Comments on: Lots of Mold in My Worm Bin! http://www.redwormcomposting.com/general-questions/lots-of-mold-in-my-worm-bin/ 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: Bridgette http://www.redwormcomposting.com/general-questions/lots-of-mold-in-my-worm-bin/comment-page-1/#comment-30725 Bridgette Sat, 25 Jun 2011 14:56:40 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=441#comment-30725 I just started my bin 1 weeks ago. It happened that I suddenly got a can of worms from a friend so I wasn't really prepared to start the set up a week prior to getting them. I have 1 (rubbermaid) bin that I keep them in and not the 2 bin set up (but I may change that today). Anyway, it seems that every time I open the bin there is a layer of "cotten-y" mold on top. I've been just mixing the top layer up a bit to get rid of it but after reading this I'm worried that it's more of a problem. I don't have much newsprint in the bin and started out with a bunch of shredded junk mail and brown cardboard. What do you think? I just started my bin 1 weeks ago. It happened that I suddenly got a can of worms from a friend so I wasn’t really prepared to start the set up a week prior to getting them. I have 1 (rubbermaid) bin that I keep them in and not the 2 bin set up (but I may change that today). Anyway, it seems that every time I open the bin there is a layer of “cotten-y” mold on top. I’ve been just mixing the top layer up a bit to get rid of it but after reading this I’m worried that it’s more of a problem. I don’t have much newsprint in the bin and started out with a bunch of shredded junk mail and brown cardboard. What do you think?

]]> By: Derek http://www.redwormcomposting.com/general-questions/lots-of-mold-in-my-worm-bin/comment-page-1/#comment-30287 Derek Thu, 12 May 2011 00:05:03 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=441#comment-30287 Thanks for the info. Recently, I've actually had an explosion of green mold on the sides and top of my worm bin (it's made from wood) AND lots of reddish mites running around. I don't even want to go near the bin! I'm new to this, and I suspect that I overfed them. Is there anything I should do? If I leave it alone for a while (I haven't fed them for about 2 weeks now) will the bin reach "equilibrium," or will the worms die? I would appreciate any advice! Thanks for the info. Recently, I’ve actually had an explosion of green mold on the sides and top of my worm bin (it’s made from wood) AND lots of reddish mites running around. I don’t even want to go near the bin! I’m new to this, and I suspect that I overfed them. Is there anything I should do? If I leave it alone for a while (I haven’t fed them for about 2 weeks now) will the bin reach “equilibrium,” or will the worms die? I would appreciate any advice!

]]> By: Nanette http://www.redwormcomposting.com/general-questions/lots-of-mold-in-my-worm-bin/comment-page-1/#comment-30272 Nanette Tue, 10 May 2011 21:46:27 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=441#comment-30272 Thanks for the info on the yellow fungus. It has dried up to a brown mass, similar to the worm poop(?) My next question is why to the worms try to crawl out? I find them in the lid edges and also in the tea tray.I still need to find out how to separate the worms from the good stuff. I am sure I am not using "worm talk",but hope you know what I am talking about.nwm Thanks for the info on the yellow fungus. It has dried up to a brown mass, similar to the worm poop(?) My next question is why to the worms try to crawl out? I find them in the lid edges and also in the tea tray.I still need to find out how to separate the worms from the good stuff. I am sure I am not using “worm talk”,but hope you know what I am talking about.nwm

]]> By: RoseAnn http://www.redwormcomposting.com/general-questions/lots-of-mold-in-my-worm-bin/comment-page-1/#comment-30262 RoseAnn Tue, 10 May 2011 02:57:53 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=441#comment-30262 I never had mold in my bin but since I put the cobs in a couple of days ago I now have mold. I never had mold in my bin but since I put the cobs in a couple of days ago I now have mold.

]]> By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/general-questions/lots-of-mold-in-my-worm-bin/comment-page-1/#comment-30090 Bentley Fri, 22 Apr 2011 17:35:54 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=441#comment-30090 Hi Nanette, Yellow goo and weird, bright colored fungal growths in general are very often "slime molds", which actually are not fungi at all. They seem to appear very quickly and often disappear at the same rate (sometimes leaving a crusty, dry lump o stuff (one variety is appropriately referred to as "Dog Vomit" by some). As for harvesting, be sure to check out the harvesting section of the HOT TOPICS page. Regards Bentley Hi Nanette,
Yellow goo and weird, bright colored fungal growths in general are very often “slime molds”, which actually are not fungi at all. They seem to appear very quickly and often disappear at the same rate (sometimes leaving a crusty, dry lump o stuff (one variety is appropriately referred to as “Dog Vomit” by some).
As for harvesting, be sure to check out the harvesting section of the HOT TOPICS page.

