How do you make hot compost? The term "hot composting" refers to a method in which microbial activity within the compost heap is optimised, resulting in finished compost in a much shorter period of time. It requires special equipment, as well as time and diligence. But if you are determined to have the compost ready in time to cover your garden, it may be worth trying.
What is compost?
Composting by definition is a biological process in which the microorganisms present in organic substrates break down and alter organic matter, converting it into a humic substance. This triggers an explosion of microbial activity and generates the heat we are looking for.
The optimum temperature within a hot compost pile is between 55°C and 80°C. That heat will allow us to kill weed seeds and pathogens within the heap, which is a real advantage for us.
You will never find meat or fish among the ingredients, as these rot and, on the contrary, we are looking for decomposition.
How do we create heat?
To generate high levels of heat, we need to make a large pile of at least one cubic metre, all at once, soaking the brown layers with water as we build it up. What we are looking for is the balance between what we chemically call carbon and nitrogen. Carbon would be all the brown matter, that is, leaves, grass, straw, animal manure, and the nitrogen part would be the green matter such as kitchen scraps of vegetables, fruit and produce that we have at home.
We will alternate layers of brown and green matter, wetting them and covering them quickly so that the chemical reaction happens fast. The amount of green matter will be three times less than the brown, to find that stabilisation.
In general, the most common thing is for people at home to make cold compost, as it does not require as much care and you can add small amounts of ingredients from time to time. Cold compost piles can also heat up, but they rarely reach the necessary range of 55 to 80 °C. For that reason, it is best to keep weed seeds and diseased plant material away.
It is less essential to keep turning and maintaining a cold compost pile continuously. If you build the layers correctly, one or two turns will usually be enough over the course of a few months. Making cold compost takes much longer, from 3 to 6 months depending on the season, but if you are careful and have several piles created throughout the year, you will always have compost ready to use.
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compost
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hot composting
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DIY
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gardening
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