Hydrating the Coconut Coir for Your Lil' Wiggler Lab

Coco coir is a great bedding material for worm composting systems, but it does need to be hydrated before use. This is a relatively simple process that should only take about 15-20 minutes (especially if you break up the coir as it soaks up water). You will need about 3L of dechlorinated water (e.g. tap water left to sit for 24-48 hrs, distilled/deionized water, well water, or rainwater) for this task - but having 4L on hand will ensure that you have enough to get your living habitat mix to just the right “wrung out sponge” moisture level (be sure to check out our “Creating Living Habitat for Your Lil’ Wiggler Lab” video as well) . Using dechlorinated water helps to ensure that you won’t harm the helpful microorganisms in your mix, but if you only have access to regular tap water that should be OK too. IMPORTANT NOTE: It is common for coco coir to contain elevated salt levels (high EC), which can create issues for your worms if not rinsed out before use. Our coco coir (included in Lil’ Wiggler kit) is low-EC and can simply be hydrated, as demonstrated in the video.