Odor
- Make sure the worms have the right amount of food. If the worms have too much food to eat, the extra food may start to stink. Stop feeding them for at least a week and break up food chunks to allow them to eat what they have more easily.
- Keep the bin well ventilated. Gently fluff the bin with a gardening fork to break up pockets of anaerobic bacteria (the smelly type). Fluff each day and add loose bedding to the bin. Make certain your air holes are not blocked.
- Remove excessive moisture. If there is standing water in your bin, absorb it with dry bedding. Make sure the air and drainage holes are not blocked. Be careful not to add too much wet food to the bin with not enough bedding.
- Avoid meat, dairy and oily foods.
Fruit flies
- Add more bedding. This gives bacteria greater surface area and a better chance of increasing the rate of decomposition, preventing fruit flies from having enough time to reproduce.
- Make a fruit fly trap. Put apple cider vinegar or leftover red wine in a glass with a drop of dish soap. The flies are attracted to the smell, fall in the liquid and the soap prevents them from escaping.
Too hot or too cold
Excessive heat, above 90 degrees, or excessive cold, below freezing, can cause the worms to die.
If your worm bin is outdoors, insulate it during the heat of summer and the coldest part of winter with straw, brown leaves or other insulation. Moving an outdoor bin into the garage or shed will provide protection during hot or cold spells.