Feed Worm Farm Worms
After you've built your worm farm, it's very important to know how to feed your worms properly so that they thrive and remain healthy. This article provides a quick rundown on the feeding aspect of running a worm farm.
Steps
- Know what worms like. Just like any pet or animal in your care, the feeding always goes better when it's what the animal wants! Worms are really happy to consume the following:
- Most fruit and vegetable scraps (see the exceptions in the next step).
- Waste from your juicer (but not citrus).
- Cardboard boxes - be sure to soak them first and tear into small pieces).
- Paper, tissues, paper tickets, etc.
- Your hair - give all hairbrushes a good weekly clean and give the worms your hair!
- Coffee grounds.
- Eggshells.
- Banana skins (these are especially enjoyed).
- Leaves.
- Know what not to feed your worms. There are some things that your worms don't like or can even cause them harm. Do not feed worms the following food:
- Any fruit that is very acidic - basically, don't give them tomatoes, any fruit from the citrus family, or kiwifruit. Some tropical fruits may also be too acidic.
- Onion skins.
- Dairy products, such as cheese, yogurt, cream.
- Pasta.
- Bread, buns, cake.
- Meat, fish.
- Spicy food.
- Feed worms around once a week. Keep an eye on their consumption rate, however, as this will determine how often you need to replenish their food supply.
- The amount of food needed can vary from season to season
Tips
- If you compost as well, keep a separate container for the things the worms love the best. Leave everything else to the general compost, or the bin if it cannot be composted.
- Do not feed acidic foods, such as tomatoes.
Things You'll Need
- Worm farm
- Suitable food
Related Articles
- Make a Worm Farm
- Make a Worm Compost System
- Make Backyard and Basement Worm Farms
- Breed Mealworms
- Take Care of Inchworms
- Gather Earthworms
Sources and Citations
- Robyn Paterson, Tips from your Nana, waste not, want not, p. 18, (2009), ISBN 978-1-877460-42-5 – research source for accuracy of lists
