Top 3 ways to Correct WORM BIN Mistakes- Red Wigglers- Worm Factory 360

/ @plantobsessed 3
First check in on my red wigglers in the worm factory 360.
Play list for the Red wigglers only here
• Red Wiggler Compost Worms
Red Wiggler Compost Worms- These red wigglers have been composting in my basement since May of 2019. The first bin was restarted August of 2021, The second bin August 2021, Newest bin started December 6th 2021- Now they move to the worm factory 360.
I am an Amazon affiliate. The items below are the Amazon affiliate links for the items I use in my wormery. I have read and recommend these books. The cost is the same to you, but the channel will be get a small commission if purchases are made using the links.
Worm Factory 360
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Extra worm factory trays
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Computer Microscope I use
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Cococoir I use
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Reusable gallon zip lock bags
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Down to Earth Organic Alfalfa Meal
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Fish scale, Dr.meter Backlit LCD Display 110lb/50kg
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Tetra 16172 Aqua Safe Fish Tank Water Conditioner
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BLACK+DECKER Coffee Grinder
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pH meter TDS meter compo pack
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Mesh bags to make worm tea
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Organic Kelp Fertilizer
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Liquid Kelp
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Unsulfured Black Strap molasses
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Aurora 18 sheet shredder
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Worm Farmers Handbook Book
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[@jshkrueger]

I have a Vermihut tower. In these types of systems, you feed and add new bedding in the least finished layer and it should go on top. The next layer down is more done, and the worms are still working on it. The next layer down is more done, and so on. As you move further down, there should be less and less bedding left, as it's being consumed. The bottom most layer is the one you're going to harvest next, when you do. Unless you're inoculating a new tray of bedding, which would be on the bottom. The reason you organize it this way is because red wigglers are epigeic. That means they live in the duff layer above the soil and naturally migrate upwards. Also, the compression on the lower levels from the upper levels mimics natural soil compression, which helps to migrate the worms upwards. Think of it like a CFT bin. It's the same principle, always feed on the top and harvest from the bottom. The further down you go, the more ready the castings. It looks like your bin is wet. These types of bins, the towers, hold on to moisture really well, especially indoors. Each feeding, it's a good idea to add some dried shredded cardboard, or other dry bedding, under your wet food before covering with your old bedding. I also supplement with coffee grounds on top between feedings. The grounds help to absorb moisture, as well. Ideally, your trays should dry out a bit as they move down and become the bottom tray. That bottom tray, when it's ready to harvest, should be close to the ideal moisture level to sift And what's great is that also helps to migrate the worms upwards. They'll naturally migrate up to more moisture. This is all ideal scenarios, though, lol. In reality, your bottom layer won't always dry out like it should. You'll sometimes have tons of worms down there, too. There's always learning to be done. 😂

[@PlantObsessed]

I agree it is running wet. I am still learning. I'm hoping when I harvest the top few it work out. Thanks for the advice 🪱👍🏼😄

[@skmccuen]

Thank you - so many people posting videos on KZbin seem to have it backwards.

[@Vermicompost]

😂🤣😂I loved this video!!! This a visual representation of me trying to explain my worm tower rotation system to my mom over the phone in pig latin!! I think the one thing you have going for you that hardly any one else has is you started this system as a fully operational full & complete system from day one...so starting from the middle and burning the candle at both ends!!😂At the end I think you have it in a good order to harvest the top three over the next few weeks. I would suggest harvesting one a week and filling it with dry bedding and placing it on the bottom. After three weeks you should have the one you fed placed on the top along with roughly 5 other trays of varying degrees of inoculation down below. Now you can stop feeding that one, put the oldest of the inoculating trays on top of it and make that the feeding tray. Repeat every 30 days. This should allow you to have a harvest and rotation every 30 days. But with 6 trays I bet you find an even better way to run it feeding 2 at a time with a dry tray on top to keep the flies away or some variation of that??!!? Now I've confused myself!! Anyway you do it I'm excited to see what you come up with!! 🪱🪱🪱

