Received Composting Worms in the Mail. Now What?

Here’s a simple step-by-step guide on what to do after you received composting worms in the mail—ideal for beginners:

After you have received composting worms, Open the package immediately

• Open your worm shipment as soon as it arrives.
• Avoid leaving it in the sun, hot cars, or cold porches.
• The worms should appear active and wiggling — that’s a great sign of health.
• If they seem dry or sluggish, gently moisten the bedding before placing them in their bin.

Check and Moisten the Bedding

• Touch the bedding — it should feel like a wrung-out sponge.
• If it’s too dry, mist it with dechlorinated water (let tap water sit for 24 hours).
• Never drench; worms breathe through their skin and need oxygen.

Prepare a Cozy Worm Bin

Received Composting Worms, before introducing your worms, ensure the bin is set up and ready:

• Add moist bedding — shredded paper, cardboard, or coconut coir work best.
• Mix in a handful of aged compost or garden soil to add microbes.
• Bury a small handful of fruit or veggie scraps in one corner.
• Keep the bin between 55–77°F (13–25°C) in a shaded, well-ventilated area.

If you need guidance, check out our post
How Many Composting Worms Do You Really Need?

Introduce the Worms Gently

• Dump the entire contents of the bag — worms and bedding — onto the surface of your bin.
• Spread them out evenly and leave the lid open with a light on for about an hour.
• This encourages them to burrow down naturally.
• After they settle, replace the lid and let them rest.

Wait Before Feeding More

• Give them 2–3 days to adjust before adding new food.
• Start small — a few tablespoons of chopped scraps once a week.
• Avoid citrus, spicy foods, onions, and dairy products.
• If food remains after a few days, reduce feeding amounts.

Monitor, Feed, and Maintain

Healthy worms will burrow, eat, and leave behind fine, dark compost.
Keep bedding moist, not wet, and add fresh bedding every few weeks.
If it starts to smell or mold appears, mix in dry paper or cardboard.
Your worms will soon establish a healthy rhythm of eating and reproducing!

Bonus Tips from Delta Worms, Received Composting Worms

• If your worms arrived in hot or cold weather, acclimate them indoors for 24 hours before binning.
• To boost performance, try a pinch of Worm Chow once or twice a week.
• Combine your castings with our 80/20 Compost + Vermicast Blend for nutrient-dense soil in your garden.
• Further resource, Oregon State University Extension services

Received Composting Worms and now You’re Part of the Solution

Each pound of worms diverts hundreds of pounds of food waste from landfills every year.
By vermicomposting, you’re helping restore the soil food web — one bin at a time.