To do that we need to foster an environment that supports the fastest microbes. The correct combination of air, water, carbon, and nitrogen will create the environment you need to nurture those microbes. An imbalance of any one or a combination will lead to a struggling compost. Your pile is struggling to breathe, but why?
For optimal composting, we want to encourage the faster aerobic life forms. You can also use a rotating compost tumbler to keep things aerated with little effort Read more in our article, Compost Tumblers vs.
Compost Bins. Stinky smells are a good indicator that your compost pile is too wet and has gone anaerobic. A number of factors can cause this condition: lack of aeration, too much water, or an imbalance of carbon to nitrogen.
Without air, the material becomes stagnant and rancid. Address by immediately turning your pile and add some fast-decomposing, deciduous sawdust or fine carbon material like chimney ash. Repeat as necessary. Brown green balance is a term used to describe the ratio of two necessary elements needed in the decomposition process: carbon and nitrogen. Microbes prefer a carbon to nitrogen C:N ratio of to do their best work.
The greens are nitrogen rich materials like grass clippings, kitchen waste, or manures. A good rule of thumb when eyeballing your compost is two browns to every green.
If the brown leaves are not breaking down, add half as many greens to the pile. Mix in and soak thoroughly. Excessive nitrogen can cause your compost to heat up very quickly and even spontaneously combust, which becomes an obvious fire risk. Compost fires are extremely rare and are more likely to happen in industrial-sized compost piles. Your pile may still get hot, however, and the other problem with a hot pile is that it can burn or kill your plants if not allowed to cool for a period.
Turn pile frequently, adding water and browns to cool it down. Do not apply compost to your plants until cool. Bins also come in handy with preventing rats and other rodents from targeting your compost. So, should I add water to my compost bin? If your compost bin is too dry, you should add water. Too much water can deprive the pile of oxygen hence enable harmful microbes to thrive. These microbes are known to produce an array of unpleasant smells in such conditions.
Too little water can hurt your compost as well. It will take more time than expected for your pile to decompose. Read on to find out more about compost moisture levels. Water is a key parameter in making compost. Microorganisms responsible for breaking down organic matter in your compost pile need water for the same reason all living things do. A steady supply of water helps the organisms to thrive, thus achieving rapid composting.
Water also helps in regulating the temperature of the pile. Temperature, just like water, plays a significant role in determining the success of composting.
To maintain conditions conducive to the composting process, the pile should not surpass degrees Fahrenheit. Excessively high temperatures can cause the beneficial organisms to die off. If turning the pile does not dissipate or lower the heat to at least degrees Fahrenheit, water may be needed. Coarse material is especially helpful in this situation, as it increases the porosity allowing water to drain out and air to flow in.
The shape of a compost pile has an important effect on moisture content. Scooping out the top of the pile to create a concave shape will maximize water absorption, so that rainfall can help replenish the moisture that is lost from the piles as steam.
However, if the pile is overly saturated, anaerobic odors and leachate will be produced. Therefore, in prolonged wet conditions, the pile should be shaped to form a peak that will minimize absorption by shedding water.
Both of these shapes are illustrated. Advanced Search. Help Categories. What Can I Compost? Recent Posts.
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