Worm Farming In The Winter (Cold months ahead) –
You may have been worrying about, how will my worms do in the winter? Do I need to do anything for them? Or can I just leave them how they are? Well, I’m going to try to explain everything you should do for your red wigglers in the wintertime further down, don’t worry it’s nothing tough I promise, in fact, it’s almost the same!
I’m going to start off by saying if your temperature is under 40 degrees move them to a warmer location as soon as possible. If your worm’s bedding (or especially the worms themselves) freezes they will not survive, I would say this is the most critical thing you should worry about when it comes to winter worm farming. Remember red wigglers are not accustomed to extreme cold or heat. They like the same temperatures we prefer as humans.
When I said to move them somewhere warmer if you moved them inside that’s just perfect, if you already had them inside that’s even more perfect! I go more in-depth into worm farming indoors and why it can be better in a lot of ways here. When indoors you really don’t have much to worry about, as it really minimizes a lot of the risk involved with cold weather. Just remember to make sure your red wiggler worms get plenty of air circulation and oxygen, you also want to always keep their bedding moist (but not soaking wet).
If your red wiggler worms are outside, then don’t worry I still have a few great strategies involved in minimizing the risk to your worms in the wintertime.
Red wiggler worms slow down under 60 degrees temperature, meaning they eat less, meaning your worm food can build up quickly, leading to a dangerous increase in bad acids. These acids are what can make a worm farm smell, and what can lead to a failed worm farm. The acids that are created from rotting foods are too acidic for worms and can and will kill them if concentrated enough. That being said, just give them less food! Don’t give them foods that rot if you expect they won’t or can’t eat it in time, instead give them paper bedding! Paper is made of cellulose and won’t go bad as a vegetable or fruit will, but the worms will love it as bedding and food. The paper bedding will keep them warmer, and provide them with an ample food supply. We have also noticed in our own populations that they prefer paper bedding for egg production. We offer paper bedding suitable for worms here.
Other than that really just using common sense, and by following this as a guideline, I guarantee that your worms will live, and will thrive through the winter months!
And don’t worry when summer comes, you can bet we are going to show you how to properly care for your worms in the heat!
Let us know if you have any questions about your vermicompost and live red wigglers, any time of the season, down below in the comment section, don’t forget to subscribe to our email list to never miss an awesome offer, or a cool in-depth article!
What Should I Do If It Snows During Extreme Temperature Drops And I Have An Outdoor Colony?
Snowfall is one thing a worm colony shouldn’t be exposed to I’ll give a few tips below –
- During snowfall or during extreme cold fronts cover your red wiggler bins with a cloth or tarp, this will trap warmth, provide insulation and most importantly prevent snow from reaching your worm farm – this helps prevent a mass colony death due to a sudden freeze.
- Reduce the amount of water given to a colony during freezing months, this will prevent ice build-up in a colony, combine this with the first tip above.
- Provide extra bedding for your worms, the more materials the better, this gives your red wigglers a place to get away from the extreme cold, as well as providing more necessary insulation, remember – the deeper your worm bin goes, the better, during cold months.
- Move your worm farm indoors if it’s possible whenever cold weather approaches, this is the easiest and best method of protecting your worm farm. You may find your worm colony flourishes when you switch to indoor worm farming, this is because the temperatures we like, are perfect for worms, 68-78 is optimal for your wormy friends, and reproduction efforts will multiply when indoors due to this temperature change.
Following these suggestions can reduce your chances of failing at worm farming, all because of some cold weather. Subscribe to see more worm farming articles in the future!