Spigot + gasket for worm composter

The spigot + seal fits the leachate tray of your model: the WORMbox leachate tray and the Worm Café leachate tray are sold without a spigot, and the WORMgarden water collection base offers it as an option. Set under the spigot, our 1.1-quart (1-liter) leachate collector, with measurement markings and a pouring spout, catches the worm tea and shows you the right dilution before watering. One spigot for four models: WORMbox, WORMgarden, Magic Worm, and Worm Café.

Insert the spigot through the hole in the leachate tray with the gasket on the outside of the tray, then screw on the plastic nut on the inside, tightening it by hand only, with no tools needed. Position the spigot so that it points downward. The spigot and gasket install the same way on all four compatible models.

Yes, leave the worm composter spigot open at all times, with a container underneath to collect the worm tea. That way, the liquid doesn't stagnate, it doesn't seep back up and make the bin soggy again, and any worms that crawl down into the leachate tray won't drown. There's often no liquid at all during the first month, and a well-balanced worm bin produces very little.

All our tips: How and when to harvest vermicompost and compost tea

The worm tea collected through the spigot + seal, also called compost tea, is a natural liquid fertilizer that should always be diluted before use: mix 1 part tea with 9 parts water in your watering can, then water your plants as usual. Store it for no more than 3 months in a bottle that isn't airtight, and shake it before use to re-oxygenate it. The first compost tea usually flows from the spigot + seal after 2 to 3 months. You'll find all our tips in our guide: How and when to harvest vermicompost and compost tea