[@PlantObsessed]

Lol yes I sounded like a lunatic. I have had some great ideas. Fingers crossed I get it sorted out next month. 👍🏼🪱😁

[@lindaspellman2108]

Thank you for all the transparant honesty!! I felt so so lost when I got my system. If I were you... I'd do a light harvest on a couple of those older trays, just to get moisture and material out of the way. Let the worms move into the feeding tray, and the "dry" layers innoculate below. I do think you have the right idea keeping the "done" layer on top, where I think Patrick puts his between feeding and dry. I often leave the lid off so the finished stuff can dry and encourage the worms down to the feeding layer (plus the extra few inches helps deter flies). What I have found is that this system of rotation doesnt allow for the maturation of the castings like your other bins. I always have bits I'm sifting out and moving back into a feeding or even innoculation tray. As you say, less real estate.

[@PlantObsessed]

Yep next time I hope to harvest a few layers. 🪱👍🏼😃

[@VKRollins]

I loved your thinking out loud. It is fascinating hearing your thought process. I think I would do the order the way you did it. I an really wanting one of these now that you and Patrick are working with them. Thanks for the video. I always learn something more from you. 🙂

[@PlantObsessed]

Lol my thought process has been a hot mess on this system. I'm finally getting the hang of it. 🪱😃👍🏼

[@ktownc936]

Ive only been running the 360 for 10 weeks now. I did have it going for almost 6 months 3 years ago. But as of now i smoothie everything onto a bed of shreaded cardboard and obviously bury it under the bedding coco coir/cardboard. No flys so far. Honestly people run your bin cold 15 C or lower. The cacoons are uncountable for me. And i started with 150. Im going to do a worm count soon. Thanks Ann, im never afraid now to disturb and stir my bin up thanks to your videos 👌

[@ktownc936]

I always check my worm ladder for stragglers. Probably not essential if you have a large population, but I'm growing 150 to hopefully infinity so, the clock ticks on.

[@PlantObsessed]

I did check before I restacked it. There were a few. I had put some wet bedding down there so they just got relocated to the feeding. 😁

[@PlantObsessed]

I did smoothies until my food processor broke. Now I try to freeze everything and hope for the best.🪱👍🏼😃

[@mikkosgarden]

I think moving the more ready up to the top is a good idea, if its dry enough (in the room) you could take the lid off and the tray will dry out quicker. Like Rick said, if you agitate a few times when harvesting the tray/s it will make it easier for you. Have a great day.

[@PlantObsessed]

Until the furnace kicks on I'm at 80% humidity in the basement. I'll likely get the worms out and toss the layer on blue to dry out. 👍🏼🪱😁

[@TruckerDad-zz6ln]

One trick I've used that seems to have helped with the flies is I use one tray filled with just dry paper no food no moisture as my top layer / tray with the lid on that. When I feed I pull the top tray off and use that as my cover layer.

[@ontherocksinthesoilmichael6739]

The done castings would work as well IMO. But good idea.

[@PlantObsessed]

I do that with some systems. Looks like I need to re visit it thank you 👍🏼😁🪱

[@marlenen6130]

I do this “change of position” in my worm towers also, but dang it I need more layers (I only have 3) in my 360 tower. Yesterday I went through them and took the “most completed” layer that was on top and put it in a felt grow bag, as 90% of the worms had evacuated the material already. The felt grow bag I set into a bus bin as it will get wet underneath. I can use one felt grow bag for any harvested castings that I just need a little drier before I put it in long term buckets, as I want it as dry as possible because I know it will just get more damp in long term storage, lol. Some tips: Cut some fiberglass fine mesh to the size of your bin and then just leave the lid off with the mesh on to help dry it out. You can cover with newspaper and/or cardboard to dry it out also and in those cases I’ll set something heavy on the cardboard to push the moisture down into the next layer. This really helps to make it uncomfortable for the worms and they will typically dive down. Sometimes if the material is super wet I put some large ripped up pieces of cardboard in the material to suck up the moisture, and as an added bonus the worms go into the cardboard and when I remove it I’ve collected some stragglers😂. I even put some large pieces of cardboard in the bottom of my long term storage bins to suck up excess moisture. I think you are going to love the tower system!

