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Worm food!
3 posters
Page 1 of 1
Worm food!
Not sure if this is the right place but I have a questions about worms. I'll be building the towers tonight or tomorrow morning for my boxes and picking up the worms tomorrow.
How much coffee grounds is too much for worms? I can get the grounds from 1-2 pots a day since we use a drip coffee maker at work. Previously I've been throwing them in my compost bin but I hear worms love coffee so I'm happy to give them to them, I'm just not sure how much.
Thanks!
How much coffee grounds is too much for worms? I can get the grounds from 1-2 pots a day since we use a drip coffee maker at work. Previously I've been throwing them in my compost bin but I hear worms love coffee so I'm happy to give them to them, I'm just not sure how much.
Thanks!
Coelli- Posts : 300
Join date : 2012-04-30
Location : Los Angeles foothills
Re: Worm food!
Worms love coffee grounds, they'll take all they can get, but, the bin can get too acidic for them real quick. Be sure to add some crushed egg shells or mix the grounds with some lime to counteract that. Adding veggies will help too.
Jo
Jo
littlejo- Posts : 1575
Join date : 2011-05-04
Age : 70
Location : Cottageville SC 8b
Re: Worm food!
In the book "Worms Eat My Garbage" the author says, do not use
slaked, or hydrated lime. The wrong kind of lime will cause your worms to react violently and will kill them. "
Powered limestone(calcium carbonate) can be used to provide grit. Egg shells serve the same purpose.
Pulverized egg shells will also keep conditions from getting too acidic and provides calcium which is also necessary for worm reproduction. It acts as grit for worm digestion too. I use to crush egg shells with a rolling pin. But it's easier to throw the clean shells into the coffee bean grinder and pulverize. Then store in a plastic container.
slaked, or hydrated lime. The wrong kind of lime will cause your worms to react violently and will kill them. "
Powered limestone(calcium carbonate) can be used to provide grit. Egg shells serve the same purpose.
Pulverized egg shells will also keep conditions from getting too acidic and provides calcium which is also necessary for worm reproduction. It acts as grit for worm digestion too. I use to crush egg shells with a rolling pin. But it's easier to throw the clean shells into the coffee bean grinder and pulverize. Then store in a plastic container.
llama momma
Certified SFG Instructor- Posts : 4921
Join date : 2010-08-20
Location : Central Ohio zone 6a
Re: Worm food!
Thanks so much! I intend to give them our kitchen scraps too, and they'll also get our guinea pig's bedding (it's made of compostable paper) so hopefully it will balance out the coffee grounds. I'm interested to see how much "stuff" stays in the tubes as opposed to being deposited in the soil (and whether the worms even decide they want to leave the tube!).
How can you tell if things are getting too acidic, btw?
How can you tell if things are getting too acidic, btw?
Coelli- Posts : 300
Join date : 2012-04-30
Location : Los Angeles foothills
Re: Worm food!
If it is too acidic they will leave your outdoor worm tubes. If they are kept in an indoor bin and it's too acidic they would try to escape or you would find dead worms. I've heard dead worms stink pretty bad.
Basically they love coffee grounds and the filters too. Coffee grounds can dry out. Moist is best. So as I water my plants I spritz the worm tubes too.
To answer your question about how much coffee to give, it's really hard to say. This will sound silly but -- Put some in and see when it disappears!
Basically they love coffee grounds and the filters too. Coffee grounds can dry out. Moist is best. So as I water my plants I spritz the worm tubes too.
To answer your question about how much coffee to give, it's really hard to say. This will sound silly but -- Put some in and see when it disappears!
llama momma
Certified SFG Instructor- Posts : 4921
Join date : 2010-08-20
Location : Central Ohio zone 6a
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