· If you live in an environment that is hot for a good portion of the year, such as Florida or Texas, install your worm bins with an eye toward keeping them as cool as possible. Placing your worm bins or compost bins in the right spot is the first step in keeping worms cool in summer. Most composting worms are best kept in the 72°-80°F range. And the accepted conventional wisdom is that worms will be fine between 55°F and 90°F. You may envision a bell curve where the peak performance of the worms is at 72°F. You might expect a slow and symmetrical decline in performance in either direction like the image below. This is NOT repre...See full list on urbanwormcompany.com#1: Do NothingYou read that correctly. If you’re on my e-mail list, you may remember an e-mail I did about keeping a worm bin warm in winter. Part of this post dealt with the concept of the natural insulating properties of a large worm bin. While the outside temperatures are a big deal, what really matters is the temperature inside your vermicompost. A nice, large full worm bin will provide a damping effect against temperature extremes due to thermal mass, ie, the ability of the material to absorb and stor...#2 Keep Your Worm Bin In a Shady, Ventilated AreaThis is kind of a no-brainer, but if your bin is subject to direct sunlight, you’re going to have a much tougher time keeping it cool enough. Get it into an area where it won’t experience direct sunlight, especially in the middle of the day. Also, try to place it in an area with plenty of ventilation to draw excess heat away from the bin. Believe me, I have many Urban Worm Bag customers who experience great results on shaded porches in Texas.#3 Reduce the FeedingThe introduction of nitrogen-rich food waste into your worm bin can stimulate microbial activity which can raise temperatures in your bin. I’m not talking about preventing full-on thermophilic hot composting. I’m talking about the mild increase in temperature that occurs after a rich feeding. To reduce the risk of sending temps into the high-90s in hot weather, consider dialing back your feeding which will dial back the microbial activity. And no….you will not starve your worms. You could sto...See full list on urbanwormcompany.com“Work with nature” is a common mantra in composting circles and in most cases, that mindset can lead you to success with vermicomposting. But if you’re working with a manmade worm bin, then sometimes you need manmade help to harness the natural wonders of worms. So there’s no shame in using air conditioning, fans, solar reflectors, frozen ice bottl...See full list on urbanwormcompany.comView allDec 9, 2024 · Learn how to start worm farming in hot climates like South Texas! Get tips on worm care, bin setup, feeding, and managing heat for a thriving worm farm. Whether you're raising worms for composting, bait, or God knows why else, this is the place for discussion. Common topics covered are setting up new worm bins, getting high-quality vermicompost, making vermicompost tea, or common problems encountered when raising worms. · Worms may freeze to death in cold weather, but they can pose a threat in warmer weather if left unattended. Working with nature to produce a cooler atmosphere in the worm compost bin is an exercise in the natural air conditioning while caring for worms in hot weather. Worm farms can indeed thrive in a tropical environment, but there are some important considerations to keep in mind before you begin. On the positive side, the tropics offer much warmer conditions than many other parts of the world, thus making it possible to keep your farm active all year long. Hey there, fellow greenthumbs and compost connoisseurs! It’s Ian here, your guide to mastering the art of vermicomposting, especially for those of us feeling the burn in those hotter-than-hot climates. Most composting worms are best kept in the 72°-80°F range. And the accepted conventional wisdom is that worms will be fine between 55°F and 90°F. You may envision a bell curve where the peak performance of the worms is at 72°F. You might expect a slow and symmetrical decline in performance in either direction like the image below. This is NOT repre...See full list on urbanwormcompany.com#1: Do NothingYou read that correctly. If you’re on my e-mail list, you may remember an e-mail I did about keeping a worm bin warm in winter. Part of this post dealt with the concept of the natural insulating properties of a large worm bin. While the outside temperatures are a big deal, what really matters is the temperature inside your vermicompost. A nice, large full worm bin will provide a damping effect against temperature extremes due to thermal mass, ie, the ability of the material to absorb and stor...#2 Keep Your Worm Bin In a Shady, Ventilated AreaThis is kind of a no-brainer, but if your bin is subject to direct sunlight, you’re going to have a much tougher time keeping it cool enough. Get it into an area where it won’t experience direct sunlight, especially in the middle of the day. Also, try to place it in an area with plenty of ventilation to draw excess heat away from the bin. Believe me, I have many Urban Worm Bag customers who experience great results on shaded porches in Texas.#3 Reduce the FeedingThe introduction of nitrogen-rich food waste into your worm bin can stimulate microbial activity which can raise temperatures in your bin. I’m not talking about preventing full-on thermophilic hot composting. I’m talking about the mild increase in temperature that occurs after a rich feeding. To reduce the risk of sending temps into the high-90s in hot weather, consider dialing back your feeding which will dial back the microbial activity. And no….you will not starve your worms. You could sto...See full list on urbanwormcompany.com“Work with nature” is a common mantra in composting circles and in most cases, that mindset can lead you to success with vermicomposting. But if you’re working with a manmade worm bin, then sometimes you need manmade help to harness the natural wonders of worms. So there’s no shame in using air conditioning, fans, solar reflectors, frozen ice bottl...See full list on urbanwormcompany.comView allDec 9, 2024 · Learn how to start worm farming in hot climates like South Texas! Get tips on worm care, bin setup, feeding, and managing heat for a thriving worm farm. Whether you're raising worms for composting, bait, or God knows why else, this is the place for discussion. Common topics covered are setting up new worm bins, getting high-quality vermicompost, making vermicompost tea, or common problems encountered when raising worms. · Worms may freeze to death in cold weather, but they can pose a threat in warmer weather if left unattended. Working with nature to produce a cooler atmosphere in the worm compost bin is an exercise in the natural air conditioning while caring for worms in hot weather. Worm farms can indeed thrive in a tropical environment, but there are some important considerations to keep in mind before you begin. On the positive side, the tropics offer much warmer conditions than many other parts of the world, thus making it possible to keep your farm active all year long. Hey there, fellow greenthumbs and compost connoisseurs! It’s Ian here, your guide to mastering the art of vermicomposting, especially for those of us feeling the burn in those hotter-than-hot climates. · Learn how to start worm farming in hot climates like South Texas! Get tips on worm care, bin setup, feeding, and managing heat for a thriving worm farm. · Worms may freeze to death in cold weather, but they can pose a threat in warmer weather if left unattended. Working with nature to produce a cooler atmosphere in the worm compost bin is an exercise in the natural air conditioning while caring for worms in hot weather. Hey there, fellow greenthumbs and compost connoisseurs! It’s Ian here, your guide to mastering the art of vermicomposting, especially for those of us feeling the burn in those hotter-than-hot climates. Whether you're raising worms for composting, bait, or God knows why else, this is the place for discussion. Common topics covered are setting up new worm bins, getting high-quality vermicompost, making vermicompost tea, or common problems encountered when raising worms. Worm farms can indeed thrive in a tropical environment, but there are some important considerations to keep in mind before you begin. On the positive side, the tropics offer much warmer conditions than many other parts of the world, thus making it possible to keep your farm active all year long.
