subject: A Few Things That Will Kill Your Wormery Compost [print this page] A Few Things That Will Kill Your Wormery Compost
If you're big into worm farming, then the first and foremost thing you typically thing about is the well being of your wormery compost. Obviously is your worms are not in good health, then your wormery compost is doomed to fail and you will no longer have your endless supply of compost or bait worms. It is important to make sure that what you are putting into your worm farm is going to be good for your worms and will promote longer lives, better decomposition, and more bountiful reproduction.
While earthworms are one of the best at their job, that is, breaking down organic materials, there are a few things that, if you put them in your wormery compost, will kill them and destroy your worm farm. Take care to stay away from these items. Here are a few examples of what you should definitely not add to your worm farm.
Anything that has ever been chemically treated is a terrible thing to put into your wormery compost. One of the easiest items that you can add to your earthworm farms is yard waste. This includes grass clippings, raked up leaves, or dead plants. Under normal circumstances, these are all fantastic items to feed your worms, but there are a few times that it is not a good idea. If you have ever treated your lawn with weed killer or any other chemicals or if you have ever sprayed pesticides in your garden, these chemicals will kill your earthworms. Never put chemically treated lawn product in your wormery compost. When in doubt, don't.
What about pet droppings? This is a big question for many earthworm farmers. Again, under normal circumstances it is ok, however in general I recommend against it. Many dogs take medication to de-worm them. You are not trying to kill earthworms inside of them, but because biology is similar, you will kill your earthworms just as effectively as you killed the parasitic worms in your dog. The medication will make its way out and end up in the feces. If you own a cat and use a litter box, you should also refrain from adding the droppings to your wormery compost. Many cat litters use chemicals to mask or reduce odors. These chemicals can be very harmful to your worms.
There are a few household wastes that you should also stay away from. Anything related to oils, meats, or dairy products should not be added to your wormery compost. Earthworms are capable of digesting these items, yes, but they are not good for the digestive system of your worms and can hinder their capability or effectiveness. You should also only add citrus fruits to your wormery compost in moderation.
