Why Your Worm Bin Might Be Off—and How to Fix It Naturally
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Why Your Worm Bin Might Be Off—and How to Fix It Naturally
At Lumbri Worms & Garden LLC, we get this question a lot:
“Why are my worms acting funny—or why doesn’t my worm castings work as well as before?”
Believe it or not, the answer often lies in your soil’s pH, moisture, and the microbes living in your worm bin. These things are invisible, but they affect everything—from worm health to the power of your castings in the garden.
Let’s break it down in plain English.
🧪 The Problem: Things Get Out of Balance
Worms thrive when their bedding is moist (like a wrung-out sponge), the pH is neutral (not too sour, not too sweet), and the microbes in the bin are alive and thriving.
But here’s the problem:
- Too many coffee grounds or citrus peels = acid overload (worms hate that)
- Too dry or too wet = worms try to escape or die off
- Rotten smells = bad microbes have taken over
- Poor castings = your soil won’t get the boost it needs
🌿 The Solution: Keep It Balanced and Natural
Here’s how we keep things steady here at Lumbri Worms & Garden, and how you can do it too:
✅ 1. Keep Your Inputs Simple
Use a mix of:
- Veggie scraps (no citrus, onions, or spicy stuff)
- Shredded cardboard or newspaper
- Crushed eggshells (rinsed and dried)
Avoid heavy amounts of:
- Coffee grounds (limit to 20–25% of weekly feed)
- Citrus or acidic foods
- Processed or oily foods
✅ 2. Add Natural pH Buffers
- Crushed eggshells or oyster shell flour help balance acidity.
- Sprinkle a tablespoon every week per square foot of bin space.
✅ 3. Check Moisture Weekly
- Your bedding should feel like a damp sponge—no puddles, but not dusty.
- If it’s too wet: add dry bedding like shredded cardboard.
- If it’s too dry: mist with water (ideally rainwater or dechlorinated tap water).
✅ 4. Stir Lightly and Monitor Smell
- Gently turn your bin once a week to keep air flowing and microbes happy.
- It should smell like rich soil—not sour or rotten. If it does, stop feeding for a few days, fluff it, and add dry bedding.
🌱 The Result: Healthy Worms + Powerful Castings
Balanced bins lead to:
- Active, reproducing worms
- Rich, dark, crumbly castings
- A healthier garden and stronger plants
That’s why we say: Healthy bins make healthy soil
🛍 Want to Make It Easy?
We offer:
- Worm Chow designed for perfect balance
- Oyster Shell Flour for pH control
- Worm Castings made right here in Southern Maryland—tested, trusted, and full of life
Have questions about your bin? Need help getting your worm system back in balance?
📩 Reach out — we love to talk dirt!
Aya,
Founder
Lumbri Worms & Garden, LLC
951.833.4829