It is a common misconception that a compost pile heats up because of the sun. Sure, if it is hot outside, the pile will be warmer than if it is cold outside, but the sun is not what causes a compost pile to hit the triple digits.
The microorganisms residing inside of the compost pile are [...]
Posts Tagged ‘nitrogen’
Rotline Question of the Week: If it is cold outside, will my compost bin still heat up?
Posted in "Rotline" Question of the Week, tagged "Rotline" Question of the Week, compost, compost bins, Composting, decomposition, greens, Heat, hot composting, mesophiles, microorganisms, nitrogen, psychrophiles, Temperature, thermophiles on November 17, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
“Rotline Question” of the Week: Composting Pumpkins?
Posted in "Rotline" Question of the Week, tagged "Rotline" Question of the Week, browns, compost bins, Composting, greens, home composting, nitrogen, pumpkin, pumpkin composting, vermicomposting, worm bins on October 30, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
It is pumpkin season, but now that you don’t need your carefully carved pumpkin any more, don’t throw it away! Pumpkin is a great addition to both your compost and worm bin!
To add pumpkin to either bin, it is important that it is broken down into smaller pieces. Chop, cut, or saw the pumpkin into [...]
Rotline Question of the Week: Can you have too many greens in your compost pile?
Posted in "Rotline" Question of the Week, tagged "Rotline", "Rotline" Question of the Week, browns, carbon, carbon to nitrogen ratio, compost, compost bins, Composting, food scraps, greens, Heat, nitrogen, odor, Temperature on September 10, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Sometimes, composters find themselves lacking in browns (carbon rich materials like straw, mulch, shredded paper, etc.) and having a surplus of greens (nitrogen rich materials like kitchen scraps, coffee grounds, freshly cut grass, etc.). But is it bad to have too many greens? What happens if you have too many greens in your compost bin?
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“Rotline” Question of the Week: Is hay or straw best for my compost?
Posted in "Rotline" Question of the Week, tagged aeration, browns, carbon, compost, compost bins, Composting, greens, hay, Heat, Master Composters, nitrogen, soil amendments, straw, Temperature, weeds on August 4, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Hay is considered a nitrogen source, or a green, and can be added to your compost bin. Because hay often has weed seeds in it, make sure that your bin is reaching a hot temperature, 100 – 140 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are passively composting and not achieving high temperatures, you can bag the hay [...]
“Rotline” Question of the Week: Do I need to sift my compost?
Posted in "Rotline" Question of the Week, tagged "Rotline" Question of the Week, carbon, Composting, curing compost, finished compost, nitrogen, potting mixes, screening, sieving, sifting, using compost on April 28, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Sifting or screening compost helps remove sticks and other materials that have not broken down. These materials are often rich in carbon which can drain the nitrogen from your plants if added directly. Sifted or screened compost is also less bulky and makes it easier to combine with other amendments in customized potting mixes. In [...]
“Rotline” Question of the Week: How can I improve the quality of my compost?
Posted in "Rotline" Question of the Week, tagged "Rotline" Question of the Week, C:N ratio, carbon, compost, nitrogen, sustainability on January 13, 2009 | 2 Comments »
Does your compost pile smell, even though you know it shouldn’t? Is your compost not turning quickly in spite of your close watch and care? A simple yet frequent cause of both problems is that the carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N) in your compost is not ideal, which can hinder proper digestion and [...]
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