Comments on: Are Pineapple and Papaya Harmful to Worms? http://www.redwormcomposting.com/general-questions/are-pineapple-and-papaya-harmful-to-worms/ Red Wiggler Worms, European Nightcrawlers and loads of helpful Worm Composting Information Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:46:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Dayna Mitchell http://www.redwormcomposting.com/general-questions/are-pineapple-and-papaya-harmful-to-worms/comment-page-1/#comment-30736 Dayna Mitchell Sun, 26 Jun 2011 23:00:17 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=902#comment-30736 I put straps of pineapple in my compost bin. There are clusters of worms feeding off the pineapple. Should I be concern about using my compose on vegetables, and what kind of worms are these that are in clusters? I put straps of pineapple in my compost bin. There are clusters of worms feeding off the pineapple. Should I be concern about using my compose on vegetables, and what kind of worms are these that are in clusters?

]]> By: Juliana http://www.redwormcomposting.com/general-questions/are-pineapple-and-papaya-harmful-to-worms/comment-page-1/#comment-28217 Juliana Thu, 02 Dec 2010 13:54:11 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=902#comment-28217 PINEAPPLE IS A DEFINITE NO NO. Papaya seems fine though. Yesterday I fed my worms a whole pineapple that was already pretty well decomposed. I opened my worm bin today to find masses of worms trying to get as far away from the pineapple as they could. At first I was thrilled because I could see my entire population of worms - and there were many more than I could have hoped for. But then I began to wonder why they were crowding on the sides of my bin and realised that it must be that they were trying to get away from something. So I called my boyfriend for an emergency worm-saving operation and I dug around in the bin and removed as much of the pineapple as I could. I then sprinkled dirt over the top (as a way to neutralise the acid? any other ideas?) and then sprinkled some water over that and then ladelled my worms back on top. Any ideas for other ways to neutralize the pineapple acids? I'm rather worried about my worms now! PINEAPPLE IS A DEFINITE NO NO. Papaya seems fine though. Yesterday I fed my worms a whole pineapple that was already pretty well decomposed.

I opened my worm bin today to find masses of worms trying to get as far away from the pineapple as they could. At first I was thrilled because I could see my entire population of worms – and there were many more than I could have hoped for. But then I began to wonder why they were crowding on the sides of my bin and realised that it must be that they were trying to get away from something.

So I called my boyfriend for an emergency worm-saving operation and I dug around in the bin and removed as much of the pineapple as I could. I then sprinkled dirt over the top (as a way to neutralise the acid? any other ideas?) and then sprinkled some water over that and then ladelled my worms back on top.

Any ideas for other ways to neutralize the pineapple acids? I’m rather worried about my worms now!

]]> By: Steve http://www.redwormcomposting.com/general-questions/are-pineapple-and-papaya-harmful-to-worms/comment-page-1/#comment-26011 Steve Thu, 01 Jul 2010 04:02:46 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=902#comment-26011 I live in Phoenix, AZ. I found it difficult to keep worms in plastic containers wether in the garage or outside. It is hard to control the temperature with such high outside temps plus the heat created inside the bin. I have had great success by burying the plastic containers under a shady tree that blocks afternoon sun. May get some sun exposure in the morning hours. The dirt surrounding the bin helps to keep it cool from the 100+ temps. Just the shade alone might not be enough. Same goes for the garage. I drilled holes in the top and bottom. Drainage seeps into the ground, I'm sure the tree appreciates it. Be careful watering as bin drains slower being buried. Perhaps your bin got too hot. I live in Phoenix, AZ. I found it difficult to keep worms in plastic containers wether in the garage or outside. It is hard to control the temperature with such high outside temps plus the heat created inside the bin. I have had great success by burying the plastic containers under a shady tree that blocks afternoon sun. May get some sun exposure in the morning hours. The dirt surrounding the bin helps to keep it cool from the 100+ temps. Just the shade alone might not be enough. Same goes for the garage. I drilled holes in the top and bottom. Drainage seeps into the ground, I’m sure the tree appreciates it. Be careful watering as bin drains slower being buried. Perhaps your bin got too hot.

