What Do Worms Eat – It all Depends on Where they Live

What worms eat depends in part on where they live. Worms can inhabit areas closer to the surface or much deeper underground. On the surface, worms feed on a variety of organic materials, such as dead grass and fallen leaves. These leaves host microscopic organisms that provide the worm with essential algae, fungi, and bacteria, all of which are vital to the worm’s diet.

Worms that live deeper underground primarily consume raw dirt. They feed on the bacteria, fungi, and algae present in the soil. As the dirt passes through the worm, it exits as what is known as worm casts—a more pleasant term for excrement. These casts are extremely beneficial to plants in your garden. The nutrients in the soil are partially digested by the worms, making them easier for plants to absorb. Additionally, this process aerates the soil, which also benefits plant growth.

Worms eat any organic material in the soil, including fruits, vegetables, and plant remains.

Worms have no teeth, so they moisten the food in their mouths before it is passed to the gizzard, which functions like teeth to grind the food. The intestines then break it down further, and it exits the worm as castings. These castings are highly beneficial to your garden soil, as the nutrients are broken down and made more accessible to plants. The process also aerates the soil, bringing much-needed oxygen to plant roots.

Moisture is also crucial for worms. They cannot survive without it. Worms breathe through their skin, which must remain moist at all times to absorb the necessary oxygen. If their skin dries out, they will suffocate and die.

Worm Composting

Gardeners understand the importance of worms in composting. Worm composting can be done either indoors or outdoors in a bin. A wood bin or barrel is ideal, as it helps prevent the compost from becoming too wet, a problem that often occurs with plastic containers. The size of the bin should depend on the amount of garbage you plan to compost. A good rule of thumb is to allow one square foot of space per pound of weekly household waste. You’ll also need a lid to keep moisture out of the bin. Drill at least eight holes in the bottom of the container for drainage, and set the barrel on bricks to further aid drainage.

There are two types of materials you’ll need in the bin for worm composting: bedding material and green ingredients. The green ingredients are organic household waste, such as fruit and vegetable scraps. Bedding materials can include dead plants, fall leaves, shredded newspaper, sawdust, or straw. Vary the materials you use, and add a few handfuls of soil to the bedding to help with the worms’ digestion. Fill the container about three-quarters full with bedding, but don’t press it down tightly—leave space for air so the worms can move freely.

You can either dig in your garden to find earthworms for the bin or purchase them. The number of worms needed depends on the size of the container and the amount of waste you’re composting. Once the container is filled with bedding and worms, you can begin adding green ingredients. These can include fruit and vegetable peelings, crushed eggshells, and other organic materials like grass clippings and leaves. Each time you add food scraps, try to place them in a different area of the bin.

After a few months, when you open the bin, you will no longer see bedding—only brown compost full of worm castings. Push the finished compost to one side of the bin and add new bedding to the other half. The worms will naturally move from the finished compost to the fresh bedding. You can then use the finished compost in your garden.

Benefits of Composting

Composting offers numerous benefits for your garden and the environment. Organic household waste is recycled through composting, which is an eco-friendly process. It helps reduce the amount of garbage in landfills. Instead of decomposing in a landfill, organic materials are returned to the soil to nourish your garden plants.

Compost is an excellent natural fertilizer for both indoor and outdoor plants. You can mix it into the soil before planting to add valuable nutrients, or use it as mulch in plant beds around your yard. When you distribute the compost in your garden, you may also pick up a few worms along the way. This is a good thing because worms are incredibly beneficial to your garden. They aerate the soil, helping to bring nutrients to the plant roots.