What Is The Best Bedding For Red Wigglers?
If you’re reading this, chances are you are
venturing into the world of composting. As such, before raising your worms, you
might wonder what the best bedding for red wigglers is. With more than a decade
of experience with observing, experimenting, along with trial and error, we are
uniquely qualified to inform you that there is no single bedding material that
is ideal, but the right mix of materials can be a game changer.
The Perfect Mix
Our years of experimentation led us to the
winning red wiggler bedding combination: 50% horse manure and 50% mulched
leaves. Red wigglers thrive in bedding that most closely resembles a forest
floor: breathable and loose. But it isn’t as simple as just throwing the two
ingredients together to make the bedding, there is some prep work to be done to
prepare the perfect pairing of the necessary carbon and nitrogen components.
The mulched leaves provide a carbon-rich
environment that serves as a slow-decomposing food source. The horse manure
delivers a nitrogen-packed supplement, full of microbes. However, the manure
must be composted and aged for (ideally) a year before use. That is because
manure that is too “fresh” or warm is too high in nitrogen levels, negatively
impacting the worms if it is used as a sole bedding source. After combining the two, the mixture should sit until the
heat has dissipated, and only after it is cool to the touch should the red
wigglers be introduced into it.
The Nitrogen-Carbon Balance
It’s important to keep in mind that worm
bedding isn’t simply a soft living location but an ecosystem designed to
thrive. For that reason, it is vital to keep the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio
right, keeping he balance of the two components in check. If the carbon is
excessive, it slows the composting process, while too high of a nitrogen level
risks overheating and harming the red wigglers. The right balance (with the
carbon components always higher) results in happy, active worms who break down
waste, producing nutrient-rich worm castings.
Alternative Carbon-Rich Bedding
If you are not able to acquire mulched leaves,
don’t worry. There are several viable carbon-rich substitutes. These include:
-
Dried pine shavings are typically sold at
local farm supply stores as animal bedding.
-
Shredded plain brown cardboard but without any
glossy coatings.
-
Shredded black and white newsprint, as long as
the print is from soy-based ink.
-
Rinsed coconut coir, a sustainable option that
is great for aeration and moisture retention.
Make sure to avoid using any materials printed
with colored ink, as well as bleached and glossy paper. Anything besides plain,
untreated materials will have chemicals that will poison and harm the worms
over time.
Nitrogen-Rich Bedding Options
For the other component of the red wiggler
bedding mix, here are some reliable options for nitrogen-rich beddings:
-
Composted horse, cow, or rabbit manure,
rain-weathered and aged for at least a year.
-
Bagged Black Kow compost is readily usable and
available at most garden centers.
The microbial life present in these materials
will help the worms effectively break down waste and reproduce. Trust us, the
red wigglers will love it.