Brandling Worms

All About Brandling Worms (Eisenia fetida): The Garden’s Best Friends.
If you’re into gardening or composting, you’ve probably heard of Brandling Worms. These little wrigglers may not look very exciting, but they’re superheroes when it comes to turning waste into rich, healthy soil.

What Are Brandling Worms?

Brandling worms (also called red wigglers, Eisenia fetida) are a type of earthworm. They’re small, reddish-brown, and have faint yellowish stripes. You’ll mostly find them in compost piles or manure, not deep in the soil like regular earthworms.

Why Are They Special?

Brandling worms are composting champions! They:

Eat food scraps and organic waste
Poop out castings (a.k.a. worm poop), which are rich in nutrients
Help create natural fertilizer for your plants

In short, they turn trash into treasure!

What Do They Eat?

These worms love:

Fruit and veggie peels
Coffee grounds
Tea bags
Crushed eggshells
Shredded paper

They don’t like:

Meat or dairy
Oily or spicy foods
Citrus in large amounts
Plastic or anything artificial

Where Do They Live?

You can keep them in a worm bin or vermicomposting system. It’s a box with bedding (like shredded newspaper) where they can eat, sleep, and make compost. Keep it moist (not wet), dark, and cool — 15–25°C (59–77°F) is just right!

How Do They Help the Garden?

The worm castings are like black gold. They:

Improve soil health
Help plants grow faster
Keep pests and diseases away

Even just a few handfuls can boost your garden!

Fun Fact!

Brandling worms don’t like light. If you shine a flashlight on them, they wriggle away quickly to hide!

Final Thoughts

Brandling worms may be tiny, but they make a huge difference. If you want to reduce kitchen waste and grow healthier plants, starting a worm bin might be the perfect step!

Got food scraps? Let the worms take care of it.

1. Desert Animals Info – https://animalsandbirds.com