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| WORMS http://byap.backyardmagazines.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=26048 |
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| Author: | giljones [ Oct 9th, '15, 08:12 ] |
| Post subject: | WORMS |
While preparing my fall garden, I started turning the soil, and as I find worms I just toss them into one of my grow beds, and I never see them again. Do they stay completely covered under the media are am I just feeding the birds? |
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| Author: | Bender [ Oct 9th, '15, 10:59 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WORMS |
You need red wrigglers or composting worms. Earthworms will probably die in the growbed Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk |
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| Author: | Yavimaya [ Oct 9th, '15, 12:29 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WORMS |
earthworms dont die. you just arent finding them again. |
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| Author: | scotty435 [ Oct 9th, '15, 14:09 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WORMS |
They'll probably work but they just leave if they don't like where you put them. |
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| Author: | boss [ Oct 9th, '15, 21:37 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WORMS |
plus one: They'll probably work but they just leave if they don't like where you put them. |
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| Author: | francois [ Oct 9th, '15, 22:25 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WORMS |
boss wrote: plus one: They'll probably work but they just leave if they don't like where you put them. |
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| Author: | dlf_perth [ Oct 10th, '15, 02:30 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WORMS |
+1 to all above However when they are there you never see them. This year I came across a few only after recent spring clean of the bed and some serious moving around the media doing a few mods. Wouldn't even know they are there otherwise. Unlike their mates the slugs...... note that they stay under water quite happily - flooding did not bring them out. |
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| Author: | giljones [ Oct 12th, '15, 08:57 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WORMS |
I have completely emptied the grow bed that I had the mint in, recouped all my hydroton media, and I did not see a single earth worm. These were the in ground type that I would throw into the grow bed. Just though I'd pass this along. I have disassembled my large grow bed and after reconfiguring the placement of all the parts I will try to make it a CHOP system. The only problem I have is being sure that gravity will work in providing water all around the system and empting into the sump tank. Any suggestions, thanks for all your advice, Gil |
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| Author: | Dangerous Dave [ Oct 12th, '15, 11:44 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WORMS |
There's conflicting info about earth versus compost worms in the above posts from Yavimaya and Bender... both far more experienced than me. But my understanding is that compost worms can live underwater (so happy in aquaponics) while ordinary earthworms can't - which would explain your findings. I put compost worms in my single growbed long ago and now regularly find them in all parts of my system including in small netpots suspended in my shallow DWC 100 mm pipe system - ie they, or their eggs, must have made it from the growbed via the sump tank. |
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| Author: | scotty435 [ Oct 12th, '15, 16:10 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WORMS |
I've heard that what we call nightcrawlers would not be good because they burrow much deeper than our grow beds. They come to the surface when it is damp or rainy but not because their burrows are filling and they are in danger of drowning - it is to feed. |
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| Author: | giljones [ Oct 14th, '15, 00:10 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WORMS |
OK, from what I've gathered I'll have to find composting worms to add to my grow beds, OK - No Problem My next attempt at a swirl filter material will be unwound nylon rope. This will be layered about a foot thick, water and air will flow from the bottom up through a plastic perforated platform. Does anyone have any concerns or ideas that might help me get this right? Thanks for ALL your help, Gil My Green House plan is about to take shape on the ground. I hope to have some pics. to share soon. |
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| Author: | scotty435 [ Oct 14th, '15, 01:04 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WORMS |
. Might work better as a biofilter with the nylon fibers.
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| Author: | BuiDoi [ Oct 14th, '15, 05:32 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WORMS |
giljones wrote: ...My next attempt at a swirl filter material will be unwound nylon rope. This will be layered about a foot thick, water and air will flow from the bottom up through a plastic perforated platform. Not sure how the sold material will work in a swirl filter.. You might describe that better, but generally any such material will likely work as expected with bacteria colonization etc. .. . |
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| Author: | BuiDoi [ Oct 15th, '15, 05:47 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WORMS |
.. And that was SOLID. material... ie would prevent swirling... surely .. . |
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| Author: | skeggley [ Oct 17th, '15, 08:05 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WORMS |
I find normal worms in the gbs but only when I move a lot of media but not in the same density as the composters so I was thinking that composting worms don't mind high densities and common earthworms don't like them so populate accordingly. |
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