Adding Bokashi to a Worm Farm: Do Worms and Bokashi Mix?

What Is a Bokashi Worm Farm?

A Bokashi worm farm combines two composting methods: Bokashi fermentation and vermicomposting.

Bokashi composting ferments food scraps using anaerobic microbes in an airtight container.

Vermicomposting uses red wigglers and aerobic microorganisms to decompose organic matter into worm castings.

 

Why Combine Bokashi and Worm Farm Systems?

My complete honest opinion is that it doesn't make too much sense to combine them, just do one or the other - vermicomposting being a better method in my humble opinion.

However, there is one main reason I would consider combining these: Bokashi can be used to ferment foods that the worms can't normally eat, such as meat and dairy products, bread, cooked food, etc. After the bokashi process, it may be edible for the worms to finish the full decomposition process.

 

How to Add Bokashi to a Worm Bin

If you’re new to adding Bokashi to a worm bin, follow these simple steps:

1. Ferment first. Wait 2–3 weeks until your Bokashi bucket contents smell lightly pickled.
2. Dig a trench. Create space in your Bokashi worm bin by pushing bedding aside.
3. Add small portions. Experiment first with only a cup or two.
4. Mix fermented Bokashi scraps into the trench.
5. Cover it. Top with 2–3 inches of bedding (paper, coco coir, or compost).
6. Go slow and watch to see how the worms handle it. Add more as you build confidence with how the worms will respond to it.

Adding something to neutralize the acidity, such as lime or eggshells, will help the bokashi become worm edible quicker.

 

Bokashi and Vermicomposting: Managing Acidity

Fresh Bokashi is anaerobic and acidic, which is great for fermentation, but the worms prefer aerobic and neutral pH.

So to keep your Bokashi and vermicomposting system balanced:

Add pH buffers, like eggshells or lime, as needed.

You may want to invest in pH test strips.

Pay extra attention to the vermicomposting basics.

 

Feeding Composting Worms Bokashi: Best Practices

For a healthy Bokashi worm bin stick to the basics:

Keep it moist but not soggy.

Add carbon-rich materials (cardboard, shredded leaves) often.

Mix in small Bokashi batches rather than dumping a large load.

Drain excess liquid to prevent anaerobic conditions.

These steps help maintain airflow, microbial balance, and worm comfort.

Creating Nutrient-Rich Bokashi Vermicompost

Over time, your Bokashi worm farm will produce a dark, crumbly Bokashi vermicompost — nutrient-dense and teeming with beneficial microbes.

Use it to:

1. Enrich vegetable gardens and raised beds
2. Brew compost tea
3. Revitalize houseplants and soil mixes

Bokashi and worms together give you compost that feeds plants and rebuilds soil biology.

 

FAQs: Bokashi and Worms Explained

Can I put Bokashi directly into my worm bin?
Yes, but only after it’s finished fermenting for at least two weeks. Add in small amounts and always cover with bedding.

Is Bokashi too acidic for worms?
Initially, yes. That’s why you should add Bokashi slowly and balance pH with eggshells or lime.

What food scraps can I use in a Bokashi worm farm?
Most kitchen waste works — including cooked food, meat, and citrus — once it’s been Bokashi-fermented.

How long before I get usable Bokashi vermicompost?
Typically 2–3 months, depending on bin size, worm population, and feeding frequency.

 

Final Thoughts: Why Bokashi and Worms Are the Perfect Pair

Bokashi and worms create a complete, odor-free, low-waste composting system that can handle a greater diversity of inputs.