If you are noticing that your worm composting
bin isn’t thriving in the way you hoped, with the worms seeming sluggish or
emitting a distinctive smell, there is a good chance that the problem is with
your pH balance. Keeping the pH of the worm bin in an ideal range is one of the
most commonly overlooked factors of worm composting. Worms, like people, need
the right environment to stay productive and healthy, and for red wigglers, a
stable pH is vital to digestion, survival, and even reproduction.
The pH is a measure of acidity. A pH of 7 is
neutral, anything below is acidic, and anything above is alkaline. When the pH
of the worm container drifts outside in either direction from a 6 or a 7, the
worms’ health begins to suffer. When the pH is too low or too high, the
conditions for the worms become stressful, unhealthy, and potentially lethal.
When food scraps are added to the composting
bin, some of them break down and release their acidic properties, gradually
lowering the pH level of the container as a whole. If the pH isn’t consistently
maintained, the environment becomes increasingly acidic, something that can
only change through intervention action.
Keeping A Balanced pH
The most effective method of balancing the wom
bin pH is by adding garden lime to it every two weeks. This product can be
found as garden lime, lawn lime, dolomitic lime, or calcium carbonate at your
local hardware or farm supply store. Be certain that you’re purchasing plain
lime, not hydrated or slaked (quick) lime, as those products can create
dangerous chemical reactions and may be almost instantly fatal to your worms.
The application of garden lime to the worm bin
can be performed in 3 simple steps:
1)
Lightly sprinkle the garden lime
on the surface as a dusting.
2)
Use a small watering can or spray
bottle to dampen the lime so it begins to break down and soak into the bedding.
3)
Leave the rest to the worms, as
they will consume the lime, which will not only balance the pH of the soil but
also add calcium to their diet.
Calcium is particularly important for red
wigglers since it promotes better digestion and, more importantly, aids in
producing worm eggs, which is imperative for anyone looking to grow their worm
compost population. Without calcium, you will see a noticeable decline in
reproduction and fewer castings, leading to a poorly performing composting
environment.
How To Tell If A Worm Bin Has Become Too Acidic
If the addition of lime has not been a regular
occurrence in your worm bin, chances are the environment has become too acidic.
There are some signs that you should look for to check if that is the case:
-
A strong, vinegar-like, sour smell
emanating from the bin
-
Deceased worms
-
Worms attempting to escape by
crawling up the sides of the bin
-
Food scraps not being broken down
sufficiently
-
Presence of white worms or mites
If any of these signs are present, you should
purchase inexpensive pH test strips or soil pH meters and check the acidity
levels. These can be found in most garden centers or online. Once confirmed,
start adding lime as described earlier until the environment begins to return
to a neutral pH range.