[@PlantObsessed]

That sounds like a great idea. I am going into the dry season due to the furnace in the same area. The tower does seem to keep wetter than my other bins. 👍🏼😄🪱

[@marlenen6130]

@@PlantObsessed Now might be a good time to take 70% completed material and add that the tops of your long term storage buckets. It helps keep things active.

[@Debbie-Keller]

Oh my!! 7 days... 😢 Now you are Really making us Waaaaait!!

[@PlantObsessed]

But only 15 minutes until todays video :)

[@Debbie-Keller]

​@@PlantObsessed😂

[@amypeterson7463]

@@PlantObsessed28 minutes! I have to wait 28 minutes!!😂

[@michaelwandel5865]

With my stackable bins I put the finished or near finished on top and feed the tray/s under it I leave the lid off to help dry the castings for sifting

[@PlantObsessed]

Yes I should keep the feeding tray lower. That was a big mistake. Thank you for the good advice 😊🪱👍🏼

[@ontherocksinthesoilmichael6739]

With the 360 the lid fits tighter upside down for insect control.

[@PlantObsessed]

Thank you. Your the best. 😁👍🏼🙃

[@theresarothenberger2264]

I learn so much from you. Thanks so much for sharing.

[@PlantObsessed]

Thank you for watching 😃🪱👍🏼

[@A-V]

Funny to watch you in such a discombobulated state of mind playing with your new 360 system. If you think you were confused, then you can imagine how we felt watching ;) Just teasing! Haha!! Your idea of sketching a diagram, I think, is a good one. It will help you sort out what's going on & perhaps also help you map out the best next steps.... 👍🏻

[@PlantObsessed]

Just keeping it real. Also serves to show that every system is different and what works for one will not necessary work for another. 😁👍🏼🪱

[@lorindaschmieder2496]

I did the same thing. I am going to add risers to mine. Thanks for the tip. I have learned a lot from you. Thank you!

[@koach7779]

I use avocado pits (potentially stacked). Does the same trick and they eventually break down.

[@PlantObsessed]

Lol it was a hot mess but I'm glad you got something from it. 😃🪱👍🏼

[@the_green_anna]

It's just too small for you! 😂 So funny! 💚💚💚

[@PlantObsessed]

Lol I'm spoiled with blue 💙👍🏼🪱😃

[@debbiegarrett2035]

I have the worm factory also. Until I watched Patrick’s channel I ran mine like the instructions tell you to. I did it but never really liked it…. I run mine now as close to Patrick’s as possible. But getting my system up to his level took me awhile. It was so confusing. I had extra trays so I added the bottom 2 with cardboard and coconut coir. Then just stuck my three other trays on top. I would harvest one put the cocoons in a separate bin, wait a week then do the next until I finally got down to 4 trays. I haven’t been doing it this way very long but I really like it. I love your big bins and can’t imagine going smaller. It’s like moving into a tiny house. Your awesome, keep up the good work and videos!

[@PlantObsessed]

Yep it takes a bit to wrap my head around the system but I will get there with everyone's help. 👍🏼😁😃🪱

[@brenda8527]

My FAVORITE worm youtuber. You know what, my favorite youtuber everr. Thank you Plant Obsessed for making your channel

[@PlantObsessed]

That is so kind. Thank you for the kind words 🪱😁👍🏼

[@catherinemiura3979]

My worm factory is always an experiment. The only thing I have consistently seen is the top tray is always the most dry. Looking forward to more updates on how it’s running.

