Frequently Asked Questions:

What’s Wrong with My Farm?

    Sometimes we can be doing everything right, but things just don’t turn out the way they’re supposed to. There are a few problems that can arise with your worm farms, but they can be rectified! We’ve got some common problems for worm farms and different ways to tell that something may not be quite right.

Something Seems Off...

    There are some signs that something may not be quite right with your farm. One thing that tends to happen is worms will try to escape. They’ll be climbing up the walls or going through the drainage holes to get to the lower bins. This can be an indication for a number of issues, so it’s a good way to tell that something is off. If you see more than 8 worms on the lid or in the bottom of your farm, it's a good sign something is off.

    This next indication is a bit more obvious. If you notice your worm farms are really smelly, then there’s a good chance that the worms notice it as much as you. This is an issue not only for your worms, but it can also attract vermin or unwanted insects, especially if your worm farm is outside. Stop feeding them food scraps and switch to more brown foods like shredded leaves so the worms have time to eat the rotten food that’s in there. This leads into one of the next issues we’re going to cover.

Overfeeding

    Just like humans, worms can have too much food to get through. Worm farms should be relatively odorless, so if you’re starting to smell rotting food and getting an extreme amount of fruit flies, that means you’ve probably been overfeeding your worms. Like we mentioned above, stop feeding them food scraps until the smell dissipates.

    You also want to avoid overfeeding because if you have too much compostable materials in your farm, there’s a chance that it may begin to break down, increasing the temperature of the worm farm. Since worms like it cool and damp, the increased temperature will actually kill them. If you notice any steam or the worm castings feel warm to the touch, that means composting has begun. If this happens, don’t add anything to your farm. You can cool it down by putting in some ice packs or cold bottles of water. This is also a good tip if you have an outside farm that’s going through an exceptionally hot summer. 

Moisture Control

    Since worms like it damp, they need access to some type of moisture. There’s a chance your farm could be too wet or too dry, so it’s important to keep an eye on a few things. If you notice a lot of liquid in your bottom farm bucket, that’s a good indication that your farm probably has too much moisture. A little bit of liquid is to be expected, but if it starts to collect, then the farm is too wet. Switch to drier foods and try to stay away from melons or berries. You should also add some extra bedding to draw out some of that liquid.  

    If you have little white worms in your farms, that’s a definite moisture control issue. These worms are known as pot worms, and that means your farm is way too wet. If you check your farms fairly regularly, about once a week or so, you should be able to avoid getting to this point. The same advice applies though. Switch to more brown foods and add extra bedding and avoid adding overly wet food. 

Not Enough Bedding

    Worms may be fleeing your farm because there isn’t enough bedding for all of them. If you want your population to continue to increase, it’s important to make sure that there’s enough paper shreds, or newspaper or cardboard for them to lay their cocoons. So, if you notice that your worms are in your bottom bins or you haven’t seen a lot of baby worms in your farms, add in some extra bedding.

Too Much Bedding

Just like with too little bedding, the same thing can happen when it comes to too much bedding. Having too much can dry out the farm and your worms. They breathe through their skin, so having moisture is important for happy worms!

Over Population

    Another reason your worms may be falling through the bottom is they don’t have enough room to lay their cocoons. If you have plenty of bedding but worms still want to escape, there’s a good chance your farms are getting too crowded. You’ll start to notice less baby worms and cocoons in your farms. This is the worms way of telling you it’s time to expand! If you have a smaller farm like a 5-gallon bucket, this will happen faster than having a tiered system, tote bin, or continuous flow system. Your worms will start to produce again once you separate them into a new farm. 

 

Not Enough Air

    Another issue people can run into is not having enough air in their farms. For the worms to be able to breathe through their skin, they need moisture and a little bit of air flow. Most farms have air holes, but if you are making your own farm be sure to make sure you have just a few drill holes at the top to help with air flow.

Liquid in the Bottom of My Worm Farm is "Worm Tea"

    One issue we see a lot is people thinking that the liquid in the bottom of their worm farm is this wonderful thing known as worm tea. However, it's actually a collection of all the things your worms are not digesting. Also known as leachate, this liquid is a mystery mixture of bacteria and all sorts of things we would not want to eat. Leachate is often smelly because it's an anaerobic liquid, which means the best thing to do with it is pour it on a flower bed or any plants you won't be eating. Those plants will still enjoy it, but the leachate cannot be used for human consumption.

 

I'm Going on Vacation, What Should I do for My Worms?

    I get this question a lot, and there are a few different options you could do. If you have a pet or house sitter, see if they'd mind feeding your worms while you're gone. This would be a best-case scenario, but more often than not, you probably won't have someone who's super comfortable digging through the farms. Another option you can do it give your farm some extra food and bedding before you leave, that way they'll have plenty while you're gone. If you are going away for a more extended trip, like a few months, it would be a good idea to give them a mix of some foods that will break down a bit slower and some that will break down faster. That way there will be food for them to eat right away, and once that's gone the larger food items will be good to go later. 

Why are My Worms in a Big Ball?

    This is something you really want to see in your farm! This big worm ball is all of the worms mating and making more worms. If you see a worm ball, just know you are one of the lucky ones--it's a sign that you have some happy, healthy worms! The best thing to do when you see this is to leave them alone and just let them do their thing.