Wet and smelly worm bins

A healthy worm bin smells of fresh forest soil, not of rotting food. If your bin smells sour or bad, or water is pooling at the bottom, it is almost always one of two things: too much food at once, or too much moisture with too little air. Mould on the food is a sign of the same thing, and it’s usually harmless.

The fix is simple and doesn’t need any products: stop feeding for a week, mix in plenty of dry shredded cardboard, and open up the bedding so air can get in. Keep an eye out for thrushes and other birds, which may take advantage of the open bin. Within days the smell is gone, and your worms will thank you.

Below are my articles on wet, soggy and smelly worm bins, including the questions readers have sent me over the years.

My free Worm Bin Checklist includes the moisture “squeeze test” I use every week.