[@PlantObsessed]

Next time I'll be harvesting and hopefully get it back on track. 🪱😃👍🏼

[@Plot-NG6]

Fantastic 🪱🪱

[@PlantObsessed]

It was a struggle for sure. Continuous improvement is my goal. Nowhere to go but up 😁👍🏼🪱

[@roundhousekickgirl4512]

This is why I’ve never had luck with tower bins. Im a bus bin farmer 100%.

[@PlantObsessed]

I am determined to figure it out. I also love the tubs.👍🏼😃🪱

[@GardeningwithBarchuckin]

I am really liking the aggravation method. I put mine by the back door move them around and let some sun beat on it for a couple minutes, scoop the top bit of castings off then do it again. It’s like light migration but they just go down into the lower tray. 😁

[@PlantObsessed]

Yep that is the plan for next time. Get the harvest done. 😃🪱👍🏼

[@RiverGeek662]

Love your vids!

[@PlantObsessed]

Thanks for watching 😃👍🏼🪱

[@joshrowe9031]

Label each bin. It will make it easier to figure out which is which.

[@PlantObsessed]

Yep I put tape numbers on last time. Lol it's like a puzzle 👍🏼😁🪱

[@ale-iensbrewery8871]

Keep on going you will find your own methods. Blue is an amazing system which I believe would have taken some planning and set up.These systems get some bad press but they can be really productive. Good Luck I'm sure it will be all sorted by the next update.

[@PlantObsessed]

Thank you. It takes time. 👍🏼🪱😁

[@Debbie-Keller]

Yes, casting are more done and fewer worms.

[@PlantObsessed]

Hopefully I get it all straightened out next time. 😃🪱👍🏼

[@ontherocksinthesoilmichael6739]

Yes you are correct in the order I would use.

[@PlantObsessed]

Oh good I was afraid I was overthinking it. Soon as I can harvest a few layers I won't need a super computer to map out the layers.👍🏼🪱😃

[@kinsjsmggoiktaylor5659]

Yes Put That On The Top It’s About Finished Just About Complete Castings 👏👏👏

[@PlantObsessed]

Yep that is the plan. I hope the worms go to the food so I can harvest next time.👍🏼😃🪱

[@bevkelly2734]

Have your feeding tray at the top. your worms will know where it is only feed this tray. have finished and turned and your tray into mostly castings stop feeding and only add a small amount of bedding to it once you think your tray is ready. take the bottom tray and put to the top and place food in that tray. worms will finish the tray there in and move up to the top. Keeping your bottom tray empty with only dried paper in it and keep repeating it over until your top tray is eventually makes it to the bottom tray then your castings should be done. Remove and sieve. That is how your tower is meant to work. I hope this helps. ❤

[@PlantObsessed]

Thank you for the ideas. 👍🏼🪱😃

[@crt9082]

👍 i think this will work .

[@PlantObsessed]

Fingers crossed 🤞🪱👍🏼😁

[@clivesconundrumgarden]

How's the diagram coming 😂 That's alit to keep track of but it'll just "click" and tbh it looks great to a nube like me !! Awesome Ann Cheers 🌱🤞👍👍👍👍👍

[@PlantObsessed]

It looked like an ant path to a popsicle back to the ant hill. Thanks for watching. 😃🪱👍🏼

[@Oldfart9]

Dump them all in blue and start over

[@PlantObsessed]

OMG yes. Right? If I wasn't trying to keep the red wigglers separate I absolutely would have. 👍🏼🪱😃

[@pegsinthewormdirt]

😂

[@daviddockstader1773]

My gash you so tough me a lot

[@PlantObsessed]

My enthusiasm does get the best of me sometimes. 🪱👍🏼😄

[@teresapisanello5464]

