When Your Compost Isn't Heating: Steps to Take

Composting is an integral part of gardening that is used to increase the fertility of soil. Sometimes, a compost pile does not heat up for a variety of reasons. In this article, the issue will be elaborated on in detail.

raised garden bed

Common Problems and Solutions

1. Dry Compost Pile:

  • Problem: If the compost pile becomes too dry, then the activity of living organisms within it will be slowed and there will be failure to heat up the pile.
  • Solution: Add water to the compost pile so it is moist but not drenched.

2. Wet Compost Pile:

  • Problem: On the other hand, if it is too wet, it will become anaerobic and hence disrupt microbial activity.
  • Solution: Add the dry brown materials to the pile and turn it over to allow more airflow.

 3. Not Enough Material:

  •  Problem: The compost pile does not have enough material to increase the temperature to a hot composting level.
  •  Solution: The compost pile should be one cubic yard in volume, or 0.76 cubic meters, so enough heat is produced.

 4. Uneven Material Distribution:

  • Problem: You have too little green and brown, which creates an imbalance in the compost pile, meaning it cannot heat properly.
  • Solution: Combine green materials (for example, food scraps) and brown materials (for example, straw) together uniformly.
raised garden bed

Steps and Methods

1. Monitor and Turn the Compost Pile:

  • Check the interior of the compost pile using a long thermometer, and if it has gone below 100°F, turn it.
  • Turning the pile over, making sure that materials from the outside are brought in towards the middle and those from the center are relocated to the outside.

 2. Adjust Moisture:

  • If the compost pile is very dry, sprinkle each layer of material lightly with a hose.
  • If the compost pile becomes too wet, you need to add dry brown materials and keep turning to increase aeration.

 3. Add More Materials:

  • Increase the number of brown and green materials in your compost pile by adding them in equal measure.
  • Layer the materials, with green and brown alternating.

4. Wait and Monitor:

  • After turning and adjusting the compost pile, leave it for 24 hours and check the temperature again.
  • The temperature should raise to around 120°F to 160°F or 49°C to 71°C, which would mean that the pile becomes active or hot state of composting.

Moisture levels, material distribution, and size of the compost pile play a major role in solving the cold compost pile. The need for regular turning and proper maintenance of moisture and airflow is a requirement to keep the temperature of the pile high. Hopefully, these practices will get you on the right track to manage your compost successfully.