Hot composting is a great way to make lots of rich organic compost fast – typically 30 – 90 days. Hot Composting can take a wider variety of food waste types without causing issues. 70% of all household food waste is not added to ‘cold’ compost bins as it is likely to cause issues with odour, rats and flies.
Does HOTBIN compost work?
The HOTBIN is a compost bin which allows you to compost all of your food and garden waste in just 30-90 days. Reaching a high internal temperature of between 40-60°c, the HOTBIN provides the necessary environment, unlike traditional cold composting heaps, to break down a wider variety of waste more rapidly.
How long does it take to make compost in a HOTBIN?
What is HOTBIN? HOTBIN is an innovative hot composting bin that super heats your food and garden waste to between 40 and 60°c. Get organic crumbly mulching compost in 30 days and a rich mature general purpose compost in just 90 days.
What size HOTBIN composter do I need?
For the 200 litre HOTBIN Mk 2 you require approx. 5kg (10 litres) of waste, that’s one large or 2 small kitchen caddies per week. For the 100 litre HOTBIN Mini you require approx. 2.5kg (5 litres) of waste, that’s half a large or 1 small kitchen caddy full per week.
Are hot composters worth it? – Related Questions
Can I put coffee grounds in a HOTBIN?
We get quite a few questions asking if you can compost tea bags and coffee grounds in the HOTBIN. The answer is yes!
Can I put leaves in my HOTBIN?
Leaves can be stored and are great to mix in with easy to digest waste such as grass. If you have a large lawn and trees mix grass and leaves 50/50 by volume, then add into HOTBIN. This mix will get to 60oC and reduce rapidly enabling you to top up in 5-7 days.
How big of a composter do I need?
For a family of 1-4 people, we recommend a composter that will process at least 4.5 cubic feet. If you plan to add garden waste or yard trimmings, a capacity of 15 to 20 cubic feet would offer ample space.
Can you hot compost in a 5 gallon bucket?
How many bags of compost do I need per square foot?
How much compost do I need per square foot? Assuming you require a depth of one inch, you will need 0.08 cubic feet or 2.3 Liters of compost for every square foot of surface area.
How much compost do I need for a 10×10 garden?
If your garden in this case is 10 x 10 feet, you will multiply 10 by 10 by 0.25, which gives you the result of 25 cubic feet. Compost is generally sold in 1- or 2-cubic-feet bags, so when you get to the store, you know exactly what you need.
Can you add too much compost to soil?
While adding compost to your soil can increase soil organic matter and improve soil health and fertility, too much compost can cause problems for the health of your plants and the environment.
Should I mix soil with compost?
In vegetable gardens, compost not only adds a low level of nutrients, but it also adjusts the soil’s moisture- holding capacity, increasing the soil’s ability to shed or retain water. Potted plants, flower gardens, and new trees and shrubs all require specific ratios of compost to soil.
Can you grow plants in 100% compost?
Compost is one of the best garden amendments available. You can plant in straight compost, but I suggest incorporating it into your sandy garden soil or mixing it with other additives if you want to use it for container plantings.
How long does it take for compost to turn into usable soil?
Decomposition will be complete anywhere from two weeks to two years depending on the materials used, the size of the pile, and how often it is turned. Compost is ready when it has cooled, turned a rich brown color, and has decomposed into small soil-like particles. Step 5. Use the compost.
Can you reuse compost from dead plants?
So a common question is: ‘is it possible to re-use the soil / compost in pots’? The answer is most definitely YES. It will last for several seasons, at least, and perhaps even indefinitely.
Do dead plants make good compost?
Dead plants such as dead flowers and leaves are an excellent source of carbon in the composting pile. Therefore, in general, they should be composted.
What plants should not be composted?
It is more important to avoid composting plants that are toxic to other plants, such as eucalyptus, laurel, walnut and juniper.
What garden plants should not be composted?
What NOT to Compost
- Meat and Fish Scraps.
- Dairy, Fats, and Oils.
- Plants or Wood Treated with Pesticides or Preservatives.
- Black Walnut Tree Debris.
- Diseased or Insect-Infested Plants.
- Weeds that Have Gone to Seed.
- Charcoal Ash.
- Dog or Cat Waste.
What should not be composted?
DON’T add meat scraps, bones, grease, whole eggs, or dairy products to the compost pile because they decompose slowly, cause odors, and can attract rodents. DON’T add pet feces or spent cat liter to the compost pile. DON’T add diseased plant material or weeds that have gone to seed.
Are eggshells good for compost?
Let’s just start out by saying: putting egg shells in your compost is okay; they are a rich source of calcium and other essential nutrients that plants need.