Question 1

Which worms are best for composting?

Accepted Answer

Our composting worms are 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 2

Can you put worms in a normal compost bin?

Accepted Answer

You can do - they will definitely help work through the material. They won't eat it as quickly as food waste, but they can work with the green waste. In a typical garden compost bin, we'd recommend starting with 2kg of Composting worms.

Question 3

My worm bin has fruit flies - what should I do?

Accepted Answer

Composting is indeed a complete ecosystem but flies don’t need to be tolerated.

The best product for dealing with them is our DE powder https://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk/products/diatomaceous-earth?_pos=1&_sid=fdc3360f1&_ss=r

or to sort it inhouse Eliminate large clumps of rotting food. When you feed large pieces of food to your worms, the worms generally can’t consume them before nature takes hold and the food starts the process of decomposition. When this food breaks down, it creates chemicals that fruit flies are attracted to. By getting rid of these large chunks, you are removing most of the suitable egg-laying space, which should put a huge dent in the fruit fly population. covering the waste with the coir/compost will help and keeping the newspaper on top is good as is the moisture mat. This will work to keep flies from getting in and laying more eggs, and it will also work to keep existing adults from getting out. Like a surgical mask, air and moisture will still be able to flow between the world and your worms, but the pests will be blocked from entering and exiting.

Make your own fly trap. This can be as simple as setting a little jar containing a mixture of red wine vinegar and dish soap on your counter. Within a day or two, you will start to notice a collection of dead little flies floating on top. If you’d like to try other trap methods, consider making a paper funnel that will invite fruit flies down into the vinegar but make it nearly impossible to fly back out.

Question 4

How do I know if my worm compost is ready?

Accepted Answer

Here are a few tell-tale signs; The majority of your compost has a deep, rich color - it will also have the same texture throughout. Usually your worms will have moved out of this tray to a tray with fresher waste, this can also mean that you will see less eggs in the finished compost. There may also be a almost fluffy black top layer to the tray.

Question 5

Why have I got Fruit Flies in my Subpod?

Accepted Answer

Fruit flies can enter Subpod when you are adding your food waste. They can also get into the system before your food scraps are added to Subpod if there’s a loose lid.

The more thoroughly you stir your food waste into the bedding, the less likely you will have a problem with fruit flies and other insects. If you add more moist bedding (carbon), it’s easier to bury the food waste thoroughly. Make sure that the larger holes on the sides of your Subpod are below the soil line in your garden bed.

Any fruit fly larvae that finds its way into the Subpod will slowly diminish over time if the above techniques are used.

Question 6

Should I add cardboard to the sump tray of my wormery?

Accepted Answer

This is not needed. If the worms are congregating in the sump tray then this is an indication that there is an issue with the contents of the upper trays.

Question 7

What to do with worms that have gone down into the sump/ bottom section?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes some of your worms migrate to the sump which is mostly more distressing for you than them to be honest. They do explore their surroundings and they are usually fine in there as long as the liquid is draining reasonably regularly. The reason they go down to the sump on occasion isn’t really known – in winter it’s possible they are heading down there to keep warm as in their natural environment they do burrow deeper to below where the ground is frozen. Either way generally this isn’t a concern. If it is a real problem add some crumpled up newspaper and leave the tap open.

Question 8

My worms are eating the moisture mat, is this okay?

Accepted Answer

Your moisture mat is just there to encourage your worms to work in the surface of the waste and as it is biodegradable the worms will eventually eat it. If the moisture mat is disintegrating quickly you can add more waste.

Question 9

How does Subpod differ from other worm composting systems?

Accepted Answer

It allows you to compost directly in your garden allowing the worms and microbes to distribute nutrients into the soil.

Because you’re composting in the soil, your system is insulated → which means you can compost in a variety of climates

Subpod sits 90% below ground, which deters pests and predators

The worms are able to move freely between the Subpod module and the surrounding garden which creates a worm friendly environment.

The Subpod has a unique modular design, which allows multiple systems to be installed in one bed and cater to larger volumes of waste.

Question 10

How much food waste can be processed in Subpod?

Accepted Answer

Once your worm population builds up you can feed your Subpod 30L (7.9 gal.) or 15kgs (34 lb) of food waste per week.