Ideal temperature range for Red Worms
Question from a reader:
Hi, I live in sunny Arizona,
where the temps can get upwards of115 F during summer,
What would be the max temp the worms could survive?
Thanks, Sandra
I don’t think you will have to worry about that in the winter, but its good you’re thinking ahead to next summer. The red worms can handle a wide range of temperatures but are most active when kept at their ideal temperature range 70-90 degrees Fahrenheit.
As for the extremes:
You can successfully keep worms in temperatures in excess of 100 degrees F, but special care is needed. Most importantly, the worms will need to be kept in the shade. During the really hot days, I recommend that you keep the worm bedding extra moist to allow for evaporation. This will help cool off the worms. Some people even freeze water bottles and put them in plastic bags on top of their worm bins during the heat of the day, then re-freeze the bottles overnight and place them out again the next day. These measures only need to be taken when the temperatures are well above 100 F.
On the other hand, we are now entering winter and keeping the worms warm is essential to keeping them alive. The red worms can handle temperatures near freezing and still survive. During the winter months the worm bedding should be dryer than normal and an extra layer of bedding and food should cover them. Keeping the worm bed dry will help prevent the worms from freezing and the extra food/bedding will provide insulation and heat. If you are raising your worms in a moveable container, I would recommend bringing them inside to a basement or garage.
The red worms are a very resiliant breed of worms and should be able to survive most weather conditions if proper care is taken. Even if you are unable to save your worms from the trechourous weather in your area, don’t dispare just yet. The coocons from your worms are even better suited for surviving tough conditions and may come back to life in the spring.
Tags: redworms, temperature range, weather, worms
Basic Worm Care | admin December 29, 2009