plastia urbalive worm farm Benutzerhandbuch Seite 5

English
Keep the vermicompost at the right humidity level. Check the correct
moisture level in the worm farm by taking a handful of the composted material
and pressing it in your palm as hard as possible. If a few droplets of water
appear, the moisture level is ideal. If more water appears, you should dry
up the compost, for example with shredded paper or carton. If the drops of
water fail to appear, moisten the compost with a water spray or by adding
dampened shredded paper or carton from a box or an egg crate. The number of
earthworms may decrease if optimal humidity is not provided.
Earthworms like the dark, so do not place the worm composter in the direct
sunlight. The best place for earthworms is in the shade.
Which earthworms should I use for the worm farm
and where to get them?
There is a particular species of earthworms that was bred specifically for
composting and that you should use in your worm farm. They are called
the California hybrid or tiger worms (in Latin it's Eisenia andrei). Unlike their
common relatives known as redworms (Eisenia fetida), tiger worms are much
more eager to eat, that is to compost, and reproduce faster. You can buy
the tiger worms can be bought from specialized sellers. Please be aware that
in hot summer months it's not possible to send earthworms in mail. You should
also select a seller who will send you earthworms including compost (that is not
just clean worms in a box).
How to use vermicompost and worm tea?
Vermicompost is the best fertilizer you can give your plants. It contains efficient
enzymes and atural growth hormones. I tis added to soil in planters of indoor
plants or directly on the plant bed. If you mix vermicompost with soil, you can
use it as a classic substrate. It's also effective as a starter for plant germination
process. Earthworm tea is an excellent liquid fertilizer for herbs, indoor plants
as well as the garden. It contains high levels of nutrients and enzymes that
promote growth and help bulit plant resistance against pests. You can tap off
the earthworm tea into a plastic or glass bottle. It's best diluted with water in the
1:9 ratio. Use the diluted earthworm tea to water plants or spray it on their foliage.
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When it doesn't work as it should...
The worm farm exudes odor:
A properly maintained worm farm doesn't have an unpleasant smell. If the odor appears,
it's most often because the earthworms can't manage to process all the bio-waste,
therefore lower its amount. The unprocessed waste also causes high humidity of the
composted material, that then rots and exudes odor. Dry the contents of the worm
farm with pieces of shredded paper, newspaper, cartons or paper egg crates. Another
reason for an unpleasant odor may be remnants of stalk vegetables or potatoes.
These are best introduced to composting only after a few months, when
the earthworms are sufficiently active for timely processing.
The lack of earthworms:
A lack of earthworms is a signal that the earthworms aren't breeding in the Worm
Farm, because they don't feel well in it. Try to change the composition of bedding and
bio-waste and also fine-tune the moisture level of the composted material.
Too many earthworms:
If you have too many small earthworms in your worm farm, you can give them away.
You can also let us know and we'll be happy take care of your earthworms. You
shouldn't let them out because they may not be a native species and are not used to
cold, so they wouldn't survive a winter.
The earthworms drop through:
In case some earthworms dropped through to the bottom tray of the composter,
return them to the composting tray (B1) and check that the grille with the textile is
properly places.
Mould:
Should mould appear in the worm farm, it is most often because the earthworms
can't manage to process the bio-waste, so decrease its amount. Remove the mouldy
pieces. If there is only a little bit of mould, simply cover it with a layer of composted
bio-waste.
The worm farm mix is too moist:
Should in the worm farm material be too moist, add pieces of shredded paper,
newspaper or paper egg crates. Leave the lid slightly ajar until the moisture level
drops.
The worm farm mix is too dry:
Should in the worm farm material be too dry, moisten it with a water spray or pieces
of shredded dam-pened paper, newspaper or paper egg crates.
Earthworm escapes:
When the earthworms have plenty of moisture and food, they have no reason to
run. Even then, should this happen, make sure the worm farm isn't too dry and if so,
moisten it with a water spray or pieces of dampened paper. Further check that all
parts of the worm farm fit tightly. The earthworms have no way to escape a properly
assembled Urbalive worm farm.
Holiday:
Holiday is no problem. Earthworms can easily make it for two weeks without food. But
they survive without food a maximum to four weeks.
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