Hi, I'm new to your channel and I've been watching your videos & loving them! Thank you so much for such great information! ♥️ I have a question about something I found deep in one of my worm bins. I'm not sure if I can post a pic here but I can explain it. Pretty good I think. They look like tiny little corkscrew sea shells. I spoke to someone at Echo's United States headquarters in North Fort Myers where I conveniently lived at the time lol. And this guy was pretty much the big cheese of the place and he wasn't able to tell me what they were 🫤🤔 Something just tells me you know lol 😉

[@teresapisanello5464]

I'm wondering if they are beneficial or harmful? I am changing beds and I just started seeing them at the 12 inches down level. If they are harmful I can remove them now while I'm here, as I seem to have hit a concentration of them 👍

[@PlantObsessed]

Might be a snail. We have the cork screw type in Illinois too.

[@PlantObsessed]

Snails are bad for plants I'm not sure about worm bins. I personally removed them when I have seen them.👍🏼🪱😀

[@teresapisanello5464]

🙄 I left them in. It was a judgement call bc I didn't expect to hear back from you so soon as busy as you are. I figured since I am so very pleased with the population and the whole look & feel of the bin, I kinda think it might be ok. I'll see if I can send you a picture, just so you'll know what they look like, in case you ever come across them. Thank you again! Have a blessed & beautiful night 💖

[@Arjen-Murre]

Hi, I like the video a lot. Very helpfull! My first wormfarm is around two months old, I am a beginner ;) I have some questions about the temperature in de first bin. The temperature was around 37 degrees, my own bin is to cold and to wet at the moment. I overfeed my worms so I cast a lot off food away. I have add some extra cardboard the make the bin a lot more dry. How do I get my bin rise in temperature? It is getting winter in the Netherlands. I want to rise the temperature, because in low temperature my worms are not eating and moving a lot. Do you have some tips?

[@PlantObsessed]

If the bin is big enough. You can make one side hot by adding grain or oatmeal. There needs to be an area for the worms to go if they don't like it.😃🪱👍🏼

[@Arjen-Murre]

@@PlantObsessed It is a small system 3x a 5 gallon bucket, I want to make a next bucket where it is more warm, so the worms can go to this bucket. Is this a idea?

[@timw1435]

I have one or two crickets in my worm bin, at least one has been in there for months.. not sure if it's bad for my bin or not?

[@PlantObsessed]

They may eat the worm food and then multiply but I don't think they will eat worms. My only experience is with brow crickets I get my lizards were vegetarian.👍🏼🪱😃

[@cathyplantlover2862]

lol...... high rise apts.... for worms are they senior citizens 🤣

[@PlantObsessed]

Yep 👍🏼 little old lady worms. I can just see it.😁🪱👍🏼

[@AngeliaHoward]

How long should I make risers for my Vermihut?

[@PlantObsessed]

However tall the tray is minus about a half inch 👍🏼🪱😃

[@thomasbazin1529]

Hey Ann, I think you're much better off with your half xxx-gal barrels and transversal vermicomposting. 🤔 These tower-vc systems cannot compete. I think it's just worms' nature. Deplete the food source, get down to floor level, find another food source. But still, thank you for trying it out for us poor urban composters with only 1sqm available. Hah. All of the indoor VC system sellers around here (Europe) seem to advocate piling up new trays on top of rhe older ones. Honestly, I do think your method just makes as much sense. If it dries up on top, worms will go down anyway. Got to watch your previous vidz on that one but it seems it's all going according to plan...

[@PlantObsessed]

I hope to harvest it and get it in a less complicated state. Lol 👍🏼😁🪱

[@thomasbazin1529]

@@PlantObsessed that's what I wish you! Just use these trays for worm breeding 😆

[@Beccasworms]

The top one should be the one you last fed, then the one yu think should be harvested next then the second one that should be harvested and then the least one that should be harvested under that one and then so on lol! Hope this makes sense!

[@PlantObsessed]

Thank you. I will go back and read all your comments again before the next feeding. 🪱👍🏼😁

[@cherylhowker1792]

That’s an ok idea but then your done stuff is getting all the juices etc from the food and will be the wettest tray and so more worms will be in there and it be harder to harvest…. I’m my opinion that is.

