Quick worm-bin help

Something wrong? Start with what you see and smell.

Find the likely cause of bad odors, flies, escaping worms, excess moisture, heat, or food that is not disappearing.

Helpful tip

Check moisture and temperature before adding anything. Small, targeted changes are easier on your worms.

Find your problem

Choose the symptom you notice first.

Most worm-bin problems are easy to correct when you catch them early. Start with smell, temperature, moisture, and what changed recently.

What you notice	What may be happening	What to do first
My bin smells bad	Too much wet food or not enough air	Stop feeding for a few days, gently fluff the top, and mix in dry shredded cardboard.
Worms are trying to escape	The bin may be too hot, wet, acidic, or low in air	Check temperature and moisture first, then correct the uncomfortable condition.
I have fruit flies	Food is exposed or building up faster than worms can eat it	Remove exposed scraps, bury new food, and cover the surface with dry bedding.
I see tiny white mites	The surface is very moist and food-rich	They are usually harmless helpers. Feed less and let the surface dry slightly.
My bin feels hot	A large pile of fresh food is heating as it breaks down	Remove the hot food pile and add future meals in smaller pockets.
Food is not disappearing	The bin may be cool, dry, overfed, or still building its worm population	Pause feeding, check moisture and temperature, then change one thing at a time.

Help your worms now

Move worms toward cooler bedding and remove the pile of food that is heating up.

Stop feeding, remove standing liquid, and mix in plenty of dry shredded cardboard.