The Difference Between Hot, Cold, and Warm Compost Piles

No matter how much time you have, there’s a composting style for you

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No matter how much clock time you have ( or the length of your care duad ) , there ’s a composting dash for you . “ red-hot ” or “ fast”compostis precisely what it sounds like ; core temperatures can straddle from 113 ° F to 160 ° degree Fahrenheit . “ Warm , ” or “ hybrid , ” compost does n’t get as spicy or break down as chop-chop , but it ’s respectable and necessitate very little attention . Then again , if you just need to toss it and bury about it , that work just as well , although the fabric will take the longest amount of clip to decompose .

All three composting styles need four constituent : equal amounts of greens ( grass trim , kitchen scraps , etc . ) and John Brown ( dried leaves , straw , etc . ) , as well as piss and oxygen . Compost cumulation will be their best if they ’re built touching the bare ground . Naturally occurring micro and macro organisms will quickly be take out to your pile , which is exactly what it needs to get thing ready . All types will take air and water also .

There are several way to keep air in a pile , but the wanton means is to deform it . you may use a pitchfork and turn the pile over , or move the plenty from one place to a spot decent next to it . It should be turn once or twice a week — or never depending on how fast you ’d like it to break down . It ’s how you balance the basic four ingredients — greens , Brown , wet , and oxygen — that shape whether you have a hot , stale , or warm ( intercrossed ) compost pile .

Hot-composting tips

Cold-composting tips

Warm (hybrid) composting tips

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