Worm food list – What do worms eat?

Worm composting is an efficient method to transform organic waste into nutrient-rich fertilizer. Various factors play a crucial role in creating optimal conditions for the worms and supporting the composting process. Here's an overview of the most important factors. Key Factors in Worm Composting Worm food Moisture Oxygen supply Temperature pH Level 1. Worm food The input material has the greatest impact on the ecosystem in the worm composter and affects all other factors directly or indirectly. With adjusted feeding, you can thus specifically create the desired conditions in the composter. Tip: Find information on the properties of different wastes on our worm food list. The worm food for worm composting directly influences the quality of the final product. A balanced mix of green (nitrogen-rich) and brown (carbon-rich) material is crucial. The C/N ratio (carbon-to-nitrogen ratio) plays an important role here, as it affects the decomposition of organic materials by microorganisms. The ideal C/N ratio is between 25-30:1. As a rule of thumb, add about 300 g of woody, dry waste (carbon-rich) to 1 kg of kitchen scraps (nitrogen-rich). Adding minerals is important for the composting process and ultimately for the quality of the compost. Land soil, rock dust, or our Mineral Mix are rich in these minerals. Further information: Blog article on C/N ratio  Worm food list  2. Moisture Moisture in the compost is vital for the worms. An optimally moist environment promotes the decomposition of organic material and allows the worms to feed. The optimal moisture in a worm composter is usually between 70% and 85%. Regular watering or adding moist material like fruit and vegetable scraps increases moisture, while adding dry material like soil or cardboard reduces it. Further information: The right moisture in the worm composter  3. Oxygen Supply Worms need oxygen to survive and process the compost. Adequate ventilation of the compost is therefore essential. A balanced mix of worm food (C/N ratio) creates enough gaps for optimal oxygen supply. Choosing a breathable material for the composter, like clay or wood, also promotes oxygen flow. 4. Temperature Just as the seasons influence the activities of nature, the temperature in the worm composter determines the decomposition speed. Low temperatures slow down life, while activity increases with rising temperatures. An optimal temperature between 15-25°C accelerates decomposition without harming the worms. Further information: Tips for worm well-being on hot days    5. pH level The pH level measures acidity or alkalinity and plays a central role in the balance of ecological systems. A balanced pH level creates ideal conditions for microbial processes and supports the health of the worm population. A neutral to slightly acidic pH level (6.5-7.5) is optimal for worm composting. An incorrect pH level can stress the worms and inhibit the composting process. The pH level can be regulated by adding aids like eggshells, lime, or our Mineral Mix. Further information: Mineral Mix – The compost & soil improver  Correlation of the factors Composting with worms is simple – the processes that take place are complex. To create optimal conditions for worm composting, it's helpful to understand the interrelations of the various factors. The mix of worm food not only affects the C/N ratio but also the moisture, pH level, and oxygen supply of the compost. The choice of composter also influences moisture and oxygen supply.     Worm food and moisture The mix of worm food directly affects the moisture in the compost. A balanced ratio of green and brown material helps maintain moisture in the compost. Most kitchen scraps lead to a gradual acidification in the composter. Therefore, we recommend regular addition of basic-acting aids like finely crushed eggshells, lime, or our Mineral Mix. Worm food and pH level The composition of the worm food determines the compost's pH level. A high proportion of acidic materials can lead to a lower pH level, while alkaline materials can raise it. Most of the waste produced in the kitchen leads to gradual acidification in the composter. We therefore recommend the regular addition of alkalising additives such as eggshells (finely crushed), lime or our Mineral Mix. Worm food and oxygen supply The structure and composition of the worm food influence the aeration of the compost. A balanced ratio between coarse and fine materials usually leads to optimal aeration and thus an efficient composting process. Coarse material like branches or roughly chopped plant remains creates air channels in the composter and promotes ventilation, while finer material increases the surface area for colonization by microorganisms and worms. We recommend chopping the worm food, e.g., with scissors. Well-chopped materials promote a rapid decomposition process. Too fine chopping, e.g., using a mixer, can impair aeration, as smaller particles tend to compact and leave less room for air circulation, leading to oxygen deficiency and putrefaction. Worm food and temperature An increase in temperature should be avoided. Adding larger amounts of nitrogen-rich waste to the composter leads to heat development due to increased microbial activity. Unlike in classic hot composting, heat development is not desired in worm composting and harms the worms. Therefore, the layer of added waste should never be thicker than 4 cm. An exception to the rule is composting outdoors with large composters during the winter. There, heat development can be utilized to keep the composting process active. Further information: Composting with the SCALE in winter Moisture and oxygen supply An appropriate moisture level is important for oxygen absorption in the compost. Too moist material can lead to anaerobic conditions and thus to putrefaction. Composter and oxygen supply/moisture Indirectly, oxygen supply and moisture can also be influenced by the choice of composter. Wood and especially clay, as opposed to plastic, allow good oxygen exchange. Composter and temperature The location of the compost container can influence the temperature. A protected, shady place is ideal to prevent extreme temperatures. If the composter is outside, we recommend bringing it indoors during winter.

