Should worms be added to the compost, in short you don’t need to add worms to your bin. However it can be beneficial if you do. Worms will appear naturally in your bin over time. Adding worms to the bin yourself will speed up the process.
Why are there worms in the compost?
Worms naturally live in a compost bin or heap because there is a ready supply of food for them. They will travel from nearby soil. Their eggs will be in soil/roots that are put into the bin.
Worms are an amazing part of the ecosystem. Their main function is to break down organic matter. There are lots of worms in the compost because they reproduce rapidly when they are in a place that has optimal conditions.
Worms’ natural activity is to eat through organic matter. Whilst they work they create worm casts which are the building blocks of soil life. They also leave tunnels behind them as they go which makes spaces for air in the compost.
Worm casts are full of actively available nutrients which means that compost is full of actively available nutrients. We use compost so that our plants can absorb these wonderful nutrients through their roots and grow to be healthy and strong.
What conditions will allow worms to thrive in your compost?
Hot or Cold
Worms thrive at a temperature range of between 12 – 24oC. Compost can go above this temperature;
- with the addition of a lot of green material
- during a hot summer
If the heap gets hot in the middle the worms will make their way to the outside of the heap, or down into the soil below where it will be cooler. This is why you often find lots of worms on the lid of a compost bin.
If it gets too cold, the worm activity will simply slow down. In cold conditions you are more likely to find the worms inside the heap where it is a little bit warmer.
Hot Composting
In hot composting there will be no worm activity, as the temperatures are too high. However after the hot phase, once the heap has cooled down, worms will enter the compost heap to digest the organic material.
Acid
The optimum condition for worms is to have a balanced pH compost heap. If the heap is too acidic it could affect their activity. They will move to the conditions that suit them best. So if the heap is too acidic they will move away.
An acidic heap will happen if you add acidic organic matter things like:
- Lemon, lime, orange peel
- Coffee grounds
- Trimmings from Pine species
All of these can be added to the heap, just make sure that you put a balance in. So don’t add too much acidic material without balancing it with some browns (cardboard, sawdust, broken down leaf litter) and some non-acidic greens (other kitchen scraps, grass clippings).
Greens and Browns
Getting the balance between greens and browns in your compost heap is crucial for good composting. Too much of either will discourage worms. They will move away from your heap.
Wet or Dry
The compost heap should be moist. Too dry and the worms will move to more moist conditions. Too wet and the organic matter will become sludgy with few air spaces, the worms will move to more preferable conditions.
What types of worms are in my compost?
There are lots and lots of worms. However there are two main types when it comes to composting. Earthworms and Tiger Worms.
Earthworms
These worms naturally appear in the compost from the surrounding soil and from roots deposited in the bin. They are effective composters. Relying on earthworms alone is a slower process, however it costs nothing. And worms that are found in your garden can always be relocated manually to the compost bin to give a helping hand to the natural processes.
Tiger Worms
These are also called Brandling Worms or Red Wrigglers. These are widely available online to purchase to add to your compost. They are favoured because of the fact that they do well in warmer and cooler temperatures and they reproduce quickly.
These worms won’t just appear in your bin. You would need to add them to it. And don’t forget that if the conditions aren’t right for them, they might go and find somewhere else to live.
FAQ
Is it good to have worms in your compost?
Yes it is good to have worms in your compost, it is a sign that there is a healthy ecosystem breaking down organic matter into compost.
Why is my compost full of worms?
The compost is full of worms because of the natural processes at work. Dead, dying and decaying organic material will naturally turn into compost. Worms are a part of this natural process and they will make their way to materials that provide them with food so that they can live and reproduce.
Do worms naturally appear in compost?
Yes. Worms will naturally appear because eggs have been deposited on soil or roots that have been put into the compost bin. Or because they have moved in from the surrounding soil. Even if the compost bin is not connected to the earth, they will still appear.
Is it bad if my compost has maggots?
No. Maggots are part of the decomposition process, they have a role in the ecosystem to break things down, just as much as worms, slugs and snails do. They also have a short lifecycle, and once their food source has been used up they will not remain.
How do you get rid of worms in compost?
The short answer. Don’t. Worms are so important for building soil and compost, creating air spaces and creating worm casts which are full of nutrients. Worms help soil to thrive, which helps plants to thrive. So keep them in the compost.
Conclusion
Worms do not need to be added to your compost bin, as they appear naturally and will contribute to the natural decomposition process. However if you do add them, things will happen more quickly. The worms to add would be Tiger Worms.
What is your experience with worms in your compost? I would love to hear in the comments below.