Reproductive Anatomy of an EarthwormĮarthworms are hermaphroditic. But, how do worms make babies? In this article, you will learn all about Earthworm Reproduction, including the reproductive anatomy of an earthworm and exactly how worms reproduce. Over time though, when your bin develops and matures, you’ll be able to add more food scraps.Composting worms have 3 jobs: eat, poop, and make babies. Any amount of worms will set you on the right path, you just may need to vary the amount of food you feed them. The worms will reproduce to fit the environment, so don’t worry about having too many or too few to start with. As a general rule, around 1lb of worms will be enough for 1 square foot of composting area. How many you need to start a worm farm will depend on the size of your vermicompost setup. Red wigglers are just a good, all-rounder worm when it comes to vermicomposting for beginners and experts alike. They are relatively quick reproducers and can work their way through organic matter at a good pace. They are also reasonably cheap, and readily available for purchase. Benefits of Using Red Wigglers in a Worm Farmīecause red wigglers are generally hardier than other composting worms, they are easy worms to use in vermiculture setups. Address any issues by adding eggshells and bedding material and easing off from adding any acidic food scraps. This includes any citrus peels, tomatoes or pineapple. 70% moisture content will produce a few drops per squeeze, but not a lot of liquid.Ī healthy worm farm should sit around the neutral/slightly acidic range normally, but you can test this through simple pH test strips or a pH meter.

If a lot of water comes out like when you’re wringing a sponge, then it’s too wet. Simply grab a handful of your bedding material and give it a gentle squeeze. A moisture level of about 70% and a pH of 6-7 are your sweet spots. Moisture and pH are the other main consideration factors for keeping red wigglers.

This makes them an ideal starter worm for anyone looking to begin their worm farming journey.

Red wigglers will continue to reproduce and consume organic matter within a 55☏-90☏ temperature range. What Temperatures Can Red Wigglers Tolerate?Ī huge plus for red wiggler worms is that they’re quite tough and can handle a broader temperature range compared to other common composting worms.

Download red wiggler cocoons