By the end of this lesson: you will protect worms from heat and cold while adjusting expectations.

Composting worms perform best in moderate conditions similar to a cool room or sheltered garage. Aim for a broadly stable range around 15-25°C where practical. Activity slows in cold conditions, while heat can become dangerous quickly, particularly in black plastic or direct sun.

In summer, move bins out of sun, increase shade and airflow around the container, reduce large fermenting feeds and check the centre temperature. Frozen bottles can be used as an emergency measure, but wrap them and avoid creating one freezing wet patch.

In winter, insulate the sides, reduce feeding to match slower processing and protect the system from freezing. Deep, healthy bedding is more resilient than a thin wet layer.

Top TIp – Manage the wormery temperature, not the weather forecast. A sheltered bin can remain stable while an exposed black bin overheats on a mild day.