]]> By: Cecil Pearson http://www.redwormcomposting.com/general-questions/are-pineapple-and-papaya-harmful-to-worms/comment-page-1/#comment-25212 Cecil Pearson Wed, 05 May 2010 14:00:36 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=902#comment-25212 I raise my worms in plastic containers with lids (have holes drilled in tops for ventilation). Worms were doing great! Then all of a sudden there are NO worms!. Bins are kept moist (water once per week as needed) and keep food available. Have had no problems at all. I did feed them pears early this week and now there are no worms!!! Any suggestions BEFORE I start again? I raise my worms in plastic containers with lids (have holes drilled in tops for ventilation). Worms were doing great! Then all of a sudden there are NO worms!. Bins are kept moist (water once per week as needed) and keep food available. Have had no problems at all. I did feed them pears early this week and now there are no worms!!!
Any suggestions BEFORE I start again?

]]> By: Bay http://www.redwormcomposting.com/general-questions/are-pineapple-and-papaya-harmful-to-worms/comment-page-1/#comment-22911 Bay Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:33:14 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=902#comment-22911 Tri-tip is beef-steak. (Cooked). Tri-tip is beef-steak. (Cooked).

]]> By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/general-questions/are-pineapple-and-papaya-harmful-to-worms/comment-page-1/#comment-22865 Bentley Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:08:10 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=902#comment-22865 ANDY - Definitely a possibility. Alternatively, one can also NEVER rule out alien abduction! Maybe 'we are not alone' in the realization of just how cool these worms are! ;-) ---- ERICA - Very interesting. Thanks for chiming in ---- BAY - What is "tri-tip"? ANDY – Definitely a possibility. Alternatively, one can also NEVER rule out alien abduction! Maybe ‘we are not alone’ in the realization of just how cool these worms are!
;-)
—-
ERICA – Very interesting. Thanks for chiming in
—-
BAY – What is “tri-tip”?

]]> By: Bay http://www.redwormcomposting.com/general-questions/are-pineapple-and-papaya-harmful-to-worms/comment-page-1/#comment-22800 Bay Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:15:50 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=902#comment-22800 I recently conducted an experiment with worms. I fed one of my groups of worms tri-tip, and those worms I believe disintegrated unless they crawled out and are in my house. The other two groups did not disintegrate. One i fed lettuce, the other i fed paper. I'm just curious if worms can actually disintegrate. I recently conducted an experiment with worms. I fed one of my groups of worms tri-tip, and those worms I believe disintegrated unless they crawled out and are in my house. The other two groups did not disintegrate. One i fed lettuce, the other i fed paper. I’m just curious if worms can actually disintegrate.

]]> By: Erica http://www.redwormcomposting.com/general-questions/are-pineapple-and-papaya-harmful-to-worms/comment-page-1/#comment-21991 Erica Fri, 31 Jul 2009 05:24:30 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=902#comment-21991 My worms are voracious with all fruits, but especially seem to love pineapple and melon, which we eat frequently. I now grind up my worm food, but for years just put in the pineapple rinds and hearts without aging them. The worms would often be found the next day happily (or so I think) huddled under the rinds, and would hang out there until the rinds were finished off. As with the rest of the family, for the worms pineapple is a favorite food. My worms are voracious with all fruits, but especially seem to love pineapple and melon, which we eat frequently.

I now grind up my worm food, but for years just put in the pineapple rinds and hearts without aging them. The worms would often be found the next day happily (or so I think) huddled under the rinds, and would hang out there until the rinds were finished off. As with the rest of the family, for the worms pineapple is a favorite food.

]]> By: Andy http://www.redwormcomposting.com/general-questions/are-pineapple-and-papaya-harmful-to-worms/comment-page-1/#comment-21987 Andy Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:14:56 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=902#comment-21987 Maybe someone was jealous of your worms and then stole them while you were on vacation....have any neighbors who like to fish? Maybe someone was jealous of your worms and then stole them while you were on vacation….have any neighbors who like to fish?

]]> By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/general-questions/are-pineapple-and-papaya-harmful-to-worms/comment-page-1/#comment-21978 Bentley Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:35:17 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=902#comment-21978 Wow - this has turned out to be quite the hot topic! BOB- I think you might be right. Perhaps a pineapple/papaya challenge IS in order. :-) Wow – this has turned out to be quite the hot topic!

BOB- I think you might be right. Perhaps a pineapple/papaya challenge IS in order.
:-)

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