There are many different types of worm farms, and one of the most popular is the nightcrawler worm farm. Nightcrawlers are worms that live in damp soil throughout much of North America and Europe. However, they will do well in moist dirt with plenty of oxygen, making them perfect for a worm farm! This post will discuss everything you need to know about nightcrawlers: what they eat, how long they live, their appearance, and other information about these extraordinary creatures.
By the way, if you love gardening and want to learn about taking care of your trees, check out our article here.
Nightcrawlers are a worm that lives in damp soil throughout much of North America and Europe. However, they will do well in moist dirt with plenty of oxygen, making them perfect for a worm farm!
There is no one food that the worms eat exclusively; they can exist on almost anything that decomposes in the soil, including leaves and grass clippings.
You will need to inspect your worm farm every few weeks for signs of aging like sloughing skin or loose structure. Also, if worms are not moving about as much, you may need to replace them.
Your worm farm should have moist soil consisting of one-third of earthworms and two-thirds compost or food waste.
The amount varies depending on the size of the worm; some can consume up to 1/2 times their body weight in a single day.
If worms are not moving about as much, you may need to replace them. Other possible signs include sloughing skin or loose structure. If you notice any mold growing outside your worm bin, it is time for cleanup and replacement.
Making compost is an excellent way to turn food scraps into fertilizer used in the garden or houseplants. Still, worms also filter out dangerous bacteria and pathogens from our soil. Nightcrawlers don't just do all of this work - they're beautiful! They come in various sizes, colors, and shapes.
Nightcrawlers are often the earthworm equivalent of a garbage truck: the nightcrawlers eat the garbage and clean up our soil.
Nightcrawlers need to be kept in moist, dark places at a temperature of 55 degrees Fahrenheit with plenty of air circulation. They love their home environment, but they don't enjoy being handled or transported.
Nightcrawlers need a moist, dark and relaxed environment. If they don't have enough oxygen, they will die quickly. So when you feed them or add new food scraps to the worm bin, make sure to put some soil on top of it so that there is still good air circulation around the worm bedding.
Nightcrawlers have a unique and essential life cycle. First, the worm (or larva) eats plant material; then, it will go into cocoons to transform from a worm to a pupa.
- they stay in that stage for about seven days until they hatch as an adult worm.
Nightcrawlers have a voracious appetite and can consume up to half of their body weight per day if they're not being fed enough. They love compost, kitchen scraps, or any plant material so make sure there's plenty available for them to munch on!
Nightcrawlers are very sensitive to temperature. Therefore, they need a relatively warm and moist environment, or else they'll die off, so it's essential to make sure that your worm bin is insulated well from the outside elements.
If you're feeding them compost or kitchen scraps, it's advisable to provide the nightcrawlers about twice a week. However, if they are being fed with just plant material, maybe once every two weeks or so would be optimal.
- Night Crawlers will eat their eggs/larvae and other worm eggs to keep the population at a manageable level.
- Night Crawlers are not social creatures and will generally eat each other unless they're being fed separately.
- They can't climb up glass or plastic surfaces, so be sure your worm bin is on the ground (or covered in egg cartons)
- Night Crawlers are omnivorous and will eat almost any type of organic material.
No, nightcrawlers do not need to be fed with only plant material to survive. They can also consume other worm's eggs, as well as their eggs/larvae. As long as the worm population is managed, they'll be able to survive on a diet that includes plant material.
- although they're not ideal for composting because of their size, nightcrawlers can be used to help manage a worm population in your compost bin.
- It takes about 14 days from when the female lays the eggs until they hatch.
What does the temperature need to be for nightcrawlers:
- Nightcrawlers thrive in temperatures that are between 50 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
- They will survive but don't perform as well during cooler months or when it rains more often than usual.
- They can survive for a few months but will continue to grow and have shorter lifespans.
Nightcrawlers are a great addition to any worm bin. It would be best to be cautious of the weather and outside elements as nightcrawlers aren't as hearty as other worms like the red wiggler. Nightcrawlers are very good at keeping the worm population regulated as they will eat other worms. Nightcrawlers produce very rich castings that can be highly beneficial to your plants and gardens!
Do you wish your plants would grow bigger? Was your garden less than it should've been last year?
If you're tired of growing puny vegetables and fruits, it's time for an upgrade...Simple Grow Worm Castings!
What are worm castings? Another term for worm manure. Why would you want to use it in your garden, raised beds, and house plants? Because it makes them grow bigger, faster and healthier...with no chemicals!
How do worm castings do this? It's like giving your plants a powerful multivitamin with everything they need to grow. Trace minerals, nutrients, and most importantly...worm castings are chock full of beneficial microbes. Why does that make a difference?
In recent years, we've learned the importance of gut bacteria for humans and know that it impacts so many different parts of our health. The same thing applies with worms. Gut bacteria from the worm's digestive tract gets into the soil from the worm castings and promotes plant health. Plants have a symbiotic relationship with the microbes from the worm's digestive tract. Plants respond to it and grow really big...really fast!
If you've never tried worm castings before, you owe it to yourself to give them a try. Instead of using traditional chemical fertilizers from the big box store, why not try fresh, certified organic worm castings this year? You'll be able to grow bigger, healthier plants that you actually can feel good about eating.
Take advantage of our special bundle sale on 25lb bags today!
