16-05-2008, 10:12 PM
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Registered User
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: May 2008
Posts: 4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by John T[_2_]
"dr" wrote in message
...
Cat(h) wrote:
On May 16, 2:29 pm, Zaf wrote:
Ive got one of those large bin-like composters and have been using it
for vegetable household waste for around 6 months , it has 3 layers
where you have moveable shelves so that once the top layer has got full
you can move it down to the second layer, and so on till the 3rd layer
is ready to use.
BUT...
Mine is a horrible slimy soggy mess, Ive been turning it religiously
every week and only putting in the things that are suggested.
what can I do to improve the situation? HELP!!
--
Zaf
Add shredded paper or newspapers. Try to layer wet organic stuff (veg
peelings, weeds, grass clippings, etc.) with dry stuff (paper,
cardboard, straw, that sort of stuff) on an ongoing basis.
I'm not sure I know what you mean with the various shelves, mine is
just a straightforward bottomless square plastic box, but when I found
I had your problem some years ago, I emptied out all the soggy mess,
and re-started layering it with paper. It was not the most pleasant
of jobs, but it sorted out the problem.
Cat(h)
Had exactly this problem in our new garden, moved house recently. The
previous occupants obviously thought the "dalek" based compost bin was
just
somewhere to dump grass cuttings. Hence one big nasty wet ball. Took the
bin off it all, broke it up. Put it back in the bin in layers of a few
inches of wet smelly grass and then cardboard and scrunched up paper.
Seems to be working, though it's early days yet. Probably have to do at
least one more turn before it'll settle down but hey that's what
composting
is all about.
What Zaf mentioned sounds more like a wormery than a traditional compost
bin, they tend to be multi-layered so the worms can be kept away from the
compost you want to use, and away from the liquid they generate.
Duncan
Never seen a composter with shelves, and wonder if these are causing a
problem?
If what you have is a wormery, then you need the instructions and the
correct worms! I believe you can get tiger worms from fishing tackle shops.
My three composters are like old fashioned (pre wheelie) dustbins, but with
no bottom, so the compost is in contact with good organic soil.
I keep mine wet, but have very free draining sandy soil. If the soil the bin
is standing on is not free draining (eg clay) you have a different problem.
You could put a layer of twigs and similar in the bottom to improve
ventilation, you need to have enough moisture to let the composting gremlins
do their work, but not too much, and not to drown them. Remember they are
living organisms of various sorts.
It could also be that your waste is producing the wrong conditions for
efficient composting, so if trying to dry it (by improving vntlation) doesnt
work, measre the Ph (try to borow a Ph meter, but they are not expensive in
garden centres. If it is too acid (Ph less than 6 or so) sprinkle some lime
on the heap. Adding manure, chicken manure pellets, or the likes of Garotta
can all help. A sprinkling of dried blood helps the reaction.
John |
thanks all, will try shredded paper and see if that helps - I think the design of the composter is from New Zealand, will try to find a link so it shows the design! Definitely not a wormery, I gave up with one of those after somehow managing to kill the worms not once but twice  fortunately the plants in the garden manage to survive my 'care' better than the worms did....
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