Worms & ants in my compost bin - probelm?

[LaserTam]

As title suggests, increasing number of worms I am seeing in my compost bin, I am assuming this isn't a bad thing because they must help decompose stuff - am I right? Also seen a fair few ants, don't know if thats good or bad.
So to the PH greenfinger massive....

[Boosted LS1]

Worms are good and ants probably eat fungus and things that aren't a lot of good. I'd be happy to see some sort of an eco system taking place. I wouldn't worry about anything.

[Simpo Two]

As any schoolboy knows (or used to know) worms are good. Lumbricus terrestris et al... They not only aerate and mix soil but eat crap and st compost

[HereBeMonsters]

If you don't have worms in there, you need to add them.

[ShadownINja]

HereBeMonsters said:

If you don't have worms in there, you need to add them.

That's why you have a compost bin/heap on soil not concrete... easier for the worms to get to the party.

Edited by ShadownINja on Monday 19th April 10:51

[HiRich]

Worms good. It can be a good idea (especially if you put a lot of new stuff on the top) to take a shovelful of compost from the bottom and stick it on the top - the bugs and worms start working down and meet the ones coming up, so speeding the decomposition.

Ants aren't a problem for the heap. If the ants create another problem, say coming into the house, you can powder them. Otherwise, don't bother yourself.

[HereBeMonsters]

ShadownINja said:

HereBeMonsters said:

If you don't have worms in there, you need to add them.

That's why you have a compost bin/heap on soil not concrete... easier for the worms to get to the party.

My wife actually took delivery of her new composter at the weekend. It's called the "worm cafe" and comes with a voucher for some worms which they send to you in the post. Apparently composts 3 times as fast as a "normal" composting bin.

[RizzoTheRat]

I've got a few slugs in mine, and while I'd rather they were in the composter than the greenhouse, are they a problem in the composter?

[ShadownINja]

HereBeMonsters said:

ShadownINja said:

HereBeMonsters said:

If you don't have worms in there, you need to add them.

That's why you have a compost bin/heap on soil not concrete... easier for the worms to get to the party.

My wife actually took delivery of her new composter at the weekend. It's called the "worm cafe" and comes with a voucher for some worms which they send to you in the post. Apparently composts 3 times as fast as a "normal" composting bin.

It's the ones in the lid that confuse me. What are they doing 1 metre above the food?

[HereBeMonsters]

ShadownINja said:

HereBeMonsters said:

ShadownINja said:

HereBeMonsters said:

If you don't have worms in there, you need to add them.

That's why you have a compost bin/heap on soil not concrete... easier for the worms to get to the party.

My wife actually took delivery of her new composter at the weekend. It's called the "worm cafe" and comes with a voucher for some worms which they send to you in the post. Apparently composts 3 times as fast as a "normal" composting bin.

It's the ones in the lid that confuse me. What are they doing 1 metre above the food?

Yeah, they do like to try and escape don't they? Apparently after a couple of months they'll realise and stop doing it.

[ShadownINja]

HereBeMonsters said:

ShadownINja said:

HereBeMonsters said:

ShadownINja said:

HereBeMonsters said:

If you don't have worms in there, you need to add them.

That's why you have a compost bin/heap on soil not concrete... easier for the worms to get to the party.

My wife actually took delivery of her new composter at the weekend. It's called the "worm cafe" and comes with a voucher for some worms which they send to you in the post. Apparently composts 3 times as fast as a "normal" composting bin.

It's the ones in the lid that confuse me. What are they doing 1 metre above the food?

Yeah, they do like to try and escape don't they? Apparently after a couple of months they'll realise and stop doing it.

I'll put a sign at the top with an arrow pointing "Food this way!"

[Boosted LS1]

I think the slugs feed at night and in the daytime seek a cooler spot, or try to.

[LaserTam]

Thanks for all the replies. Looks like I do not have a problem then. Cheers

[Chrisgr31]

RizzoTheRat said:

I've got a few slugs in mine, and while I'd rather they were in the composter than the greenhouse, are they a problem in the composter?

Well they will be breeding in there, laying their eggs etc. And of course in due course you'll spread them on the garden. Therefore I say bad news.

By the way with the special worms surely you spread thse on the garden too when you use the compost?

[HereBeMonsters]

Chrisgr31 said:

RizzoTheRat said:

I've got a few slugs in mine, and while I'd rather they were in the composter than the greenhouse, are they a problem in the composter?

Well they will be breeding in there, laying their eggs etc. And of course in due course you'll spread them on the garden. Therefore I say bad news.

By the way with the special worms surely you spread thse on the garden too when you use the compost?

There are a number of different layers, worms should only be in the top one or two, compost is bottom tray.