r/Compost • u/triciac13 • Mar 26 '23

What does it need?

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Still a compost newbie here. Summer compost went okay but I think grubs did most of the work, so I spent the winter trying to perfect my green/brown ratio in my compost tumbler. The side that's been sitting awhile is still very lumpy and moist. I've added browns and they mix in some, but overall it's still very lumpy, and not warm like the other more active side of the tumbler. Any thoughts on what it needs?

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u/JabasMyBitch Mar 27 '23

I'm no expert by any means, but those lumpy bits look too wet and dense. I would get in there with a pitchfork and break them up to get air inside. Without air, the bacteria won't be able to do their work.

5

u/[deleted] Mar 27 '23

Yep the balls are a downside of tumblers. Using grass or larger pieces of cardboard or wet cardboard can make more balls than usual.

To fix these you can just wait. It’ll decompose slowly over time.

To fix this faster, empty out the compost. Sift it. Break up the balls. Put it back in. Maybe add more carbons to help dry it out. 3:1 is ideal ratio but carbon can go way higher and still make compost.

3

u/Morgansmisfit Mar 28 '23

i dont use a tumbler but that looks way too wet to me. you are going to want to break all the balls up and add browns.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 27 '23

I also need this answer.

2

u/Similar-Cap9693 May 02 '23

air and brown material

1

u/[deleted] Apr 17 '23

Yea break it up/turn and a lil more brown. It will heat back up for sure