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Whether you're new to worm composting or an expert, here we answer all your questions about our home worm composter. Our user guide that comes with our worm composter will also guide you through all the steps of creating compost at home.
Worm composting basics
What can I throw in the worm composter ?
You can throw different types of organic waste in the worm composter.
Peels and leftovers of vegetables and fruits, coffee grounds, tea (waste with a high quantity of nitrogen).
Cardboard and sheets of paper (waste with a high quantity of carbon)
And eggshells.
Cardboard, as well as eggshells, play a key role in your ecosystem. After throwing waste rich in nitrogen (leftovers of vegetables or fruits) you add the same quantity of waste rich in carbon (sheets of paper or cardboard).
Adding eggshells can help you balance your composter’s PH and this way, you can avoid having midges.
We suggest that you cut your waste thinly which helps your worms digest.
What kind of waste should I avoid in the worm composter ?
It is better to avoid throwing organic waste that is hardly transformed by the worms in general.
To have happy worms, you should avoid the following :
- Garlic, onion, shallot
- Citrus fruits
- Animal originated food (meat and fish)
- Greased and salted food
- Printed paper
What are the good gestures to take before throwing my organic waste in my worm composter ?
Before throwing your organic waste into the worm composter, you need the fundamentals : at least 250g of composting worms type Eisenia, that will be your ecosystem’s engine.
After an acclimatisation week for your worms, you can start to progressively throw your organic waste that you will have cut in small bits beforehand. You put on the organic waste the same amount of thinly cut cardboard or paper, that will keep the moist and protect the worms and organic waste from possible unwanted insects, like midges for instance.
At what pace should I throw waste in my worm composter ?
It is preferable to feed your compost worms gradually with quantities from 200ml at the very start to more than 2 liters of organic waste a week once your indoor composter is well-established.
I have mold on my organic waste, is it normal ?
When you start the worm composter, mold might be seen on top of your organic waste, but it is perfectly normal!
There is nothing to worry about when seeing mold, on the contrary. These are the first organisms to occur on your waste to decompose the matter. They announce the start of your ecosystem. These spores will gradually disappear when your worms will start to get to work.
Does the worm composter smell?
The inside of a well-maintained worm composter smells good and reminds of the natural perfume of the forest.
Unpleasant odors rarely happen and are linked to an unstable ecosystem (not enough cardboard or paper added).
About the worms
What quantity of worms do I put in the composter?
The minimum quantity for a household from one to three persons is 250g.
This amount helps the worms to quickly regulate and feed themselves at their own pace. If you throw a lot of organic waste into the worm bin, the worms will reproduce to transform all of your waste in time, and if you throw little waste, the worms will deteriorate to regulate the ecosystem.
How can I make sure that there are no worms in the compost?
The worms always go where your organic waste will be.
The separator of the composter bin is perforated, which allows your compost worms to move freely from one side to the other. As soon as your waste is fully consumed by your worms, there won’t be any worms in your compost since they will have been migrated to the part with fresh new waste.
But don’t worry, even if there are small worms left in your compost, you can carefully put them in the other part of the compost bin for them to keep living their super hero’s life and transform your waste.
How long do compost worms live?
Compost worms live between 3 to 5 years. At the end of their life, the worms will deteriorate to regulate the ecosystem and will be a part of the compost. New worms are born and disappear all the time in your compost.
Will my worms survive when I go on holiday?
Your compost worms will be okay without you. You just need to feed them with a quantity of organic waste that is proportionate to the length of your trip.
The worms will take care of the organic waste already thrown in the worm composter. However, be careful of the room temperature when you are absent: the ideal temperature would be between 15°C and 25°C.
And what about my compost?
How do I collect my worm compost?
Our Lombrico has a composter bin separated in two parts.
On one side, the worms are in charge of consuming your organic waste, and on the other side, you can find the freshly made worm compost.
You can then collect your compost by taking out the composting bin and by taking the compost either with your hands or a small shovel, for instance.
How do I store the worm compost?
For optimum storing, choose jute bags or glass jars and store the worm compost in a fresh place.
How do I store the liquid fertiliser?
You can store your homemade worm tea in a clean closed bottle. You can dilute your liquid fertiliser with water (1 quantity of worm tea and 9 quantities of water) or stock it without dilution and mix it with water when you want to use it.
Tips to live in harmony with your indoor worm composter
How do I avoid having midges in the indoor worm composter?
The new version of Lombrico is made in a way that no insects can easily come into the composter.
We can however do some things to prevent having midges. The best thing not to have flies in your worm composter is to never leave them an opportunity to come.
First, it is better to throw your organic waste in the worm composter straight after cutting or peeling your food. This way, flies will not have time to lay eggs on your waste. Then, we always add a thin layer of paper or cardboard cut on your peels in the composter. The midges won’t be able to find the fresh organic waste.
Make sure there are no midges that find their way in your composter while opening the trap.
How do I get rid of flies in my composter?
When midges appear in the worm composter at the start, a reason can be that they have found their way inside and the worms have difficulties transforming the waste in time. When the worm composter is launched, the worms transform the organic waste quickly and the midges won’t be attracted by the rotting organic waste.
At the start, the red worms take time to adapt to their new environment and to the quantity of waste (this can take a little time, it is natural!).
There are other reasons for midges to come inside the worm composter, like a too acid, too humid environment or that very sweet fruits are rotting and are not covered by paper or cardboard.
You can take the following steps to put an end to midges in your worm composter:
• To restore balance to the environment, add carbon waste (cut paper/ cardboard) and crushed eggshells in the compost bin and stir
• Add a layer of cardboard/ paper cut thin or a 1cm layer of compost on the green waste for them to be covered
• Wait a few days (until the midges disappear) before putting new waste
• Reduce the quantity of fruits and veggie peels for a while so that the worms can adapt to the waste, and always cover the waste of paper or cardboard.
The problem should be solved in a few days!
There are nasty odors in my composter, what should I do?
No panic! It’s a signal that there are not enough carboned materials in the worm composter. You just need to add brown matters like paper, cardboard, or dried leaves and mix your compost bin.
By stirring your worm compost, you aerate the compost and help it come back to a normal state.
The Lombrico from every angle
Can I put the Lombrico on my balcony?
The perfect temperature for the worms in the worm composter is between 13°C and 25°C. We made Lombrico for it to be used in an apartment to make sure that the worms will transform the waste the fastest way.
Over and under that temperature, the worms slow down their activities as well as their needs in food.
Putting the piece of furniture on your balcony will also depend on how it is sheltered from the rain, freeze in winter as well as direct exposure to the sun in summer.
Do I need to wash the worm compost bin?
The worm composting bin does not need any maintenance because it is an ecosystem itself. The compost worms feed themselves from your organic waste, there won’t be any odor nor residue except for the compost made.
What can I put on the additional shelf under the piece of furniture?
You can put every object that is around 38x35cm, which are the dimensions of the shelf.
Why choose the Multitalent ?
We offer the possibility to add the Multitalent (a wooden board added) under the piece of furniture to add some more storage space.
This could be useful if you need space for your utensils for the worm compost, plants or even decoration objects.
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