“Why Aren’t My Composting Worms Eating?”

“Why Aren’t My Composting Worms Eating?”

It might seem like your composting worms are ignoring the food scraps—but the truth is, they’re working in ways you can’t always see.

Here’s what’s really happening:

Worms don’t eat fresh food scraps right away. Instead, they rely on microbes and bacteria to start breaking the food down first. As those microbes multiply and the scraps begin to rot, that’s when the worms move in. What they’re really after is the bacteria growing on the decomposing material—not the fresh banana peel itself, but the microbial buffet it becomes after a few days.

That’s why:

Food can look the same for a while—especially if it’s dry, cold, or lacking moisture.

Worms may not be visible—they prefer dark, moist zones and may hang out at the bottom or in the bedding.

You might think nothing is happening—but under the surface, decomposition is underway.

Tips to help the process:

Chop or blend scraps to speed up microbial activity.

Cover the food with bedding to retain moisture and reduce odors.

Be patient—your worms are slow but steady workers!

In short: they’re not being picky—they’re just waiting for their dinner to get good and funky.