🤲 Based on the real “squeeze test” every vermicomposter actually uses
Grab a handful of bedding, give it a squeeze, then match what you feel below — the handful illustration updates live to show you exactly where you stand.
Worms breathe through their skin and need moisture to do it. A dry bin causes worms to become sluggish, stop feeding, or migrate away from dry areas entirely.
Excess water pushes out oxygen, creating anaerobic pockets that smell bad and stress your worms. It's the single most common cause of a smelly bin.
60-80% moisture feels like a wrung-out sponge — damp enough for easy breathing, dry enough that airflow keeps everything aerobic and odor-free.
Moisture shifts with the seasons, your feeding habits, and the water content of what you're feeding — a quick squeeze test every week or two catches problems early.
Mix in a generous amount of dry, absorbent bedding — shredded cardboard, newspaper, or dry coconut coir all work well. Leaving the lid slightly ajar for a day or two to improve airflow helps too, as long as you're not in a very dry climate.
Usually one of three things: feeding very watery scraps (melon, cucumber) in large amounts, a sealed lid with no airflow trapping condensation, or blocked drainage holes if your bin has them. Watery food isn't a problem in moderation — just balance it with dry bedding.
Once a week is plenty for most established bins. New bins are worth checking a bit more often — every few days — until you get a feel for how quickly your specific setup dries out or holds moisture.
Yes — since worms breathe through their skin, they need it to stay moist to survive. A bone-dry bin can genuinely kill worms over time, not just slow them down, so don't treat dryness as the "safer" extreme.
A little — coconut coir tends to hold water more evenly than shredded cardboard, which can feel patchy (some handfuls wetter than others). Test a few spots around the bin rather than judging from just one handful.
Let tap water sit out for about an hour first if possible — this allows chlorine to off-gas, which is gentler on your worms. Filtered or rain water works immediately with no wait needed.
