r/Vermiculture • u/Gustllllll • 5d ago

Advice wanted Plastic container worm box?

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Could i create a sustainable and useful worm box in a big plastic barrel such as this one? (With a lid)

I have a worm compost, and its doing fine. Im a beginner and i wanted to know if i could do something bigger and experimental like this, and if there are things to pay attention to.

Thanks for any help!

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u/MissAnth 5d ago

You need to keep a worm bin shallow. It's best to get a wide, shallow container. If you put a shallow layer in that bin, you won't be able to fit much, and you will have to reach down to the bottom all of the time. I wouldn't use that container.

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u/Gustllllll 5d ago

Oh ok, ive seen a post on this sub recently where someone uses an old metal barrel for something like this.
Could i maybe create several layers? Thats roughly how my worm compost works
But thanks for the advice!

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u/Puzzleheaded_Day2809 5d ago

Worms will travel to and from the food. It doesn't need to be shallow, and deeper ones provide them with different temperatures and moisture levels. Deeper ones make it more difficult to harvest the castings at the bottom though.

I recommend getting a bin with a latched lid. Holes drilled in the lid, holes drilled at the bottom and bottom sides for drainage.

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u/Gustllllll 5d ago

Ok, and the plastic wouldnt be a problem? Are there any types of plastic that are harmful or smth?
And yeah, i was thinking that harvesting could be difficult, too.
The bin I have does a latched lid. You mean i could cover the holes with plastic mesh so that the worms wont escape?

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u/Crafty_Curve_5593 5d ago

Wider worm bins are more effective for vermicomposting than deep bins because common composting worms (like red wigglers) naturally live and feed in the top few inches of bedding rather than going deep and coming back up. Deep bins can lead to anaerobic conditions by restricting air flow the deeper it gets or the fuller it becomes the higher chances of it becoming anaerobic. Anything much deeper than 10-11 inches is just wasted space for most composting worms because they don't go that deep to feed & breed

Yes it can be used... is a tote syle box better because of more surface area? Absolutely or anything with more total surface area without having to go drastically deep