compost/composting.

[canadianplant]

Compost is apperantly very good to put around your bamboo, and to mix in the soil. Im assuming that this should be done in spring?? or after the new shoots have grown in a bit.

But, im more interested in composting myself. Making the compost pile is easy. But I just have a few questions

1)Does it matter if the heap is in sun or shade?
2)what is the minumum temp that composting takes place?
3)I know the top should be covered, and it needs air. So there should be some air holes on the bottom or top?

Thanks

[lucky1]

Hi, I'm into compost and vermiculture (worms)...got a new batch after the others died last year.

Compost--and compost tea--is great, doesn't burn, can be applied any time of year.

My compost is one of those black plastic two-part "domes", a lot of cities have a compost program where you can buy them cheaper to encourage people to recycle kitchen waste. There should be air holes in the side to allow air, but not too much.



A composter should be in the sun...to heat up consistently, add enough moisture to get them "cooking".
Composters in the shade take too long to finish compost.

You can even buy "compost accelerator" that helps start the process but I've never used it.

Just remember to layer carbon items (black /n white newspaper pages, soaked) between layers of veggies, coffee grounds, etc., even sprinkle some garden soil between layers, mix it up).

We're in a hot (desert-dry) area so I have trouble keeping mine moist enough.

I also have a small "worm farm" in a bucket in my garage with red wiggler worms to work on kitchen garbage when it's too cold outside for the regular composter to be working.

People often build their own composter, either out of slats of wood, even pallets, or wire.
Finished compost--obviously--is at the bottom, so it helps to have two piles going, transferring "unfinished" material into one pile, versus having both piles unfinished.

You can put "slimy" too wet compost into a burlap sack, suspend it in a garbage can with a rope, and fill the can with water.
That "compost tea" is great for all plants.

Let us know your progress, canadianplant!

Barb

[canadianplant]

The warm weather right now has me twitiching fer summer lol. I orderd some more bamboo, and want to start composting ASAP. Half of my beds are now snow free, so I can get to all the dead plant matter, and I ALWAYS have fresh supplies of veggie scraps ( we eat salads like people drink water).

One of the BEST things ive ever used for my indoor plants, but ti works for outdoor plants as well, is to used your aquarium water from a water change. The water is HIGH in notrites and phosphates, as well as oxygen. My houseplants ( especially my musa acuminata ( banana)) and plams went NUTS!. I THink im going to steal some of my grandmas pond water as some fertilizer this year.... LOL

[lucky1]

Yes aquarium water is an excellent source of nutrients for plants.
Steve (KNNN) has good results from his aquarium.

I don't have an aquarium, but have fish in a couple of outdoor ponds.
My goldfish are still sleeping on the bottom, I think.

Don't forget to collect coffee grounds from all your friends (or Starbucks) for your compost...great material.

Leaves should be chopped into small bits by a lawnmower before adding to compost bin.

Barb

[canadianplant]

My grandma has a 20 or 30 000 gallon pond... Ill see if I can post a pic.... her fish have survuved every year, except the year we got NO snow LOL. Theyll survuve

Ahh coffee grounds, ya its awsome:d, even ust for plants in general....

and ya, the lawn is gonn aneed a rake n a mow in the next 2 or 3 weeks here lol

[lucky1]

What a beautiful pond, thanks for posting it.
Nice and natural looking.

I'm going to look for some water plants this year.
Last year, my water lilies were left in the pond too late and froze.
And Egyptian Papyrus didn't like the full sun...that surprised me.
It's still alive in the cold building, but just barely.

Barb

[TerdalFarm]

Don't get me started on compost! Being farmers, we use a diesel tractor to help with composting chores. I suspect I do more damage to my garden with too much compost that is not-quite-composted-enough than I do from anything else. --Erik

[canadianplant]

Tendral..... were you near that storm yesterday??