Composting can be a simple, natural way to turn kitchen scraps and yard waste into nutritious soil for your garden. While you may have heard that compost needs direct sunlight to work, that’s not actually true. You don’t need sunlight to create compost, but you do need adequate aeration, moisture, and temperatures for it to thrive. With just a few simple steps, you can create a healthy compost that will help to make your gardens and outdoor spaces look their best.
Does Compost Need Sunlight to Thrive?
Composting does not need direct sunlight to thrive, but adequate aeration, moisture, and temperature are essential. To ensure your compost stays healthy and productive, you should aim to create a compost pile with a balance of organic material and brown material like leaves, twigs, and cardboard.
Mixing these materials will help to provide aeration, allowing oxygen to reach the compost pile. You should also add water to your compost pile to keep it moist, but be careful not to make it too wet.
The temperature of your compost should stay in the range of 140-170°F. By taking these steps, you can maintain a healthy compost, without the need for direct sunlight.
It is also important to provide regular maintenance and upkeep to your compost pile. Turning the compost regularly will help to aerate it, and adding new material will also help to increase oxygen levels and kick-start the decomposition process. You should also be sure to keep the compost moist, as dry compost can cause a halt in the decomposition process. If you follow these simple steps, you can have a thriving compost pile regardless of the amount of sun it receives.
Adequate Aeration
Aeration is key for a successful compost; it helps keep the compost pile moist, prevents it from becoming too hot, and keeps it from becoming anaerobic. Without adequate aeration, you risk the compost pile developing bad odors and even becoming toxic.
To ensure your compost has enough aeration, you should turn or mix it regularly with a pitchfork or shovel. Not only will this help to keep the pile aerated, but it will also help to mix in different ingredients and keep all of the materials from compacting. Adding more air to your compost helps to speed up the composting process, so you’ll be able to use it sooner.
Adequate Moisture
To ensure your compost thrives, adequate moisture is paramount. If your compost pile is too wet, it will turn into an anaerobic soup and will become smelly and slimy. To avoid this, add dry materials like leaves or straw to your compost and make sure to mix it up to allow for air circulation.
Water your compost pile every few days or when it gets dry. Avoid over-watering and only add a few cups of water at a time.
Check the moisture level of your compost regularly with your hands.
If it feels like a damp sponge, your compost is just right. When adding water to your compost pile, use rain or filtered water as chlorine, which is commonly found in tap water, can damage or even kill beneficial microbes in the compost.
You can also add food scraps and water to a separate container and then add it to your compost pile when it is ready. This helps keep the moisture levels in check and prevents anaerobic soup from forming.
Adequate moisture is key to a healthy compost pile. Moisture is the key to providing the beneficial microbes with energy and keeping the anaerobic bacteria at bay. Take precaution with watering and be sure to monitor moisture levels regularly.
Use rain or filtered water and add it in small increments to avoid over-watering. With an eye on moisture, your compost should thrive.
Adequate Temperatures
Temperature is an essential factor in the composting process. You need to maintain the right temperature for composting to be successful. Higher temperatures help to speed up the process and make sure the compost is able to break down other materials.
If the temperature is too low, it can slow down the process and make sure the compost doesn’t break down as efficiently.
To keep temperatures at the right level, you should avoid putting the compost bin in direct sunlight. Try to find a place that provides enough air circulation and protection from the elements. You should also make sure the compost is regularly turning to help with aeration and moisture control.