fantastic for all sorts of waste and can deal with bulk amounts in one go (unlike a worm composter). Shop our Bokashi Kitchen Food Waste Composters

Question 1

What to do if there’s white mould growing in my bokashi bin?

Accepted Answer

This is good news. The white mould is actually a fungi and shows that the food waste is fermenting rather than putrefying. Fermentation is precisely what you want in your bokashi bucket. So, if you see white mould on your bokashi food waste, you can be confident that all is well in your bokashi bucket.

Question 2

What can I use the Bokashi Juice for?

Accepted Answer

Bokashi juice contains nutrients from the food waste and is packed with micro-organisms so it makes a great free fertiliser!

Pour the concentrated Bokashi juice directly into kitchen and bathroom drains, toilets and septic systems. It helps prevent algae build-up and control odour. And as a huge bonus, it contributes to cleaning up our waterways as the good bacteria compete with the bad bacteria! A win win.

Question 3

Can I add cooked food waste to my worm composter?

Accepted Answer

I would avoid this – first of all there’s the trudge to the bottom of the garden but also this sort of waste has a tendency to attract pests if anything is going to. The best methods for kitchen waste are Worm Composting or Bokashi and for cooked waste Bokashi is the most flexible - the Japanese fermentation method is fantastic for all sorts of waste and can deal with bulk amounts in one go (unlike a worm composter).

Shop our Bokashi Kitchen Food Waste Composters

Question 4

What to do if...... There’s blue and black mould in my Bokashi Bin bin.

Accepted Answer

The best way to deal with this is to throw the whole batch away. The problem is caused by one of three things:

You have added really mouldy food into your kit.
You haven’t added enough Bokashi Bran.
There is too much moisture in the bin so the liquid needs draining.

Question 5

What to do if there are maggots or insects in my Bokashi Bin.

Accepted Answer

Obviously these must have entered on your food waste in some form so the first step is to add your food waste more regularly to avoid this issue. If they are there the best option is to bury the whole lot in your soil and restart.

Question 6

What to do if my Bokashi Bucket Smells?

Accepted Answer

If your kit begins to smell add a good handful more of Bokashi Bran as it is likely the waste is putrifying rather than fermenting. It does usually have quite a strong smell of fermentation when you empty your bucket so before you restart a good swill out with water is best – then once you have the lid on again all will be well.

Question 7

What to do if my Bokashi Liquid smells?

Accepted Answer

This liquid is a very potent fertiliser or drain cleaner and it can have a really strong smell so the best way to avoid this is to drain it regularly and use it. Pour bokashi tea directly into toilets, sinks and drain to disinfect these areas. To use as a fertiliser dilute 2 teaspoons of Bokashi tea with 1.5 Litres of water, apply it to the soil of your plants once a week, avoid touching the leaves as it could cause burning.