Do Worms Eat Coconut Coir? All You Need To Know?

Do Worms Eat Coconut Coir? All You Need To Know?

Worms they are the ugly friend in any fairytale with seven loathsome sisters, and too often the despised vermin of every childhood memory. Kind of dark we know, But whether you love them or hate them, these unappealing creatures are essential to a healthy ecosystem.

If you’ve ever seen an old movie about a caveman, you’ll know that worms are essential to the cycle of life. In fact, almost every ecosystem on Earth depends upon these slimy little wrigglers to decompose organic matter and make it available again as new soil.

Let’s get to the main question which is why we’re here. There are many different types of worms and each one has its own diet, but do worms eat coco coir? Let’s find out! 

What Is Coco Coir? 

Coco coir is the fibrous husk from coconut plants that’s been broken down and compressed into a fiber. Hard to understand without a picture.

That probably helps you understand more. Connected to coconut shells, this material is often used for soil-less growing, hydroponic gardens, and substrate for planting marine aquariums.

Coco coir is also used as a natural and sustainable alternative to peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite depending on the application. Coconut coir is the byproduct of harvesting coconut milk.

The process begins with removing the coconut meat from the shell, grinding it into coconut meal, and mixing it with water to create coconut milk. The leftover fibre, called coir, is pressed into blocks and is therefore a very sustainable and eco-friendly growing medium. 

Do Worms Eat Coco Coir? 

Not all worms eat coir, but most do. When you’re thinking about worms eating coir, you’re probably wondering if plant matter is a part of their diet. The answer is yes and no. Some worms will consume plant matter, but most don’t eat coco coir. 

Coco coir is a great worm food, but it’s not the only thing worms eat. You can also feed your worms the scraps from your kitchen. Worms love bread, carrots, and lettuce – but they also eat things like citrus, potatoes, and avocados. 

Do Worms Like Coconut Coir?

Worms don’t just like coconut coir they love it! The moisture and texture of it makes it super worm friendly.

Is Coconut Coir Good For Worms? 

First off, coco coir is a great worm bedding. It holds moisture well and provides excellent ventilation while also keeping out harmful pathogens.

The porous nature of coco coir also allows it to be an excellent source of air for your worms. Coco coir is also a great worm food. This is especially true if you’re using a worm bin that doesn’t have much fresh organic matter in it.

Instead of feeding your worms nothing but coco coir, try adding some other organic matter like coffee grounds or vegetable scraps.

What Is Coconut Coir Bedding For Worms? Why Should I Use It? 

Coco coir is an excellent choice for worm bedding because it is both sustainable and easy to work with. It can be compressed, and when moistened, it expands and can be broken apart for easy harvesting.

Coconut bedding is also easy to compost when you’re done with it. Worms are actually very easy to care for, but you do need to feed them properly. If you only feed your worms coco coir, they’ll eventually die – especially if you don’t provide them with enough moisture.

If you want to grow lots of healthy plants without using synthetic fertilizers, worms are the way to go. Use coconut bedding along with other types of organic matter to nourish your worms and give them the food they need to grow healthy plants. 

Is Coconut Coir Worth Adding To Your Worm Compost?

As we’ve discussed, coco coir is excellent worm food. But it also has some great benefits for composting in general. Coco coir is a great source of carbon and has a very high C/N ratio (between 35-50).

That might sound like gibberish so skip that part if you don’t fully understand. It is also a very water-retentive growing medium, so it helps retain moisture and fertilizer.

Coco coir can also help balance out the pH of your compost. If you live in an area with alkaline soils, adding some coconut coir can help bring your compost’s pH down and make it more useful for plants. 

How Do You Add Coconut Coir To a Worm Bin? 

If you want to add coconut coir to your worm bin, you’ll need to make sure your worms are ready for it. Most worms are ready to eat and be in coco coir when they reach the “third stage” of composting. It’s not always easy to tell when your worms have reached this stage, though.

You can help your worms along by adding a lot of carbon-rich material to your compost – especially if you’re composting in a worm bin. Now that your worms are ready for coco coir, it’s time to add it to your compost.

The easiest way is to toss it in with everything else. If you want your compost to be ready more quickly, though, you can add in coconut coir separately. 

Here is a Quick Overview:

First, soak the coconut coir in water and squeeze it, like a damp kitchen sponge. Fill the worm composting bin three-fourths full with coir or a combination of coir and shredded paper or corrugated cardboard. Add a handful of soil to the coir. Place the worms on top of the coir and let them burrow and get used to their surroundings for a few days

Summary 

In conclusion, worms eat coconut coir because they love carbon-rich materials. Coco coir is also an excellent source of nitrogen and potassium, so it’s great worm food as well as bedding for their bins.

If you really want to care for your worms properly, though, you need to make sure they’re ready for coco coir. Once they are, simply toss it into your compost and watch it grow! 

author
DrWorm - Vermicomposting enthusiast and avid worm researcher for the last 25 years. Interested in what earthworms eat and how to farm and breed them. His garden wouldn't be the same without the help of mother nature's finest fertilizers!