Max exodus of worms???????????

[WildBill]

I have no idea why this occurred! I finally emptied the Earthbox of my biggest HBSS into a tote for re-amending and mixing with other media to dilute the Dolomite. I busted it all up, spread it out, added a little chicken feed, bokashi and wetted it down with some water with Boost.

I checked all the totes this morning to see how well their mats are developing, I added bokashi to all the totes and sprayed with the same water and Boost. Great development in all the totes..............until I came to the tote in question. No mat and the worms were lining the sides and trying to get out the top! They were mostly young worms and only seen a few adults with rings. I MAY have not added the Bokashi with the absence of the mat. All the other totes had WELL developed mats going after less than 48hours. The media was not overwatered and not heated up, but there was a lot of moisture on the sides and top.
I really don't understand why this happened! The ONLY thing I can come up with is they preferred the condensation on the sides of the tote, but the media wasn't that dry............at least I really think so.
There is something going on, but I have no idea!
Good thing I picked up another two totes to make a new smaller worm bin the other day. I got a pretty good size handful of worms to add to it today.............when life gives you Lemons, you make Lemonade!

I'm gonna add some TerraCraft to the tote, mix it up and retry the bokashi again.

 

[Jraven]

I know they are sensitive, I've killed them by too-dry medium. And also temp change when moving them. It would be interesting to figure out what the difference is in the tote

 

[WildBill]

I know they are sensitive, I've killed them by too-dry medium. And also temp change when moving them. It would be interesting to figure out what the difference is in the tote

MAYBE the temps were higher last afternoon, but it's sill pretty shaded there. I have a wrap around porch on three sides in a "ranch" style home. There's shade there almost all day
I'm just gonna mix in the other media and try again. It's probally something simple. I've never had worms do this before, I've never done it this way. My worm bins were partially buried(for temp control) old clawfoot bath tubs.

 

[Mañ'O'Green]

A big PH swing will drive worms up!

 

[WildBill]

A big PH swing will drive worms up!

That's possible, but I don't see it changing that quick, but I guess it could. But if that's the case, the adding material should help.

 

[hecno]

The only thing I can think of is moisture , soil is to dry , When I am building my soil if I forget to water it I find them on the sides too . Then after a good watering all is back to normal . Also when it happens I always find the soil is dryer towards the center .

 

[WildBill]

The only thing I can think of is moisture , soil is to dry , When I am building my soil if I forget to water it I find them on the sides too . Then after a good watering all is back to normal . Also when it happens I always find the soil is dryer towards the center .

Some of the soil from the pot was a little dry, but this was just what was in the pot............including worms........a LOT of worms!
I added almost half a gallon of molasses water with Boost to the media. I doubt it, but it is possible, the media may be still too dry. Maybe the condensation brought them out to the sides.
The media didn't heat up from bio activity either.
LOL! I'm pretty sure I didn't add any bokashi to the top. There is no sign of activity.

 

[Sour D]

Do you use a surfactant like yucca to your water? If not, you could have too wet, too dry patches

 

[WildBill]

Do you use a surfactant like yucca to your water? If not, you could have too wet, too dry patches

That is one thing I didn't do is add yucca at this watering. The material did have several doses while growing though
I really didn't see/feel any dry pockets. Now, there were much wetter areas and that was from the worms I assume.
Maybe they were mad from me breaking up their little Happy Happy Joy Joy community.

 

[DCLXVI]

Wild mans worms.....