Common problems with worm farms & compost

Below is a list of the common problems encountered when usin a worm farm or when composting:

• Unbalanced compost heaps and worm farms can become less productive or stagnant if they become too acidic, this is when you may notice a slightly sour smell coming from your compost or worm farm. A sprinkle of lime, dolomite or wood ash should correct the problem by balancing out acidity.
• If you have ongoing problems with acidity it is usually a sign that too much ‘wet’ waste is going in, and can also be corrected by balancing out food waste with ‘brown’ ingredients such as paper, leaf clippings and any ‘dry’ garden waste materials.
• Worms will not multiply if they are too hot, or if their bedding is too acidic or damp. If your worms do not seem to be reproducing you may need to relocate your worm farm to a shadier position, or correct the balance with shredded paper, leaf litter and other ‘dry’ ingredients.
• Pests and vermin can be a problem, but there are a few easy solutions to this. Mice can be attracted by exposed food scraps, so burying any kitchen waste when you add it to your worm farm or compost heap will help to deter them. A snugly fitting lid should keep out any small animals that are attracted by food scraps and warmth of worm farms and compost heaps.
• If you see vinegar flies or fruit flies around your worm farm it is probably too acidic, which means you should add less kitchen waste such as grains and fruits which are high in acid. Also avoid putting any citrus scraps into your worm farm as these will attract insects, and worms will not eat citrus peel due to its highly aromatic essential oils.
• Avoid putting meat scraps, dairy or animal waste into your worm farm or compost heap unless it is specifically designed to process these kinds of wastes. It is possible to buy worm farms which are designed for processing animal wastes, which are unsuitable for regular worm farms. Hot composting is another way in which it is possible to deal with these kinds of waste cleanly and safely.
• Avoid putting Garlic and Onions in to your worm farm as these are also not favoured by worms and will often come through the process entirely untouched and will sprout in the worm castings. Garlic, Onions and Citrus are best broken down as part of a hot or cold compost heap.

Complete list of composting articles

How to make cold compost How to make hot compost Composting for beginners Composting tips

How to make worm tea Using earthworms in the garden Worm farms Worming your way into the garden

Questions? Why not ask Angus on Facebook?