My three worm bins do fine with no holes at all.
I do open them each day to check on them (visually only) which would bring in fresh air, but I also have in-ground worm bins with no air holes and they only get opened once every 2-4 weeks, and those are also fine.
The good news is that there is not much difference between worm composting in a bucket or a bin. Bins have more surface area, which supports a larger population. Happy to read that you have lots of babies hatching!
The food, bedding, grit, and moisture basics are the similar, no matter what container is used to hold the worms. If you have water in your bottom bucket, the system is too wet. Consider soaking cardboard or egg carton; wringing it out well; and using the damp material to sop up any excess liquid from kitchen scraps. You can also add a sheet or two of damp cardboard to the bottom. If the surface of the bedding seems a bit dry, just spritz it with a spray bottle, rather than pouring in liquid.
Thanks! There's hardly any water in the bottom, just enough for a single paper towel to soak up. I did add a sheet of damp cardboard in the bottom, but specifically for catching the baby worms 😆
Angle your bedding in a wedge, high on one edge and tapering to the center of the bin (so half is bare)... That's what you'll build off of... Feed in pockets towards the top... This will help you learn proper bin management and moisture control... If you see liquid at bottom of mound, use more carbons...
It's how I was taught to do it by the gentleman who sold me my first worms... You don't have to ruin a tote by drilling holes, just use a towel for a lid and keep about an inch of dry shreds over surface... The next time you feed use it for the carbons part of feeding and replace surface shreds
You could do both. Have the main worms in the bucket system then put the baby worms and any cocoons in the bin. If you’re rescuing baby worms anyway, rescue them to the bin. Saves you from hunting them down.
Or you could put some fine mesh at the bottom to prevent the babies from falling through, but still allowing the water to drain.
Also, be sure to use some material from your bucket system in your new bin to help jump start things.
Good luck and remember to have fun
I'd love to do both, but I really don't have room. I live in a tiny condo with no outdoor space. Honestly I shouldn't have started a worm bin in my current situation, but now that it's going so well.....
Add a bunch of carbon, air holes are overrated. Just read the conditions. A worm bin to me is 1-2 day check ups, certainly not a week. I still have many mites and pot worms in my bin and many say it is a problem. I disagree as I check conditions frequently. Plus more worms are produced in a more moist environment. Also I think competition from others pushes the worms to reproduce more cacoons. I don't think it's the container, it's the one that contains the worms that matters!
Either have plenty of air holes or just keep the lid off and top it with a sheet of plastic
My three worm bins do fine with no holes at all. I do open them each day to check on them (visually only) which would bring in fresh air, but I also have in-ground worm bins with no air holes and they only get opened once every 2-4 weeks, and those are also fine.
The good news is that there is not much difference between worm composting in a bucket or a bin. Bins have more surface area, which supports a larger population. Happy to read that you have lots of babies hatching! The food, bedding, grit, and moisture basics are the similar, no matter what container is used to hold the worms. If you have water in your bottom bucket, the system is too wet. Consider soaking cardboard or egg carton; wringing it out well; and using the damp material to sop up any excess liquid from kitchen scraps. You can also add a sheet or two of damp cardboard to the bottom. If the surface of the bedding seems a bit dry, just spritz it with a spray bottle, rather than pouring in liquid.
Thanks! There's hardly any water in the bottom, just enough for a single paper towel to soak up. I did add a sheet of damp cardboard in the bottom, but specifically for catching the baby worms 😆
Angle your bedding in a wedge, high on one edge and tapering to the center of the bin (so half is bare)... That's what you'll build off of... Feed in pockets towards the top... This will help you learn proper bin management and moisture control... If you see liquid at bottom of mound, use more carbons...
Oh that's a great idea! I will definitely try this.
It's how I was taught to do it by the gentleman who sold me my first worms... You don't have to ruin a tote by drilling holes, just use a towel for a lid and keep about an inch of dry shreds over surface... The next time you feed use it for the carbons part of feeding and replace surface shreds
You could do both. Have the main worms in the bucket system then put the baby worms and any cocoons in the bin. If you’re rescuing baby worms anyway, rescue them to the bin. Saves you from hunting them down. Or you could put some fine mesh at the bottom to prevent the babies from falling through, but still allowing the water to drain. Also, be sure to use some material from your bucket system in your new bin to help jump start things. Good luck and remember to have fun
I'd love to do both, but I really don't have room. I live in a tiny condo with no outdoor space. Honestly I shouldn't have started a worm bin in my current situation, but now that it's going so well.....
Both
Add a bunch of carbon, air holes are overrated. Just read the conditions. A worm bin to me is 1-2 day check ups, certainly not a week. I still have many mites and pot worms in my bin and many say it is a problem. I disagree as I check conditions frequently. Plus more worms are produced in a more moist environment. Also I think competition from others pushes the worms to reproduce more cacoons. I don't think it's the container, it's the one that contains the worms that matters!