5Troubleshooting
Subpods are easy to maintain and shouldn't become smelly or attract pests. If a problem does arise try one of these solutions.
These tiny, annoying flies indicate acidity. Usually due to excess food (especially fruit/sugar) rotting before your worms can eat it. Only feed worms as much as they are eating, chop up or blend food scraps, and don't let it build up more than 3-5 cm.
Stir through plenty of dry garden scraps and air, then cover your worms with a worm blanket, old cloth, shirt, towel or damp newspaper.
Place a small bowl of old wine or vinegar and a few squirts of dish soap next to your Subpod overnight. This will attract and trap the vinigar flies.
Tangy Smells:
A tangy smell usually means your compost is too acidic, often from overfeeding or poor airflow. Mix in plenty of dry garden scraps and aerate well. You can also sprinkle a tablespoon of ash, dolomite, or baking soda to help balance it.
Putrid Smells:
Putrid smells often come from excess animal products. Remove them if you can, or cover with a little soil. Be more cautious with animal scraps in the future.
Boggy Smells:
Boggy, fart-like smells mean your Subpod is saturated and not getting enough air. Stir in dry garden scraps and check drainage. If your Subpod is in a low or flooded spot, relocate it, or if you’re on heavy clay, add some potting mix.
Check that you still have plenty of living worms. Worms may not eat mouldy food, so you may need to take it out. Only feed your Subpod as much as your worms can eat. Give them time to breed, then gradually start feeding them more. Add more worms if needed. Note worms naturally slow down in winter.
Ants or cockroaches indicate your Subpod is too dry. Water your Subpod with a hose or large watering can then gently stir to chase them out without hurting the worms. Keep you Subpod moister and more stirred ongoing. Consider reducing dry garden scraps, especially large items like broad leaves, twigs and bark. Remember to include old tea, drinks and rinse water from your scraps container.
This usually means your Subpod got more meat or dairy than it could handle. Remove any offending items if you can, then stir in and lightly bury any maggoted areas. Be more careful with animal products in the future!
Stop feeding your worms for a week and just add wet newspaper. Check there are no holes allowing mice to get in. Peppermint oil and coffee grounds outside of the Subpod may deter vermin. Try adding extra coffee grounds to your Subpod, and avoid grains and meat for a time.
Did you know?
Subpods aren't just home to worms. You'll see lots of other creatures that are part of a healthy ecosystem, including spring tails, soldier fly larvea (look like maggots but bigger darker and thicker skinned) earwigs, mites as well as billions of microorganisms like fungi and bacteria you can't see at all! They all work together to turn your food nd garden scraps into garden gold.
Apartment Worm Farming
Be a good neighbour
A well-balanced worm farm won't smell or attract vermin, but an overloaded or too-wet one can. If your farm is on a shared balcony or common area, it’s important to keep the mix of food balanced (not too much of any one kind) and not over-feed your worm farms. Check them a few times a week, especially in the early phase until participants are confident.
