Adding Microbes To The Worm Bin?

by Gordon
(Beverly Hills Florida.)

Hi Pauly,

I have my new worm farm set up with a coco, paper, pumice, bedding, and I've added some ground up veggies in one corner and some ground up eggshells, coffee grounds and oatmeal on top of the bedding in another corner.

I have not added and compost, or garden soil that I understand would add microbes to the bin.

My question is: Do I need to add something that already has microbes in it, or will the bedding in the bin develop it's own microbes for the worms to eat?

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Jun 12, 2014
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Adding Microbes To The Worm Bin
by: Pauly

Hey Gordon,

Microbes will generally move in on their own from what's on the food and floating in the air.

This is what we call IMO (indigenous micro organisms)that are already in your particular part of the world.

Adding microbes manually (which is usually about 1 or 2 table spoons of outside dirt sprinkled throughout the bin) will help increase the microbial activity quicker.

Keep in mind, though, that adding the microbes is beneficial 1 week before adding the worms. The microbes will be busy breaking down the material into a slurry for the worms to slurp up.

This will help get the bin ready and as comfortable as possible for the worms.

Worms generally arrive all stressed out from the long, exhausting trip and will be uptight and hungry. it will take a little while for them to settle in so already having microbes in a liquid form for them is best.

Worms contain all the necessary microbes the food/bedding needs in order to start decaying faster but worms need to be ready to eat right when they arrive for the best experience for you and them :)

Hope this was beneficial Mr. G
~Pauly

Jun 13, 2014
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Microbes
by: Gordo

Thanks Pauly.
It looks like I'll have to get some dirt from my compost bin and add it to my worm bin. The only reson I'm reluctant to do this is because I don't want to introduce any bugs to my worm bin as it is inside my garage and I try to keep it bug free.
My outside compost bin is full of all kinds of critters that I don't want to bring inside so I'll have to be very careful about what's in the dirt.
I was thinking about getting a bag of composted cow munuer at Lowes today to add to the worm bin but I'm not sure if it has microbes in. We will see.
Thanks,
G.

Jun 13, 2014
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Adding yeast?
by: Gordo

Would adding yeast to the bin promote microbes?

Jun 13, 2014
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Adding Microbes To The Worm Bin
by: Pauly

Since your bin is inside and you don't want to bring the "outside" and all of it's nature into your home, I don't blame you either, then here is what I would recommend.

Dig up some dirt and get down to where the moist dirt is and just get a small handful. It must be moist as these will be living microbes.

But it is not totally necessary to add these microbes if you're wanting to be extremely cautious about bringing in unwanted pests.

Like I said earlier, the IMO's will be there :)

~Pauly

Jun 13, 2014
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Adding Microbes To The Worm Bin
by: Pauly

Any type of microbe that breaks down food is good to use in the worm bin.

I have not done any research on yeast bacteria but it is probably a type of mesophile. Although I'm sure some can be thermophilic as well.

Either way I would use very little as you would not need much. But once the the worms have moved in then there is nothing else you would need to do other than introducing foods to them when they start to run out.

~Pauly

Jun 15, 2014
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Microbes
by: Gordo

Yesterday I went to my outside compost bin and dug down to some decomposed matter, took about a cup full of nice dark compost and placed it on a piece of white plastic on my work bench.

I then proceeded to go through it picking out any critters I could see. I did this 3 times until there were no more visible critters to be seen. I took two Tbls of it and put it in my worm bin and put the rest in a sealed container for later use.

I think this will give the bin a good inoculation of microbes to get it started.

Thank you for all your help so far,
G.

Jun 15, 2014
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Adding Microbes To The Worm Bin
by: Pauly

Sounds great Gordo! although it's not necessary to save your dirt.

The worm castings contain all the beneficial microbes needed to start another bin for when you decide to split it after your worms have populated.

Just grab a few handfuls of worm castings and mix it into the new bedding/food and that's it. The microbes and some worms that you transfer over will get to work right away.

Something to think about Bud,
~Pauly

Jun 16, 2014
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Microbes In The Worm Bin
by: Gordo

Thanks Pauly,

I'm pretty sure I have enough microbes in there now.
You are a great source of info, and I appreciate your willingness to answer all my questions.

G.

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