In composting, whether it's traditional hot composting or worm composting, the ratio of carbon (chemical symbol "C") to nitrogen (chemical symbol "N"), known as the C/N ratio, plays a crucial role. This physical and biochemical factor is key to a stable and efficient composting process. Rules of Thumb for the Appropriate C/N Ratio As a rule of thumb: For every kilogram of kitchen waste, which is rich in nitrogen ("N"), about 300 g of woody, dry waste, which contains a lot of carbon ("C"), should be added. This roughly equals the same volume, as woody material has a lower density. Another helpful rule of thumb: When you mix dry, woody material with fresh, moist waste and ensure that the mixture is well moistened but not dripping wet, you generally achieve the right C/N ratio. Left: Nitrogen-poor material | Middle: Nitrogen-rich material | Right: The ideal mix - Perfect worm food The Right C/N Ratio in Worm Composting The mix of "brown" and "green material" for an optimal C/N ratio in worm composting Structural material or litter (also known as "brown material") includes materials with a high carbon content. These include cardboard, paper, straw, sawdust, wood chips, stems, panicles, roots, and the like. These materials are usually dry and brittle. They decompose slowly in the compost but produce comparatively more humus. They also contribute to aeration, giving the mature compost a pleasant moisture and structure without being soggy and wet. In the WormUp HOME, we recommend only using stems that can be cut with ordinary scissors and chopping the material into finger-length pieces. In contrast, nitrogen or nutrient-rich materials (also known as "green material") consist of materials with a high nitrogen content, such as vegetable and fruit scraps, lawn clippings, manure, and the like. These materials start to smell unpleasant shortly after being composted or if left lying around. We know this smell all too well from the compost bin in the kitchen. An excess of nitrogen-rich materials in the compost can lead to harmful gases that are problematic for both worms and the climate, such as ammonia or nitrous oxide. The C/N Ratio in Theory The C/N ratio describes the availability of nitrogen in the soil or compost. The optimal C/N ratio for an efficient composting process is between 25-30:1. During the composting process, the C/N ratio decreases over time. Mature compost, whether produced by worm composting or hot composting, exhibits a balanced and lower C/N ratio, typically 10-20:1. A lower ratio indicates that the compost is well decomposed and stabilized. Differences Between Worm Composting and Hot Composting Microorganisms feed on carbon and break it down. Since microbes consist largely of nitrogen, they need nitrogen for their growth. If a lot of nitrogen is available, microbes multiply very quickly, leading to heat generation. In hot composting, this is desired to a certain extent to kill pathogens and accelerate the decomposition process. However, if there is too much nitrogen present or the compost is not turned in time, the compost can become too hot, killing not only harmful but also beneficial microorganisms. In extreme cases, the biological process can turn into a chemical combustion process, and the compost pile can actually start burning. A well-turned hot compost pile will also result in mature compost with a lower C/N ratio. Worm composting is a process without heat generation. Regular and layered addition of waste does not produce significant heat as in hot composting. While hot composting requires significantly more technology and effort to produce high-quality compost, the process in worm composting is much simpler – worms provide aeration and mixing of the materials without human intervention. However, the C/N ratio is also crucial for an efficient composting process here. Another difference is that the C/N ratio of mature worm compost is usually lower than that of hot composting. The activity of the worms helps to efficiently decompose the material. This leads to mature compost with a lower C/N ratio. With a lower C/N ratio, the nutrients contained in the compost are more readily available to plants, making it an excellent fertilizer.

In principle, nature knows no waste. For every "waste" of organic origin there is always a use and processing. Oranges, lemons, grapefruits and exotic fruits such as pineapples, avocados, bananas, etc. can also be composted in this way. Because of its high acidity, it should be used sparingly in your own worm composter. And here, too, the basic rule applies: It depends on the right ratio! With a few tricks, citrus fruits can also be composted well: It is important that the peels of oranges, tangerines, lemons and grapefruits are cut into small pieces. You can also easily bury them in the ground. Then they rot faster. For larger amounts, adding our Mineral Mix is best suited to counteract acidification and accelerate degradation. Finely ground egg shells, rock flour, lime or garden soil (the soil in the Swiss Mittelland is mostly calcareous) also have a basic effect and thus counteract acidification. Mold formation can occur, is not serious and can be remedied with the same measures. Before citrus fruits even end up in the composter, there are sensible uses, for example for orange peels. We think this blog post is worth reading.   For all uses of citrus peels, it is important that they are organically produced and therefore free from pesticides, because lemon, orange and tangerine peels in particular have a very high level of pollution compared to other fruits. The toxins can later still be present in small amounts in the compost. Toxins are usually broken down during composting, but they could later get to other plants via the compost soil.