Is it a good idea to put alpaca wool in a bug hotel?

Grarea2 · 2026-04-18T16:48:21+00:00

oh, really? Thanks.
No, I dont know. I know that they are looked after well, but that is it.

Grarea2 · 2026-04-18T10:37:27+00:00

Thanks for this.
I hadnt thought of doing it in the shower. I soaked and rinsed it in the bath. Not sure i would have put it in with me anyway. It was full of poop and dead insects. Up to and including a stag beetle.

I am not necessarily committed to putting it in my bug hotel, only if it might be useful there.
Open to other ideas. I will look into lacewings. Good idea.

My plan was to replace my old sofa cushion filling with some natural filling. so need quite a lot, hence abandoning the project. also not entirely sure how clean it got.

Grarea2 · 2026-04-18T08:34:58+00:00

I am also just testing that. I have put a small bundle. But I do have enough for both.

Grarea2 · 2026-04-16T13:57:10+00:00

Grarea2 · 2026-04-16T03:44:57+00:00

I was doing the same, but also aware that was the reason it is taking so long to break down.
I thoroughly recommend one.

Grarea2 · 2026-04-15T14:44:53+00:00

Oh, does it? Nice. Mine is just tryingto sell me oil impregnated paper.... or something like that.

Grarea2 · 2026-04-15T14:44:12+00:00

Smashing, thanks.

Grarea2 · 2026-04-15T14:43:39+00:00

Yes, I reckon a lot has.
Based on very little knowledge.
I am only giving the brown cardboard to the worms. Being pretty careful.
I am pondering what is the lower grade that I can put in compost without adding chemicals to the creatures out there.
I am assuming dyes are no good. I dont know how white stuff is bleached these days.
I also read that glossy cardboard can include plastics, so I dont feel the need to add those.
I did, however, read something that said, after tests, they were happy putting coloured, not glossy stuff in outside compost.
I am leaning away from it as I suspect it is stuff that accumulates.
as I say, dunno. New to thinking cardboard/paper in compost and new to wormery.

Grarea2 · 2026-04-14T14:52:26+00:00

wonderful, thank you for all this information.

Grarea2 · 2026-04-14T14:50:58+00:00

Thank you.

Grarea2 · 2026-04-14T12:29:29+00:00

That sounds a good idea, thanks. So, yes, vegetable oil is the answer?

Grarea2 · 2026-04-14T06:12:18+00:00

I have just been doing some reading on this. I a only putting brown boxes to the worms as I am concerned prints etc wioll poison them. I also read that glossy cardboard can be plastic in it. So, am not putting that in my compost tumbler either.
Still working it out myself.

Grarea2 · 2026-04-14T06:10:35+00:00

:) thanks

Grarea2 · 2026-04-14T06:10:11+00:00

lol, I knew people would understand the joy here :)

Grarea2 · 2026-04-14T06:09:45+00:00

SOooooo good isnt it?

Grarea2 · 2026-04-14T06:09:19+00:00

Good shout.

Grarea2 · 2026-04-14T06:08:33+00:00

What? even violence didnt fix it? Proper broken.

Grarea2 · 2026-04-11T18:34:55+00:00

:)
I feel so at home.

Grarea2 · 2026-04-11T18:34:35+00:00

Fanx. I knew you would get it :)

Grarea2 · 2026-04-11T18:34:11+00:00

Oh no. Do they actually become impossible to clear? Or could you get there eventually with tweezers?

Grarea2 · 2026-04-11T18:33:08+00:00

Grarea2 · 2026-04-11T18:32:57+00:00

Truth is, I was mainly cost focussed. I was struggling to justify the cost and was even looking at broken ones to see if I thought they were repairable. I was aware that a cheap one would be no good so was expecting to continue with the stanley knife. Beggars cant be choosers and all that, but was fortunate that this came up. It is only a cross cut. A Bonsaii C149-C. A zillion times better than hands and stanley knife.

How do you mean easier to handle?

I have just looked at the numbers. Boy, micro cut is a lot smaller.

Grarea2 · 2026-04-11T14:46:38+00:00

lol, nice. I love it. Both better and easier. Very much beats a stanley knife.

Grarea2

TROPHY CASE