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Gardening in Oz

Accidental bucket of worms!

12 years ago

First up - have to confess that I am a complete beginner gardener. I have a mainly container garden just started in my courtyard, which also has a narrow strip of garden around the fenceline. I have a bucket with a few holes punched in the bottom filled with potting mix that I had tried to grow some unfortunate plant in. Plant was looking sick so this morning I took it out and stirred the potting mix about to find that it has lots of big worms in it as well as tons of slaters. From my reading I think that worms = good slaters = bad so I'm wodering what to do with this bucket of soil? Should I throw it on the garden strip worms, slaters and all or should I top it up with something to use later on my container veggies - but what about the slaters? Sorry about the loooong post!

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Comments (3)

karlacat
10 years ago
I think slaters are friends in the garden, doing similar work as the worms. Possibly signs of a healthy garden.
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Jelopia
10 years ago
Worms and slaters in potting mix = death to plants.

Worms work to break down organic matter, they help make soil biodynamically rich, as do slatters with organic matter, however, when introduced to potting mix contained within a potting container, you will eventually loose most plants, potting mix must at all times be inert, meaning, no active bacteria or fungus, a quality potting mix has been sterilised before sale to kill all organic processes, as potting mix rots within a pot, it robs the plant of Nitrogen, the potting matter becomes smaller leaving less room for air (oxygen being highly important) thus encouraging "Non Aerobic Bacteria" ... Bad bacteria! Dangerous for most plants and especially dangerous to potted plants. pots should not be left sitting on garden soil and if a pot becomes infected with organic life, it must be repotted, or if little damage done, the potting mix must be sterilized to remove any organic life without deleteriously harming the plant.

Hope this helps.

JM
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In a cool basement a bucket of worm will keep all winter, throw in some UCG and some old fruit and put the bucket on the cool floor. You don't need holes or a lid of any sort the worms will be happy, they slow down in the cool you know. Maybe in Febuary you can feed some but you don't have to, you don't need to add water just leave them alone they don't need you. I have a friend doing two buckets this winter he says they are doing great he just checked them last week. I have done this for years to keep worms for outside bins and did not know any other way until I read this forum. I still think it is the best and easiest way, but I am new to using worms for garbage in the winter and like the idea so I will try to learn the new way. What fun! a squirm in the kitchen. The only place with room and warmth in my little house on the prairie. Curt~~~ :-) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`ARMY WORMS
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I do everything wrong but it's turned out right so far. I bought 5 lbs of red wigglers in Sept. Threw them in a rubbermaide tub with newspaper, cardboard and some peat moss that I soaked overnight. I feed everything from lots of coffee grounds, eggs shells, tea bags, rice, potatoes, tomatoes, bread, you name it except for meat or dairy and not much citrus. I never even bothered with drainage holes and still don't. I've harvested 2 times and now have 4 bins and ready to harvest again and add another bin. All I do is take the lids off each morning, throw garbage in there, cover up with shredded paper. If it's a hot day, I put in frozen jugs of water. If any seem to be getting too wet (which isn't often, I just add more dry paper or cardboard. Then put the lids back on before dark. One thing that might help this work, is that the bins are large enough that the worms can move to another location in the bin if they become uncomfortable, like too wet/dry, to hot/cold.I also feed in one area for a while, like a week or so, before I switch places. Anyway, just thought I'd mention that maybe we sometimes worry too much. My worms at least seem pretty easy going, and don't seem to mind that I have no idea what I'm doing. :-)
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I have a worm bin in the house. I just love my worms. If you have holes in your container for drainage when the food they want is all gone they might move on and leave through the holes. Maybe add a little coffee grounds for them? Worms love UCG I dug out a bush yesterday and had a bunch of worms in the roots. I was so happy! Worms were not in my yard much when I moved here. Adding organic matter made them want to hang around. Karen
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I see why you nested one inside the other. I think keeping the bins outside is good if you can, unless you have a great back porch or somewhere to keep it that it's not in the way. I think we're in the same zone, but here in CA we probably have less humidity and cockroaches than you do. My bins are outside all the time, in the shade. If you do find your worm bucket is getting too wet (starting to smell), you might want to drill a few holes on the sides. I use a hot glue gun, but it sounds like you have that handled with a drill. I actually have a bucket with a few worms going now which has no holes, and I have to keep a flower pot on top to keep the critters out. Not much ventilation, but all seems well anyway. I actually have three going now...2 rubbermades and 1 bucket. The hobby seems to grow. It is fun, and I'm glad you are enjoying it.
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Mimsycatmeow
10 years ago
Worms in your pots are a good sign and should be encouraged. I am an experienced gardener and I have never had any trouble with worms in pots. it is a good and natural process for bacteria to break down your potting mix. You must be doing sonething right for your pots to be so teeming with life. Sterility will not help your plants. Slater do some good work in the garden but can do some damage to plants. You can make some simple slater traps and relocate the slaters to another part of the garden away from your pots. Below is a link to a good article about slater control.

http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s2577408.htm
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