5 mistakes when composting: Avoid properly

Mistakes in composting often concern ventilation or incorrect compost. We show the five most common problems when composting and how to avoid them.

The own compost is a piece of independence. But quite a few compost heaps go moldy because something fundamentally wrong with their operation. We explain the most common mistakes when composting.

Composting is a multi-step process involving a wide variety of microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, insects and worms. The living conditions of this very diverse group of organisms determine whether, how and how well the composting takes place. Factors such as temperature, pH and the ratio of carbon compounds to nitrogen compounds influence the activity of the little helpers. We've summarized the five most important cornerstones of successful composting so that you don't make the following mistakes.

1. Compost too dry or too moist

Like us humans, the organisms involved in composting consist largely of water and can only survive and reproduce diligently in a sufficiently moist environment. Water is also necessary for dissolving, softening organic structures and transporting nutrients. If the rotting material – i.e. the habitat of the organisms – is too dry, all composting processes run very slowly or not at all. But even the opposite extreme is not an advantage and can be a mistake when composting: Too wet Pile contains too little oxygen for the aerobic (air-breathing) microorganisms that make up the majority of small beneficial insects turn off. In this case, too, they have difficulty in effectively promoting composting. To ensure that your compost is not too dry or too moist, you should observe the following points:

• A composter should be in a partially shaded, wind-protected location
• A composter must be open at the bottom, water must be able to drain away unhindered
• The compost must be protected from drying out by a cover
• In very dry, hot periods, a compost should be watered occasionally

2. Poorly aerated compost

It is not only due to too much water in the rotting material that there is a lack of oxygen in the compost heap. The type of material being composted also affects ventilation. If a lot of fine, moist and easily decomposable material is piled up, it soon collapses, Trapped oxygen is breathed out and veritable "death zones" for aerobics arise microorganisms. Therefore, regular shifting or careful alternation of fine with coarse material is an extremely important factor in avoiding mistakes when composting.

3. Compost too low in nutrients or too rich in nutrients

Different organic materials have different stability: Nutrient-rich, soft material is easily degraded, but nutrient-poor, stable material is hardly accessible to microorganisms crack. If only very stable, decomposition-resistant material ends up on a compost heap, its decomposition is very inhibited. In this case, with a universal fertilizer like ours Plantura organic universal fertilizer be helped a little. Conversely, with exclusively soft, nutrient-rich material, all structures are immediately broken down and mineralized into nutrients. However, there is hardly any material left over for the formation of humus molecules, and the compost loses a lot of volume. The end product is extremely nutritious and should be used as a fertilizer rather than as a soil conditioner. A mixture of stable, nutrient-poor material and soft, nutrient-rich material is therefore optimal.

4. Mistakes in composting: lack of beneficial organisms

Without composting organisms, no composting takes place. The no helpers can get into your compost in the following ways:

• The composter stands on open, vital soil from which organisms migrate
• The compost is "seeded" with the compost of a run-in heap
• A "compost starter" with permanent forms of living microorganisms is used

5. Using the wrong compost

Another composting mistake is using the wrong material. It should be very clear that only organic material belongs on a compost. Glass, metal, plastic or other man-made materials cannot be composted. Cooked foods, especially meat leftovers and dairy products, do not belong in the composter either. They attract rats or raccoons or are inhabited by unwanted guests such as maggots and fly larvae.

Because the shells of raw eggs can be contaminated with salmonella, these should also be excluded from composting. And to save yourself a lot of trouble, keep root and seed weeds out of the compost pile, too. When these germinate in and around the heap or continue to grow, they spread unwanted wild herbs throughout the garden via the compost.

If you are in detail with the topic composting would like to deal with, you will find our compost overview article here, which will take you to all special topics.