I bought a box and some worm bedding last spring, dug a bunch of worms, put them in the box with bedding then put them in the refrigerator and have used them for fishbait ever since. I've fed them laying mash, coffee grounds, and plain corn meal and they have done real good but I think the bedding is just castings now. Can anyone tell me the exact mixture for some new bedding?

-- Don (hihilldon@yahoo.com), February 02, 2001

Answers

This looks like a job for....................VERMICULTURE MAN!!!!!! Somebody call Jay, quick!

-- John in S. IN (JSMENGEL@HOTMAIL.COM), February 02, 2001.

Not sure what Vermiculture Man will have to say-lol! But, until you see his reply, you are right to be concerned about the state of their current bedding. The castings can become toxic to the worms if too great an accumulation occurs. You have lots of options for new bedding- newspaper torn into strips; office type paper, shredded; peat moss; coconut fiber (coir); peanut shells; oh, and coffee grounds are superb if you can get a large supply of them at once (I get 5 gallon pails of them occassionally from McDonald's or the local convenience store); just about any organic material that is high in carbon and that can be shredded into small pieces (and, for me, must be free and easily gotten!). Loads more that I can't think of off the top of my head. Jay will have some good ideas, I'm sure. Remember to soak the material in water when you make the new bed- about the consistency of a wrung-out sponge is right. And, if your chosen material contains anything that will heat up (such as stable bedding), make sure you let it heat and then cool before introducing your worms so you don't cook them.

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), February 02, 2001.

Scratching my head here. Wow I didn't know it was this complex! We had a worm bed when I was little for bait. We just put some dirt in an old washtub that had holes in the bottom and threw some manure on top and covered it with a piece of carpet that we wet down a time or two in august. I guess they did ok..we always had bait. Of course my little bro and I were always catching more worms to add to it:o).

-- Amanda in Mo (aseley@townsqr.com), February 03, 2001.

Thanks for the compliment, but I consider myslf more of a worm boy. Here is the basic mix I use (which originally, I read in Countryside last year). Strip newsprint into 1/4 inch strips (curly Q'd is an added benifit) and lay in bottom of 60 quart plastic bin with drain holes in bottom about 6 inches deep. Mix 5 lb of topsoil and 1lb of sand ( they need the grit) together and pour over bedding, add water to moisten medium Add worms, bury foodstuffs under topsoil mix. Feed at least once a week, water as neccessary to maintain a moist medium without drowning your stock Turn mix occasionally to speed composting and to check on worms activity and health. When bedding is consumed, seperate worms from castings, rebuild bedding as above.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), February 03, 2001.

You said you keep them in the fridge? Are you raising nightcrawlers or red wigglers? The above description is geared toward raising wigglers, not nightcrawlers, which do better in outdoor pit bins.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), February 03, 2001.

Jay, I knew you would show up eventually. Now tell me please, how is he going to fit that great big tub in his refrigerator???? LOL

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), February 03, 2001.

I only have worms that I dug on the downhillside of my chicken lot. I believe the bedding that I bought from Magic Worm Farm was mostly peat moss. Thanks everybody, I'll try the mixture that was mentioned and let you all know how it works.

-- Don (hihilldon@yahoo.com), February 03, 2001.

If it once lived, use it. The only exception is animal junk like meat, guts and dariy. There are exceptions, but if you are not up to speed, its easyer to leave it alone. As a bedding for the canadian's (what else would be in the frig?) You could use pet moss, mixed with coffe grounds & shredded news paper. I would'nt put much else in the frig like manure or dirt. You should turn the bedding every few weeks. This will let you know how they are doing, airiate the bedding and help the pH. High pH (caused by their urin) can kill any worms quick if it gets over 7.

-- Ed (Ed_Heiser@python.cac.cc.az.us), July 01, 2001.