Hi Marty. I have been worm farming for about one year following you ever since. Have had some serious “wormergencies” and mites is one of them rookie mistake found out early on was adding leaves and things directly from the woods. Lots of struggles but i use exclusively shredded brown paper and saw dust now. Has helped a lot keeping out critters!
Hi TR. First thanks so much for your subscription and long time support I really appreciate it. I must say I am scared of mites and luckily never had to deal with them. Thanks for sharing your experience here as I know many will be reading this thread. I have plenty of more content on the way that I am sure you will enjoy!😀 Happy Worm Farming Marty
I've had both red and white mites in my worm farms even those where I only used shredded paper and card for bedding. I've not had them in huge quantities like it sounds Eric has, but found they usually become more prevalent if the bin is a bit too wet or not draining well. Just thought I'd mention it so people don't panic if they see a few mites in their worm bins. Keep spreading the word mate 👍
Hey Marty, you said my name right. This is AWESOME of you to make a video about my comment. I feel better knowing I'm not alone when it comes to these mites. As for the name you got me thinking you should name your farm El Dorado and the bucket Congo. Either way, it'll be great for sure. For basalt, I would try a tamp it's what I use to powder my biochar. That may not be the best idea, but it's all I got. Thanks for all you do to help us. I'm still geeking out you made this video about my issue. :)
Hi Eric, I sure did my friend. Your comment and input were extremely valuable for me and the community. So thank you so much for taking the time to share with us all. Its content like this can really help! 😀 I think I will do that, call the Wormry Eldorado and the bucket Congo hehehe..its seems fitting!
@@martysgarden I shared this video on my Facebook and Facebook business page. I hope it helps drive some viewers your way. Once I get past saying all the umms and uhh and nervous tics I'll create a channel and link your videos. Until that day I'll just comment asking for or sharing advice.
That's exactly the video I needed. I got mites very early on in my farm. They don't attack the worms and only show interest for food item like. The only time I've seen them on a worm was when it was dead... I have noticed they don't like when I spray water (using a little spray bottle) on the top of the compost and will climb up the lid to congregate. That's when I will take the lid outside and give it a good spray. So far I've been able to keep their population in check that way, pretty easy. Like most I had added leaves from my garden in the bin as part of the bedding. They must have come from there :)
Thanks so much for sharing your experience with the Mites you have on your farm and how you deal with them. Keep me and the community posted on how it comes along into the future. Be cool to know how they come along in time😀
Say Marty,I followed your suggestions to reduce feedings for awhile and add more carbon to the infested bins. I learned from other worm farming videos that it’s important to dry the bedding while adding less moisture in order dry the bedding until the populations drop to almost nonexistent. After playing with these controls, they worked like a charm. I still get them from time to time but generally they aren’t a problem. I do tend to keep the bins quite moist because I don’t have the time to moisten approx 45-50 bins twice weekly. My in-ground windrow in my backyard is set up for winter survival of my herd of ANC’s. Yes the red wiggelers and ENC’s are taking up two bedrooms of my house 🤪.
Talk about timing Marty, we only noticed these last night in our worm farm and this morning you created a video on the subject. Thank you for the helpful knowledge you consistently bring
I tried this to no avail. I let a cup of these mite-infested sifted casting dry out completely. Once I wet again the mites were still there. Also, I used a ph tester and my bin was at 6.5 to 7. So the bin wasn't too acidic. At the time I was hoping for an easy fix. A reset was the only fix I could get to work.
@@martysgarden Wow, then this is for me...I was about to add some partly broken down leaves (from my yard) to my bin! Also, my outside leaf compost heap hasn't gotten hot. So I'd better avoid that, too, for a source of bedding. Blood-sucking mites sound downright destructive.
I call my African nightcrawlers, "my colleagues". It annoys the heck out of my daughter. Eldorado means the golden. I I'm thinking along the lines of what the castings look like because they're definitely unique. True Grit (American western movie) Mount Kilimanjaro Black Gold I'll keep thinking
Hi Karl, from what I have learned so far that not all mites are bad. I am talking more about the parasitic of the species. Need to learn a lot more yet and plan to share my findings here.
Assuming their not parasitic you can trap them. Lay a fruit down and the mites will swarm it. Flick off any worms back into the bin and wash the mites off. Then you can place the bait back down. They enjoy watermelon which is great because it has plenty of surface area. Just cut it in half or quarters
Hi 👋 thanks for the video. I run carbon only bins and I’m seeing a lot of little white mites (or springtails?). I start my bins out with shredded paper, peat and crushed leaves. They do get coffee grounds, sanitized pulverized egg shells and pulverized biochar. I’m thinking about adding some organic kelp meal too...to boost my castings even more. I’m ok with them in the bins but how do I remove them from my castings??? Thanks in advance!
I get red mites in my bin if there's too much food. You can put a piece of bread in and when it gets loaded up take it out. They also gather under avocado skins. My problem was finding these shiny dark black carnivorous worms. Someone gave me bromeliads and I set a few in my worm bin which is when I noticed they were hiding in the bromeliads. Now I occasionally find one in the bin. One time it was in the process of decimating a worm. I do use food-grade diatomaceous earth quite often.
Hi Just Beachy, thanks so much for sharing your process with this,,love the bread trap! If you are free check out my live show which is starting right now!