Regards

Bentley

]]> By: Nanette http://www.redwormcomposting.com/general-questions/lots-of-mold-in-my-worm-bin/comment-page-1/#comment-30089 Nanette Fri, 22 Apr 2011 17:29:15 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=441#comment-30089 I woke up to some yellow goo growing out of my worm box. I also have a question about how to separate the worms from the castings. Thanks so much for your articles. I woke up to some yellow goo growing out of my worm box. I also have a question about how to separate the worms from the castings. Thanks so much for your articles.

]]> By: Katie @ Imperfect people http://www.redwormcomposting.com/general-questions/lots-of-mold-in-my-worm-bin/comment-page-1/#comment-28996 Katie @ Imperfect people Wed, 09 Feb 2011 20:50:17 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=441#comment-28996 Thanks you! I needed to know what was going on with the mold Thanks you! I needed to know what was going on with the mold

]]> By: Ben http://www.redwormcomposting.com/general-questions/lots-of-mold-in-my-worm-bin/comment-page-1/#comment-28323 Ben Wed, 08 Dec 2010 01:06:40 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=441#comment-28323 Hey Mike, Breaking up the mycelia won't diminish it's growth in such a nutrient rich medium, in fact it may even speed growth as the new location each bundle of mycelia finds it's self in could be "virgin" at least in mycological terms. Eradicating mold in such an environment is more than unlikely even with sterile conditions for any real length of time. Better to fill the niche the mold has found, kind of like vermi-aikido. I'm going to be looking through my books (I've been a bit bemushroomed as of late) and find an edible mushroom likely to do okay but not great in my bin with some attention to the types of food I'm putting in. Rather than using a heavy innoculation (the goal is to repress unbeneficial molds not so much raise mushrooms) I'll go easy and any mushrooms that DO pop up? Bonus! That said make sure the mushroom you're putting on your pizza is a fungal friend not frenemy. I'll keep you informed. Great GREAT website, Ben Hey Mike,

Breaking up the mycelia won’t diminish it’s growth in such a nutrient rich medium, in fact it may even speed growth as the new location each bundle of mycelia finds it’s self in could be “virgin” at least in mycological terms. Eradicating mold in such an environment is more than unlikely even with sterile conditions for any real length of time. Better to fill the niche the mold has found, kind of like vermi-aikido.
I’m going to be looking through my books (I’ve been a bit bemushroomed as of late) and find an edible mushroom likely to do okay but not great in my bin with some attention to the types of food I’m putting in. Rather than using a heavy innoculation (the goal is to repress unbeneficial molds not so much raise mushrooms) I’ll go easy and any mushrooms that DO pop up? Bonus! That said make sure the mushroom you’re putting on your pizza is a fungal friend not frenemy.
I’ll keep you informed.

Great GREAT website,
Ben

]]> By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/general-questions/lots-of-mold-in-my-worm-bin/comment-page-1/#comment-27862 Bentley Thu, 11 Nov 2010 16:30:24 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=441#comment-27862 Hi Mike, I wouldn't worry too much about this - it is very common to see fungal growth in a worm bin - especially early on. One thing to keep in mind though - it CAN be an indication of the fact that you are adding too much waste and/or have not added enough bedding materials (especially if there are already worms in the system) Hi Mike,
I wouldn’t worry too much about this – it is very common to see fungal growth in a worm bin – especially early on. One thing to keep in mind though – it CAN be an indication of the fact that you are adding too much waste and/or have not added enough bedding materials (especially if there are already worms in the system)

]]> By: Mike http://www.redwormcomposting.com/general-questions/lots-of-mold-in-my-worm-bin/comment-page-1/#comment-27786 Mike Sun, 07 Nov 2010 18:50:43 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=441#comment-27786 ya umm i just started my worm bin like acouple of weeks ago and there are fuzzy white mold around should i be worried ? ya umm i just started my worm bin like acouple of weeks ago and there are fuzzy white mold around should i be worried ?

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