Glossary

From WormWiki

Aerobic

The desired form of decomposition in which oxygen is present

Anaerobic

undesirable process of decay that occurs then insufficient oxygen is present which usually generates a foul smell in your worm bin

AVCT

Aerated Vermicompost Tea

Bedding

Moist material in which can help maintain fluffy and oxygenated surroundings in which the worms live and feed.

Castings, VC

Worm poop - vermicast

EF

Eisenia fetida*/Eisenia andreii - red worms, red wrigglers. Most commonly used worm for vermicomposting in the US. Tolerant of large changes in temperature and pH.

EH - ENC

Eisenia hortensis (European nightcrawler)

Leachate

The liquid in the drain bin, vegetable matter is 85-90% water, pour into the garden but not directly on plants. Many people incorrectly refer to this as worm tea.

OM

Organic Matter

PE

Perionxy Excavatus. Indian (or Malaysian) Blue Worms. Smaller than EF and not suitable for fishing bait. Reproduce rapidly and consume OM rapidly. These worms don't tolerate cold temperatures but work well in the southern parts of the US and in tropical regions.

Pot Worm

Tiny white worms that may inhabit extra moist and slightly acidic worm bins. Also called White Worms.

VCT

Vermicompost Tea or Worm tea, a liquid with a very high concentration of beneficial microbes made from steeping vermicompost in water with air bubbling through it for a day or two.

Vermicompost

What's usually harvested from a bin. Includes vermicast (pure worm poop) plus small bits of organic matter. These are often bits of bedding that clumped together and didn't get completely processed. To get vermicast, businesses strain the vermicompost and/or let the worms process it twice.

Vermiponics

A somewhat automated cyclic system in which plants grow in a particle-based medium, such as gravel or clay pellets, flooded with water enriched with nutritrients from the process of vermicomposting.