[@Beccasworms]

@@cherylhowker1792 kzbin.info/www/bejne/laa1g6Otj8iAjq8si=uPt4SCuGYfTAxcUO This is who I follow as well and bc of watching him with his worm tower I’ve succeeded 100% usually the one you feed has bedding still in as well to soak up, and whatever doesn’t catch the worms will forage in the pre harvest tray and then what doesn’t catch there the trays filled with bedding will catch.

[@ward1compost]

The drain valve gets clogged over time. You can remove it and keep a small bucket underneath

[@PlantObsessed]

Thank you for the idea. 👍🏼🪱😃

[@ward1compost]

@@PlantObsessed You're welcome 😊 🪱

[@wspwsp1]

Using a different product but just leave the valve open and a bowl underneath. Helps keep the system a bit dryer than it was when I was letting the leachate accumulate. I do dry bedding at the bottom and have two working trays and whichever and eventually one becomes more finished as described in this video and I move it to the top and leave the lid off to get its tad more try before making compost tea eventually.

[@Tillettforct]

⁉️ How many trays does it have 4, 5 or 6, it was confusing about how you were putting it together 🤔⁉️

[@PlantObsessed]

Six. 2 with just paper, 3 from the old bin one that I started new to feed.🪱🪱👍🏼

[@Brandtphenom]

If you read this, would you please do me a favor? Would you email your mayor or governor along with the large painting companies like a Sherwin Williams an Kelly Moore demanding collaboration, so that 5 gallon buckets do not wind up at the dump paint buckets can be cleaned and reused for small scale worm farms. grow their populations so that we can give them away for free so that we can sell or trade their castings because they are poop is like gold, but better because it grows food which enables us to do all of the awesome things that we can do. Thank you for taking this time.

[@PlantObsessed]

That is a good idea. 😃🪱👍🏼

[@user-vn9yp4ox8u]

היי אן. חג ראש השנה שמח מישראל 😊. שוב התרגום בעברית נעלם 😢. אפשר בבקשה להחזיר את התרגום בעברית❤❤

[@PlantObsessed]

That is terrible. I just went in and looked again yesterday. Please look at the settings on your phone and click live translation or live captions. I'm starting to think it is only in beta testing in you tube. I can see all the languages people choose to use and I have seen Hebrew before. I'll need to email the help desk. Thanks for letting me know.

[@archibaldpaoma]

You could try feeding less food more often maybe. It seems like you are not tying to follow the instructions for the 360 system. As far as I understood it you harvest the bottom tray and then put it on top and start feeding on the top tray only. So it takes about 2-4 months to get all the trays in place. Once the top tray is almost full you can harvest the bottom tray. The times would vary depending on what and how often you feed and how many worms you have. The worms are supposed to migrate up to the top trays so you won’t have a ton of them in the bottom tray when it comes time to harvest.

[@archibaldpaoma]

I just put my second tray on a week ago. I don’t have a ton of worms. I am just getting started in this. Thanks by the way for the videos. Nice to see a non professional do this. It’s nice to know you don’t”have to” do it one way or the other.

[@PlantObsessed]

Absolutely keeping it real. Every new type of system is a whole new game. I may rock large systems but I have to go back to the beginning with this one and re learn. Thank you for your help. 👍🏼🪱😃

[@lepointjosiane9640]

JE FAIS DU LOMBRICOMPOST DEPUIS PLUS DE QUINZE ANS J AI ESSAYE PLEINS DE SYSTEMES JE FINIS TOUJOURS PAR LES TRIER A LA MAIN.EXCUSE LANGAGE JE SUIS FRANCAIS HENRI

[@PlantObsessed]

Lol Henri. Good thing Google translate works. I make new mistakes every year. I try to not repeat the same ones.,👍🏼🪱😃