How to Keep Earthworms Alive

Earthworms need basic care when living in an artificial environment.

Earthworms play an integral part in a balanced ecosystem. The earth depends on them as waste recyclers. They provide rich nutrients for the soil and aerate the earth, which aids in the distribution of water and oxygen to plant roots.

Things You'll Need

• Wooden or plastic container
• Garden soil
• Newspaper
• Screen
• Spray-bottle
• Vegetable food scraps

Instructions

1. Place worms in a container filled halfway with a mixture of 50 percent soil and 50 percent finely shredded newspaper. The container should be large enough to permit the worms to move freely through the soil.

2. Store worms in a dark or dimly lit room. The container should be opaque. Clear containers can be covered with dark paper or cloth to block light. Worms cannot tolerate direct exposure to sunlight for any extended period of time.

3. Maintain a temperate environment and avoid extreme fluctuations in temperature. Earthworms can tolerate cold weather for short periods of time, but thrive in an environment that ranges in temperature from 59 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Spray the soil with water daily to provide adequate moisture. Provide a layer of fine mist without saturating the environment. Soil should always feel moist but not too damp. Too much water content will negatively affect oxygen levels.

5. Ventilate a worm bin made of plastic by securing the top with a screen instead of an airtight lid. Wooden containers breathe naturally and permit air flow. The worms will do the rest of the work by aerating the soil, which provides sufficient oxygen for the environment.

6. Provide sources of food. Decomposing waste materials support the growth of microorganisms that provide nutrition for worms. Food waste creates an ideal environment for microorganisms to flourish. Vegetable and fruit scraps, along with a few dried leaves will provide adequate resources for nutrition.

Tips & Warnings

• Save time shredding newspaper by saturating torn paper strips in a bucket of water. Strain clumps of wet paper onto a flat surface to dry before combining with soil.

References

• Amateur Entomologists' Society: Definition of Earthworm
• Backyard Nature: Earthworms
• "The Biology and Ecology of Earthworms"; C.A. Edwards and P.J. Bohlen; 1996

Resources

• Red Worm Composting: Raising Earth Worms