What is Vermicompost?

If you’re looking for a sustainable, environmentally friendly way to compost, vermicomposting is for you! Vermicompost is a decomposition product created by different species of worms. They decompose vegetable waste and other bedding materials to break down organic matter. The result is vermicast. Gardening it’s the most efficient and eco-friendly way to compost food waste and other organic materials.

person hold vermicopost from vermicomposting

Benefits of Vermicompost

As a bonus, vermicompost contains five to eleven times more nitrogen than compost from traditional methods. These worms can survive temperatures up to 10 degC. Worms digest a wide range of organic materials, including meat, cheese, vegetables, and flowers. Worm castings contain five to eleven times more nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium than compost from traditional methods. Vermicompost also improves soil aeration and internal drainage, especially in thick clay soils.

Best worms for vermicomposting

Red wigglers are among the most popular worms used in vermicompost. They are good for a variety of climates and are easy to raise. European nightcrawler worms are more suited to cooler temperatures and tend to produce more biomass. They also prefer cooler temperatures and live deeper in the soil. However, they are more prone to dying in tropical climates. The worms in a composting bin will produce castings and worm poop. In a few months, you’ll be able to use it in your garden!

Indoor composting option

Vermicompost is an ideal solution for those who don’t have a backyard or don’t want to spend a lot of money on a compost bin. You can easily purchase a worm composting bin made for indoor use. It’s important to remember. Vermicompost requires less space than traditional bin composting. And it doesn’t produce as much compost as bin composting does.

To begin your vermicomposting project, you’ll need a dark plastic storage bin about 8 to 14 inches deep. To create the most effective environment, you should also use a small hole saw and drill a series of holes at least three inches apart. You can use a soffit vent to plug these holes. Also, you should drill six 1/4-inch drainage holes at the bottom of the bin so that it can drain properly.

You can read more about getting started here.

Summary: What is vermicompost?

Vermicompost is a sustainable and environmentally friendly way to compost in your home or apartment. People commonly use red worms to eat their food scraps and paper waste and turn them into nutrient-rich food for their houseplants and gardens.