Worms leaving?

Hey guys, I have a 4x4 planter bed in my grow room and I added 5,000 red wigglers about two weeks ago. Also added blumat irrigation. I dont have any issues with flooding or overly soaked soil under the drippers.

Thing is it looks like 10-20 worms are trying to escape the bed every night and dying/drying out on the floor. There a still plenty of worms easily found in the soil. Is this because 5,000 worms are still trying to figure out the space or is there something else? Is it an issue or should I just keep cleaning em up and dont worry?

It is in No-Till soil (from BAS), 2 years old, but had been in storage for 6 months. Plants are growing in it very well and always have. I don't remember having this issue in the past.

They make more, worms will get out, dont give it much thought.

They escape the compost bin regularly, I always hope it's from population management.

If you have holes in the bottom and it is wet enough they will try. You need a dry barrier on the bottom. Are you feeding them?

You need quite a bit of food for 5k compost worms. So my guess is that they are still figuring out space.

I'm fairly certain that composting worms instinctively self-regulate their population based on room and food supply.

Been wrangling worms since 2009 and have 7 bins going ATM.

Sometimes they like to go 'sploring, but most often when they pull a runner something in the bin is not to their liking. Usually, too wet or dry, too little or too much food and sometimes too acidic bedding if you use a peat based bedding like I do and don't lime it.

Wet

I am assuming since it is a small % of the total i put in there that are escaping to their deaths, they are just figuring out the space. If it was an actual issue, I am guessing i would be finding a lot more than 10-20 worms outside the bed. It is looking like the running has slowed down as well just over the past few days (haven't changed anything)

Wetdog said:

Been wrangling worms since 2009 and have 7 bins going ATM.

Sometimes they like to go 'sploring, but most often when they pull a runner something in the bin is not to their liking. Usually, too wet or dry, too little or too much food and sometimes too acidic bedding if you use a peat based bedding like I do and don't lime it.

Wet

Click to expand...

I remember back in 2009 helping set up your bin sir! i think my tag back then was wyteboi6 , not sure but i recall writing the whole organic section with ya bud! I knew you were still kickin , just hope all has been well over the last decade of not talkin to ya.

Dryxi said:

I am assuming since it is a small % of the total i put in there that are escaping to their deaths, they are just figuring out the space. If it was an actual issue, I am guessing i would be finding a lot more than 10-20 worms outside the bed. It is looking like the running has slowed down as well just over the past few days (haven't changed anything)

Click to expand...

You dont have it setup for worms , so your doing GREAT if youve only lost a couple dozen. Them worms are used to eating SOO much more then they have now. (specially if you ordered them as "composting worms") 4x4 is a huge area for the worms.
Is there a way to feed one side of the bed for the worms and use the other 3/4 of the bed for your plant? Sounds to me like one of the best beds of soil ive seen in a long time. great job bud!




soil

If they say something like "so long, and thanks for all the greens", we are screwed.

getogrow said:

I remember back in 2009 helping set up your bin sir! i think my tag back then was wyteboi6 , not sure but i recall writing the whole organic section with ya bud! I knew you were still kickin , just hope all has been well over the last decade of not talkin to ya.


You dont have it setup for worms , so your doing GREAT if youve only lost a couple dozen. Them worms are used to eating SOO much more then they have now. (specially if you ordered them as "composting worms") 4x4 is a huge area for the worms.
Is there a way to feed one side of the bed for the worms and use the other 3/4 of the bed for your plant? Sounds to me like one of the best beds of soil ive seen in a long time. great job bud!
soil

Click to expand...

I am randomly taking some of the scraps I'd normally throw in the compost bin and shredding them and putting under the soil throughout the bed between plants. Not much mind you, but some maybe once a week. Used some watermelon rinds yesterday.

Dryxi said:

I am randomly taking some of the scraps I'd normally throw in the compost bin and shredding them and putting under the soil throughout the bed between plants. Not much mind you, but some maybe once a week. Used some watermelon rinds yesterday.

Click to expand...

Then im sure you have a happy soil food web going. 2 years , no till , FULL of life.....man im drooling for real. I "hear" that you dont want too much composting going on in the root zone but my opinion is slightly different.

Throw a load of leaves on top of the soil, if they dissapear quick they was hungy, my guess anywayz.