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Besides choosing a type of worm bin you want to use, sometimes the hardest part of starting a worm bin is figuring out which type of bedding to use in that worm bin. My goal here in this article is to help you choose a bedding that is suitable for your worm bin. This is not a guide for commercial scale worm farming, but it will be helpful for your home setup.
There are a few options for bedding, and some are good, others are just okay, but most of them are good enough to get you started and sometimes to keep using forever.
Types of Bedding Material
Bedding is an essential part of worm composting, also known as vermicomposting. The bedding needs to be able to absorb moisture and odors while providing a suitable habitat for the worms. In no order of preference, we have the following types of bedding you can use:
Peat Moss
Peat moss is readily available in most garden centers, and it is used often in garden beds. Due to environmental concerns from the extraction process, you may want to consider an alternative bedding material to peat moss.
Pros:
- Retains moisture well
- Provides good aeriation
Cons:
- There are environmental concerns with peat extraction
- May become overly acid if not properly managed
- Slower to decompose than other bedding materials
- More expensive than other bedding materials
- Provides little nutrients
Coco Coir
Coco coir (coconut coir) is also readily available in most garden centers, and it too is used often in garden beds. It is made from the fibrous husks of coconuts.
When I start a new worm bin or harvest a lot of worm castings at one time, coconut coir is my go-to bedding because it is easy to use, and it is a great bedding material for the worms. A small, compressed block of coco coir goes a long way.
Some people don’t use it for worm bedding because there are cheaper alternatives that are available.
Here is the Coco Coir I have been using lately: Organic Coco Coir by Coco Bliss (paid link). I have not found it to be very salty and it has been clean from other materials.
Pros:
- PH neutral
- Retains moisture well
- Resistant to mold and mildew
- Sustainable and environmentally friendly
- Provides a good habitat for worms
- Does not compact easily once moisture has been added to it
Cons:
- Some brands tend to have a higher salt content and requires rinsing prior to use
- Comes compacted and will require soaking for expansion
- Can be more expensive than other bedding
- Some brands have had debris in the coco coir blocks
Newspaper
Newspaper is a popular choice for a bedding material. It is easily shredded with an inexpensive paper shedder. You can easily moisten it by soaking it in a bucket of water after you shred it. After it has soaked in water for a few hours, wring it out by hand and apply it to the worm bedding.
There are some types of paper you will want to avoid, such as any kind of glossy paper.
There is some debate out there in the digital world where some people say to avoid newspapers with colored ink as the ink may contain toxins. Others say that the ink these days are non-toxic. I don’t worry about the colored inks anymore because inks these days are now usually created with soy or water, which are typically safe. Just don’t go eating newspapers.
If you don’t have access to a printed newspaper because everything is online now, some printed junk mail and other paper goods are acceptable for the worm bin.
Pros:
- Can be readily available if you have access to a newspaper subscription
- Inexpensive
- Easy to shred
- Breaks down relatively quickly
- Adds carbon to the compost
Cons:
- May become compacted over time, reducing aeration
- Newspapers are becoming more scarce
Cardboard
Cardboard is going to be a lot like newspaper, but it can take a little more work to get it prepped. You will most likely want to shred up the cardboard before soaking it in water (just like you would with the newspaper), but the shredding part might be the more challenging part for some people.
If you don’t have a high-capacity paper shredder that can handle cardboard, you may have to shred it by hand. Cardboard will almost always require some kind of cutting by hand with a utility knife to make it a more manageable size for the paper shredder or even to soak it in water prior to shredding it by hand.
Check out our article “How to get rid of all that cardboard” for how we handle cardboard.
Cardboard is a great bedding material for the worms and it helps you get rid of all that extra cardboard you get from Amazon.
Pros:
- Readily available
- Inexpensive
- Easy to shred
- Breaks down relatively quickly
- Adds carbon to the compost
Cons:
- May become compacted over time, reducing aeration
- Can be tough on the hands to work with
Aged Compost
Aged compost, also know as finished compost, is the end product of the composting process. It is a valuable resource for the garden and can also be used in the worm composting bins to help aid in the vermicomposting process.
This is not something I do because I prefer to put the finished compost directly in the garden. I have already waited too long for the good stuff to wait any longer, but it can be helpful in adding additional beneficial microbes to your worm bin.
Pros:
- Already contains beneficial microbes, which will aid in further composting
- Provides extra nutrients
Cons:
- May contain weed seeds or harmful pathogens if the compost was not handled correctly
Aged Manure
If you have access to aged horse manure or cow manure, this too can be used as a bedding material. Make sure it is well-aged to avoid any heat or harmful pathogens that could harm the worms. Age it just like you would with aged compost.
Pros:
- Rich in nutrients
- Provides a good habitat for the worms
Cons:
- Must be aged to avoid too much heat or harmful pathogens
- Cannot use if the horse or cow have been dewormed recently
- Sourcing quality aged manure can be challenging for some people
Aged Leaves
During the fall season, I like to run our fallen leaves through the leaf shredder and apply them to the worm beds. This helps insulate them during the colder winter months and also gives them another food source.
To reduce the chances of the leaves from becoming compacted, it helps to mix them in with the bedding that is already there in the bin. If you don’t, the top layer will most likely become compacted (That happens to me all the time) and you don’t want that.
One thing that I usually don’t do is age the leaves first, which I probably should to make it a better environment for the worms. But, I am too impatient to wait for that process and just skip ahead and let nature take its course for me.
Pros:
- Readily available in many areas
- Provides a natural habitat for the worms
Cons:
- Can become compacted, which will reduce aeration
Conclusion
As you see, there are quite a few options for worm bedding. Pick one that is affordable, easily obtained, and that does not require too much work from you. Experiment with different bedding and mix them up occasionally. Typically, the more variation in bedding you have, the better the environment may be just as a larger variety of food groups can be beneficial for the worms. Worm composting should be a fun experience.
When choosing a bedding material, it’s essential to avoid materials that contain toxins, pesticides, or chemicals that could harm the worms or contaminate the compost. Also, make sure the bedding material is moist but not soggy, as excessive moisture can lead to anaerobic conditions and foul odors in the worm bin.
Most of these bedding types can be used in any type of worm bin, indoors or outdoors. If the bin is managed correctly, there shouldn’t be any bad smells coming from the bedding.
Now go find a bedding for your new worm bin and enjoy this adventure!
Rick Simper has various hobbies, including woodworking, metalworking, composting, and gardening. He is an Architect full time and uses these hobbies to get away from the busy week of Architecture.