• In worm composting, waste can be added continuously - from several times a day to once a week.
• Chop up your waste (e.g., with scissors).
• Spread the waste over the entire surface.
• Smell: It smells like earth and slightly like what was last fed (e.g., banana or onion). If it smells unpleasant, something is wrong, and there is not enough air in the compost. Mix in structural material and/or additives like soil or minerals and reduce the amount of feed.
• The amount you can add to the composter depends on how quickly the waste decomposes. The decomposition speed depends on various factors such as temperature, moisture, types of waste, and others.
• The amount you can put in the composter depends on how quickly the waste breaks down. The degradation rate depends on various factors such as temperature, humidity, waste types, and others.
• Observe: Has the top layer already sagged a bit, much of it lightly browned and begun to compost? Then you can add fresh waste. The amount of waste (food) depends on the speed of decomposition.
• Digging is not necessary for worm composting, the worms do this for you.
• Feel: When loosening by hand, you will get a feel for the structure and moisture in your composter.

Humidity is one of the most important factors in composting and should be checked regularly. Worms breathe through moist skin and can only survive in a moist environment.

Feel: The compost should be comfortably damp, like a squeezed sponge or garden soil, a few hours after it rains.

If the compost is too moist, add dry structural material and temporarily reduce the amount of feed.

If the compost is too dry, add water. Please note the product-specific information.

Compost worms work most effectively between 12° and 26°C. In the garden composter (WormUp SCALE, TUBE) and in the compost heap, the worms hide themselves in heat and frost - with the indoor/balcony composter (WormUp HOME) temperatures of over 35°C and frost must be avoided. If the WormUp HOME is outdoors, we recommend a shady spot that is protected from rain. In winter it should be brought indoors.

Feel: The compost should feel lukewarm. If the compost is significantly warmer than the ambient temperature, you have probably added too much or too much protein-rich feed. Reduce the amount of food and mix in structure material or soil.

Compost worms can be used in the indoor/balcony composter (WormUp HOME), in the garden composter (WormUp SCALE, TUBE) and in compost heaps, but not in heat composters. They have an average life expectancy of two years. If they feel good, they multiply quickly. The worm population always adapts to the food supply.

The composting process in vermicompost is the result of the cooperation of earthworms with a multitude of other creatures - the food web in the compost, which is similar to the food web in the soil. These invertebrates each have their own niches and perform important functions in converting dead cellular material into mature compost.

Observe: In addition to the earthworms, you can observe many other animals. The easiest to observe are enchytraea, compost mites (these are harmless to health and should not be confused with the allergenic house dust mites), and springtails. Individual populations of fellow residents sometimes multiply by leaps and bounds - in most cases their occurrence regulates itself again after a short time (1-3 weeks).

Whatever little animals you find, the general rule is: most are extremely important and useful. A few can deplete the worm population, such as the centipede. Various mini-fly species can also occur. The fruit flies usually come with the skins from the fruit, various types of miniature mosquitoes, such as the fungus gnat or dung flies, are more attracted to the ripe hummus. These can be annoying, but they are not harmful. If they're too annoying, see the background information on how to get rid of them quickly.