Gnats in Worm Bin
rreni4
9 years ago
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Comments (18)
equinoxequinox
9 years agoCharlie
9 years agoRelated Discussions
adding worms to a closed bin, and which worms
Comments (7)A compost bin and a worm bin are two different things. Many of us have both. What you are suggesting sounds like some sort of hybrid and it won't work for a variety of reasons. If you are going to spend the money for a pound of worms, you probably want to give them the best environment for survival, which is not a bed of compost. See the vermicomposting forum (starting with the FAQs) for info on how to set up a bin, and then search it for 'Kelly Slocum' (former expert poster) for the very best info on worm care. You'll also find info and photos of the types of worm species (usually red wigglers) that are used for worm bins. I have a compost bin with a solid plastic bottom on a large patch of aspalt because that's the space I have available. There are no worms in my bin during the hot phase because it's too hot for them. But during the cold phase, I have quite a few worms in the bins. I don't know exactly how they get there, but somehow they manage. I do know that they can slip through extremely small spaces, like fine netting. So I think you also will have some worms find their way into your compost bins if it is cool and moist enough....See MoreAnyone uses worm bin here? Looking for worm source
Comments (2)I have a worm bin in a rubbermaid tub but I bought the worms on ebay you garden web has a vermicomposting forum also you might find more help there...See Moreworms and worm bin lid
Comments (1)I guess it's up to me to answer! Most vermi's have jumped bins and have headed to GardenForums. Yes, as long as you put something that blocks the light, that'll do fine. The old fashioned wooden box ones had a piece of carpet on top. You can also put some layers of damp ir dry newspapers on top. Make sure you have red wigglers for your bin. The nightcrawlers need different conditions (cooler, deeper than a rubbermaid bin) and you might find the exodus from your bin on the floor trying to escape in the morning....See Morefungus gnats in worm bin
Comments (18)Hi! thanks for that Texas A&M link. it's got some useful information. Ok, its been about a month since I first posted my request for help, so here's an update on my bin and fungus gnat problem: -the BEST thing I did came from a suggestion from a non-worming friend who suggested mosquito netting. So, I made an "envelope" out of a 4'x6' piece of mosquito netting--I just folded it in half and sewed up the sides, put the whole bin inside and tied the top shut. That way, while I 'm doing battle with the fungus gnats, noone else in the house is bothered by the little critters. Plus, I KNOW the gnats didn't come in with the food--they must have been visiting my basement and happened upon the very inviting habitat of my worm bin and decided to take up residence. This way, the mosquito netting keeps gnats that are outside the bin, out (while it keeps the ones that are already in,in). -I put fairly big drainage holes in the bottom of the bin, since I think most of my issues with the worms have come from it being too wet. -I'm using BT--(Knock out gnats from Gardens alive). It kills the larvae. It says you need to do 3 applications, each a week apart. I'm on application #4 and I still have some adults, but it's much better than before.(I had had a really bad infestation). Since you have to drench the bin with the BT, the drainage holes are REALLY important. -I add lots of dry shredded newpaper each time I do a treatment. It helps get rid of some of the extra moisture in the bin. I take out the old wet newspaper and replace it with dry paper each time I open the bin.Since its so wet in there, I do have little white mites, but they're not too bad. -I made stick traps out of old toilet paper rolls and white (or yellow) fly paper (not the super sticky stuff, that's too messy, but the moderately sticky stuff that comes on a long roll.) I cut the tubes in half and staple 2 together to make a nice solid base, thhn I wrap them with the sticky paper. I put a couple ot these on the top of the lid of the bin (outside the bin, but inside the mosquito netting). They catch a fair number of gnats and let me monitor my success in the gnat-war. -I'm messing with the worms less. This is a bit of a bummer, since I liked frequently checking on their progress, but with the mosquito netting in place, spontaneous visits are a little more difficult. But the worms are happy, happy, happy. Very busy munching large quantities of food. -I'm willing to do one more BT treatment, and then I'm going to pull out the big guns. I have a no pest strip that I really don't want to use, since its so toxic, but I will if I still have adults after the next treatment. -when I feed the worms or do a BT treatment, I use a small vacuum to suck up fungus gnat stragglers. It's a pretty rewarding sport. Ok, that's probably more than ANY of you wanted to know, but I thought since you were all so good about providing suggestions, you needed to know the current status. Have a good weekend! slego...See Moresbryce_gw
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