Why Not Earthworms?

Can't seem to find a solid reason why earthworms aren't able to compost. Why cant I just pick a lot of worms from the ground and throw 'em in?

And don't gas stations sometimes carry those styrofoam containers of nightcrawlers? I've read of compost worms called nightcrawlers I believe

Uvalax said:

Can't seem to find a solid reason why earthworms aren't able to compost. Why cant I just pick a lot of worms from the ground and throw 'em in?

And don't gas stations sometimes carry those styrofoam containers of nightcrawlers? I've read of compost worms called nightcrawlers I believe

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you can .. a worm is a worm .. its better to get those little red wigglers tho they are prolific breeders and eat ALOT

Plus who can find a pound, almost 1000 worms in the winter ground

WORMS CAN'T HURT UR PLANT,THEY HELP KEEP SOIL RICH MAKIN IT GREAT TO GROW IN!!! YOU CAN GROW IN EWC BY IT SELF NO SHIT!! i USE FOX FARM'S BIG BLOOM AND IT IS BAT G AND EWC AND THE SHIT WORK GREAT!!!

Uvalax said:

Can't seem to find a solid reason why earthworms aren't able to compost. Why cant I just pick a lot of worms from the ground and throw 'em in?

And don't gas stations sometimes carry those styrofoam containers of nightcrawlers? I've read of compost worms called nightcrawlers I believe

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The compost worms are sometimes called red wrigglers.

The nightcrawlers will work, just not as well. They mainly live deeper in the soil and eat more 'dirt' than compost. The compost worms live near the surface and eat the litter on the surface.

Wet

I do have some nightcrawlers in my bin, just so I'll have a supply for fishing. The composting worms are small and hard to get on a hook. LOL

Wet

Wetdog said:

I do have some nightcrawlers in my bin, just so I'll have a supply for fishing. The composting worms are small and hard to get on a hook. LOL

Wet

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Ha nice. Well I went ahead and put my guitar pedal on ebay,a small price for some great soil. Almost thinkin about starting a redworm business, money for the worms, and keep the soil!!
Still tryin to find that cheapest deal, but orderin soon.

Ya earthworms is also a good option...

Earthworms and compost worms are two different species, and live in different areas of the soil. Red worms are most often used for composting because they live in the top level of soil. They eat the decaying plant matter.

Nightcrawlers, or earthworms, don't feed off the decomposing plant waste. They need to dig in the dirt and eat mostly dirt. There's a good chance you'll get a mass escape if you put a bunch in a compost bin.

Damn didn't think about that, I drilled holes in the bottom and haveit sitting in the ground a little so worms would crawl in, haha, but I guess it's opposite!

my compost pile is biodynamic; and has about a baitshop per shovel in the medium hot region of the pile. they're just the usual bluegill bait...not nightcrawlers; but not the red ringed "red worms" either. they are a key part of the symbiotic microcosm. they grind up the dirt into guano-naturally processed fertilizer. they also become gopher guano in the garden,(don't EVEN give me a ration about my gophers!-though I wouldn't let 'em near baby plants!)...but yeah...worms ROCK! ...the spiders, and those cool lookin' "gilded chocolate flake on cream (I'm thinkin' v.w. bug paint job)"-beetles(ladybug subspecies?) really earn their pay as well.

Thanks for the reply, but its a little to late hahahah. I guess for yall who dont care what people say and use earthworms, respect to you, but I need fast decomposition, which is the difference between red wigglers and garden earthworms, I believe, or have you proven otherwise

I'm not about "fast" fast is a mental disease spawned by a society gone haywire. the tao te ching says:"don't push the river!"...that's why I have the best tasting, smoothest esophagus friendly weed in amstercruz county.- no neem oil, no hydro-speed-em -up nutes. I'm not pickin' on you or the red wigglers...I'm pointing out the very thing which seperates the greedy from the true believers(sukiyaki growers). most growers will push the river to get a faster bigger yield. there is a HUGE trade off. you sell out your name when you peddle "a load-of-goods"; which is where most growers are at. fuck that! nothing beats quality! NOTHING! I don't even want to smoke other people's weed anymore, 'cause 95 times out of 100- I can count on esphageal burn at the very least! you'll do alright with the red wigglers, and are on a good road(organics)...just remember what I just said...it's an overall tip meant more for other readers. let nature go at her speed- she's been at this a little longer than you or me!

Fast is sort of relative here.

Even with the 'fast' red wigglers and a new bin, you are still looking at 3 months time minimum before harvesting any amount of castings.

Hardly instant gratification or "pushing the river".

Wet

Uvalax said:

Damn didn't think about that, I drilled holes in the bottom and haveit sitting in the ground a little so worms would crawl in, haha, but I guess it's opposite!

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Actually thats not a bad idea. You'll attract worms that compost, and they will stay as long as you feed them well. Mine are in a rubbermaid container with holes all around. Its rare one crawls out. They stay in there tub eating old food.
I have found grinding my food in a food processor speeds things up. The worms don't eat till its rotted so there food is available faster with more surface area. Also it would take a very long time for bones to break down.

I have worms in my yogurt containers with the seedslings...nice fresh castings all the time. the value of the worm is extremely undersung. much of the best farmland in america is a wormless N-P-K anhydrous dead zone...that's what feeds us!!!!! talk about crack whores! our food suply is on meth! were talkin' about some weak primordial chi for sure! and then we eat it. what's-a -matter with this country?! I mean: COME ON!!! it's the food supply dammit! if the worms can't handle the soil; something is outta' whack- waaay outta' whack!

s.c.mtn.hillbilly said:

I have worms in my yogurt containers with the seedslings...nice fresh castings all the time. the value of the worm is extremely undersung. much of the best farmland in america is a wormless N-P-K anhydrous dead zone...that's what feeds us!!!!! talk about crack whores! our food suply is on meth! were talkin' about some weak primordial chi for sure! and then we eat it. what's-a -matter with this country?! I mean: COME ON!!! it's the food supply dammit! if the worms can't handle the soil; something is outta' whack- waaay outta' whack!

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WORD UP MAN! So true

s.c.mtn.hillbilly said:

I have worms in my yogurt containers with the seedslings...nice fresh castings all the time. the value of the worm is extremely undersung. much of the best farmland in america is a wormless N-P-K anhydrous dead zone...that's what feeds us!!!!! talk about crack whores! our food suply is on meth! were talkin' about some weak primordial chi for sure! and then we eat it. what's-a -matter with this country?! I mean: COME ON!!! it's the food supply dammit! if the worms can't handle the soil; something is outta' whack- waaay outta' whack!

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Dead nuts right about that!

Wet

Earthworm will also eat your roots. Keep that in mind

Just went to H T G you can get a big bag of worm castings for 20 bucks, maybe i'm just lazy