WORMcube Worm Composter

Yes, the WORMcube works just as well indoors as on a balcony or patio, and its recycled plastic is suitable for outdoor use. A few guidelines:

• keep it sheltered from rain, which would waterlog the bedding;
• keep it in the shade, never in full sun, and somewhere cool during heat waves;
• cover it or bring it inside when the temperature drops below about 23 °F (-5 °C).

The WORMcube's compact size is a real advantage: it's easy to bring inside when the weather turns. Worms work best between 59–77 °F (15–25 °C).

All our tips: How do you protect your worm composter from cold and heat?

For the WORMcube, plan on 8.8 oz (250 g) of worms for 1 to 2 people and 1.1 lb (500 g), or about 1,000 worms, for a household of 3.

There's no need to add more: worms breed on their own and adjust their population to the space and food available. Place them all in the first tray on moist bedding, and wait a few days before feeding them in small handfuls. A larger starting quantity simply gets your WORMcube worm composter up and running faster.

All our tips: How do you set up your worm composter, step by step?

The WORMcube comes with a lid, 2 or 3 trays, a leachate tray with a filter frame, 3 anti-drop filters, 4 feet, our vermicomposting guide with detailed instructions, and an online video training session.

You'll need worms if you didn't order them with your bin, bedding (coconut fiber or cardboard), and a square hemp mat. Made in the Czech Republic, the WORMcube worm composter is our only model made from 100% recycled colored plastic: slight variations in shade or small specks are normal and make each piece unique. 2-year warranty; replacement trays and filters available.

In the WORMcube, your worms eat about half their body weight in food scraps every day, sometimes as much as their full weight: 1.1 lb (500 g) of worms can digest about 8.8 oz (250 g) of scraps a day. Their population doubles every 3 to 4 months, then adjusts to the space available. Designed for a household of 2 to 3 people, the WORMcube worm composter takes care of your food scraps in a size that fits on a countertop.

Bonus: your cardboard, paper, and egg cartons get recycled too, in equal parts with the food scraps, and it's this balance that prevents odors. Depending on the household, that's 30 to 50% less organic waste in the trash can.

All our tips: What can you feed the worms in your worm bin?

To get your WORMcube off to a great start, we recommend:

• our Eisenia composting worms: 8.8 oz (250 g) for 1 to 2 people, 1.1 lb (500 g) for 3 to 4 people;
• a 9L coconut fiber block as starter bedding;
• our square hemp mat, sized to fit, laid on the active tray;
• extra WORMcube trays if your amount of food scraps grows;
• our WORMcube filters (pack of 3), so you always have a spare filter on hand.

To get everything at once, our Pack of 5 essential accessories includes 2 square mats, WormFood, RegulaWorm, WORMboost, and a mini rake.

All our tips: Which accessories for your worm composter?

When the first WORMcube tray is three-quarters full, place the next one on top, clipped onto its frame, and add your fresh food scraps to it along with the hemp mat. The worms will make their way up to the fresh food on their own.

When all your trays are full, harvest the bottom one: move it to the top under a light, with the lid off, and scrape off the vermicompost in thin layers, waiting 5 minutes between each one. Conveniently, the compact size of the WORMcube worm composter means you can do the whole job right on your countertop. Extra trays, frame included, are available.

All our tips: How and when should you harvest vermicompost and compost tea?

The WORMcube worm composter produces two natural fertilizers for your plants:

• compost tea (worm tea), after about 2 to 3 months: the WORMcube's sealed filter keeps the worms on top, and a slight tilt is all it takes to pour it out through the spout, no spigot needed. Dilute 1 part tea to 9 parts water;
• vermicompost: first harvest after 3 to 6 months, then roughly every 1 to 2 months. Use 30% vermicompost to 70% potting soil; it keeps for 2 years.

Find all our tips in our guide: How and when should you harvest vermicompost and compost tea?