Hi Troy, keep us posted on how things come along, it may just take a bit of time. I am trying to learn as much as I can about these little creatures as not all mites are bad😀
Are you able to put this in my Red wiggler bin Wilson Ant-Out Killer Dust, 200-g Silicon Dioxide (present as diatomaceous earth) Canadian Tire.. Or will this kill all my worms. Done to other chemicals. ?? Too kill mites ?
I had mass red mite problem but have never put any leaves in, I was thinking they come from lettuce / cabbage leaves I pick up from supermarket. Put heaps of leaves in bathtub bins with no problems. I have started a big hot compost pile as well. My other big problem is leaches, no idea how to get rid of those horrible critters 😲
@@martysgarden Thanks for your reply marty, but they are real leaches, don't know if they eat worms, they do suck blood but there is no meat etc in the bins, bit puzzled by this ? Keep up the good work !
This works for you guys that are in self contained bins that you keep inside but what about outdoor in the bed with the worm towers, it would be hard to avoid the mites as you're exposed to the elements and bugs. Any advice on how to prevent?
I put a piece of watermelon in my bin It was soon covered in red mites! I tossed it outside. I wonder if they can be baited out with fruit and then I can feed mt worms veggies for a while to make sure the mites are gone?
Thank you so much just. Started i first worm bin a couple of weeks ago I heard it was good for the worms to put in dry leaves but i live in Kentucky where we have red mites that bite you and lay there babies in your skin and than they feed on you so i can’t imagine what they would do to the worms and i don’t want any more than i have. There itch drives you crazy
Glad I can help. If you want to learn all you need to know about farming this is the link to my course inside youtube ru-vid.com/show-UCnPkv-JUX4Pqn_LYbykzAtwjoin have a lovely day😀
Hi Marty all good thanks again, Eldorado 👍, you could rig up a small crusher bit of pipe or box steel or PVC would do,about 100mm dia drop the rock in and bit of round or square steel sit on a board bit like a mortar pestle, primitive but works . Cheers mate
I only use shredded paper non bleached, egg cartons and Coco coir. I usually feed cornmeal crushed to dust egg shell and finely chopped mushrooms and lettuce. I've noticed alot of red mite's last few days and panicking now don't want my population to get hammered by these little buggers. I don't over water and always check food has gone before adding more. Any advice Marty and thanks for all your videos watch them all great stuff Stephen UK
Some mites is okay, you just dont want over populations. You can always trap them with a bit of moist fruit peel and pull them out. Wet bread also does that I hear
Yea Marty, I have the same problem with my red worm populations. I took leaves that over wintered in piles. Took some of the leaves and added to the bins and now have a very healthy population of white mites. Like the other farmer, I’ve tried to rid the bins of mites with no success. If anyone has any ideas for controlling these mites please comment about it. I thought El Dorado was a Hispanic name but what do I know, I’m just another guy who loves playing in the dirt.
Hi Michael, if they are not attached to the worm don't worry too much. Just slow up on feeding and see what happens,,more carbon. Stay posted mate, because it may come up more often this conversation as we look deeper at worms, habitat and what else lives in the farms. 😀
Sup Marty, to crush lava rock, place plywood down or whatever on top of the rock and drive over it. Also agricultural lime (agricultural limestone/garden lime is good for the worm bins and general insect control. I also own a pest control company in Fort Worth Texas
If I do a larger scale of crush I will do this,,thanks so much for sharing Johny. Nice tip about the Lime too. I know many will benefit from what you have shared here.😀
I tried garden lime with the same outcome. It may have knocked out a few, but not all. I think there were too many in the bin for anything natural to handle the situation. I tried neem cake as well and will continue to add it with every feeding as a precaution.
@@martysgarden Thanks, and thank you also for the worm care content, its been fun watching what your doing. Keep up the great work, definitely love that energy of your I hope your channel grows and grows and you reach all of your dreams and make them your reality.
Very likely, but most mites aren't that bad. If you take care of your farm properly they are actually beneficial. When I was filming with my macro lens I saw a white mite take a ride on one of the worms haha😀😂 It didnt seem to mind.
@@martysgarden what is the problem with diatomaceous earth? I’ve been using it sparingly. Had a terrible problem with fruit flys and when sprinkling dt on the covering of the bedding. Didn’t seem to cause a problem. In fact, many worm farmers in the US use dt as a form of grit instead of egg shells and such.
@@michaeldvorak8140 dt food grade is safe to use in the worn farm. Worms don't mind it and neither do the mites. I think the mites I have are super mites because the dt doesn't bother them one bit.
Thanks #marty. I discovered a tool out of necessity for mites...that I can consult on as mites were a plague for me at one point--- sucking life out of earthworms attacking them similar to ants causing them not to eat much and not mate much and consuming their food! Leave your email if this interests you. Started my Vermiconposting experience 1974- present.
Let the farm dry out, a little. Keep moisture down deep, back off food. If they are red colour it's not the bad ones..will be okay. Just follow the information in the level 3 worm wranglers area on bedding and feeding to get the bed right
@@martysgarden sorry Marty don’t know why that said that I don’t have mites but I do see why people get them. I keep mine fairly dry… have shown of Facebook
