You should water your compost as needed to keep it consistently moist, like a damp, wrung-out sponge (a few drops should come out when squeezed), adjusting frequency based on weather; aim for about once a week or every couple of weeks, but more often in hot, dry weather and less in cool, damp conditions, ensuring it's not soggy or dry, as both slow decomposition.
Using pee: a how-to guide. Keep in mind that urine is very high in nitrogen. You may need to pee daily, but your plants don't need your daily pee. Choose plants that need lots of nitrogen, such as corn and squash, tomatoes and cucumbers during their fruit-bearing stage, and older plants that need a boost.
Make sure your compost has the right moisture level--it should feel like a wrung-out sponge. If the pile is too wet or too dry, the biological processes slow down. The temperature of the pile also matters; it should get hot as the microbes work, indicating active decomposition.
here are four things. that you never wanna add to your compost bin. number one. diseased plants. this can introduce disease into your compost. we definitely don't want that. number two. weeds that have gone to seed. we don't want these sprouting. in our compost bin. number three wood ash. wood ash increases the ph ...
When it comes to using compost, it's generally recommended to mix it into the topsoil rather than leaving it as a separate layer. This allows for better integration of nutrients throughout the soil and promotes healthy root growth for your plants.
Forgetting the Balance of Ingredients
Indoor composting still relies on a mix of “greens” and “browns.” Too many food scraps turn into a wet mess, while too much paper or cardboard slows the process.
While adding compost to your soil can increase soil organic matter and improve soil health and fertility, too much compost can cause problems for the health of your plants and the environment.
Toilet paper rolls are made from cardboard, so they are compostable! As long as these rolls aren't contaminated, they're a great addition to your compost bucket. Plus, it's a simple and easy solution to dispose of them.
Breaking Down Composting and Understanding the Basics
However, compost can only effectively improve soil quality if the organic stream remains clean. When non-compostable materials, such as conventional plastics, glass, metals, and produce stickers end up in the compost mix, they can easily derail the entire process.
Composting, the 3 R's: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
The "3 R's" have become the rallying cry for the garbage reduction, and composting fits into each of the R's. By composting, you reduce the amount of garbage you throw out, you reuse the materials, and you recycle the nutrients back into the soil.
It is recommended you start with ample browns. Browns are dry, making them easy to collect and store. Greens are usually wet and do not keep long, so periodically add them as they are produced in your household.
If you have access to an 'elsan' or chemical toilet disposal point, toilet or greywater drain, these are also ideal for emptying into. Never pour urine into a canal or waterway – over time, it has the potential to promote excessive algal growth, which can lead to eutrophication (lack of oxygen) of the waterway.
Urine contains important nutrients for plant growth, including carbon, phosphorous, potassium and nitrogen, and when handled properly, it makes a darn fine plant food.
No, October is generally not too late to fertilize; in fact, it's often an ideal time for the final fall application to promote deep root growth before winter, as long as the ground isn't frozen and the grass has significantly slowed its top growth. This late feeding sends nutrients to the roots for winter survival, ensuring a healthier lawn in spring, but it should focus on potassium and phosphorus rather than quick-release nitrogen to avoid stimulating new blade growth.
After the pile reaches around 80-90 degrees Fahrenheit, you want to stop adding greens and limit the amount of browns so that the compost can cure. Keep turning the piles regularly to add oxygen. If you have two bins, you should fill one completely, then start filling the second.
Some things, like grass cuttings and weeds, rot quickly. They work as 'activators', getting the composting started. Older and tougher plant material is slower to rot, but gives body to it, and usually will make up the bulk of your compost heap.
You should not compost onions, garlic, and citrus peels in large amounts (they're too acidic/repel worms), diseased plants (spreads illness), Black Walnut tree debris (toxic juglone), and any vegetables cooked with oils, fats, dairy, or meat, as these attract pests and disrupt the balance, but many vegetable scraps like peels, stalks, and leaves are great for compost.
Banana peels are packed with potassium, phosphorus, and calcium — nutrients that are essential for plant growth. They decompose quickly, making them a fantastic addition to your compost pile. Plus, by composting peels instead of tossing them in the trash, you help reduce landfill waste.
Eating any food while on the toilet is forbidden. After defecating, the anus must be washed with water using the left hand, or an odd number of smooth stones or pebbles called jamrah or hijaarah (Sahih Al-Bukhari 161, Book 4, Hadith 27). Many jurists agree that toilet paper suffices in place of these stones.
Paper cartons are compostable!
If you have a home compost, rip up your paper egg carton into small pieces and add it in! These cartons are made from paperboard, which works as a “brown”, carbon material to help the pile break down more quickly.
Plumbers often advise against Charmin because its plush, thick, multi-ply versions don't dissolve quickly, leading to stubborn clogs, especially in older pipes or septic systems, unlike thinner papers that break down easily and allow for smoother flow. While great for comfort, Charmin's durability and high absorbency make it prone to clumping and buildup, creating blockages that can cause significant plumbing problems and costly repairs.
The best time to apply fall fertilizer is typically from late September through early November, once daytime temperatures cool but before the ground freezes. A slow-release granular fertilizer works best, especially one with a balanced nitrogen content.
As a rule of thumb, actively decomposing materials should be turned every three to four days. Materials with slowed microbial activity can be turned less often.
Almost all bugs are beneficial to find in your compost. Critters like grubs, snails, millipedes, and worms are decomposers that eat organic scraps and help speed up the decomposition process. Other arthropods, like earwigs, isopods, and crickets, are omnivorous and will also feed on compost pile scraps.