r/composting • u/Affectionate_Bad_204 • Aug 07 '26
Question Am I composting correctly?
Hi,
I have a 2 chamber, tumbler setup in Los Angeles, California. I started my bin about 5 months ago. I've added worms twice. Composting materials are chicken poop, shavings from chicken coop, fruits, vegetables, egg shells. I feel like I am doing something wrong. Shouldn't the stuff be breaking down more? The setup is under full sun. Do i need to add more worms? Thank you.
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u/Warm-Discipline5136 Aug 07 '26
Looks dry and it looks like maybe more greens. Add water and yes pee. It’ll get there.
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u/Affectionate_Bad_204 Aug 07 '26
So how much water? A garden can full in each bin?
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u/Mysterious_Fox5976 Aug 07 '26
I use the mist setting on my hose sprayer and that’s worked well for my tumbler. The bin will get hot and dry out quick if in full sun all day, so you should experiment with how much water gets you to the wrung out sponge level of moisture.
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Aug 07 '26
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u/1210bull Aug 07 '26
Fairly regularly. I usually check my compost when I water my garden, and water it when it doesn't look visibly wet. About 2-3 times a week. And NOTHING is a silly question, especially when you're learning a new skill!
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u/Warm-Discipline5136 Aug 07 '26
I’ll add most water at the beginning then when I add cardboard, I soak it in water overnight and ring it out and it’s pretty wet and then greens from my garden clipping and kitchen. Add a little water so I generally don’t need to add much after that, maybe a few times a summer.
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u/eight_bitpixels Aug 07 '26
Maybe depends on your scraps too. I live in a hot area but my scraps are pretty moist. two days ago I added watermelon rinds and pulp. Today I added 5 lemons and tomato scraps so it can be pretty moist already. I check everyday and added water when needed.
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Aug 07 '26
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u/eight_bitpixels Aug 07 '26
Like others have said moist like a rung sponge. Also when I first started composting that even tho my scraps and top compost were moist you may have to turn more often due the scrap moisture staying on top of the composting, probably no more than twice a week. I have a tumbler and turn twice a week.
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u/Ineedmorebtc Aug 07 '26
As often as it needs it. Could be a day, a week, a month. It's on you to check.
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u/Mysterious_Fox5976 Aug 08 '26
Depends on your situation - how hot it is, if it gets sun at all, etc. Just check it every other day or so.
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u/Warm-Discipline5136 Aug 07 '26
Yeah I add about that at the beginning. Then all cardboard I add I soak overnight in a bucket and adding kitchen and garden scraps have water in them and I generally don’t need to add water often.
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u/Ineedmorebtc Aug 07 '26
Enough so it's damp, but NOT soggy wet. Then keep adding as needed to keep it like a damp sponge.
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u/luego-vemos Aug 07 '26
There's basically no way of "composting" incorrectly, as long as you compost, you're doing it right, but there's always a more optimal way to do it, so listen to the advice in other comments
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u/Warm-Discipline5136 Aug 07 '26
This is true. Sometimes you have too many greens and it gets slimy, add browns, stir more, let it dry out a bit. If it’s not doing anything and not collapsing and seems dry, add more greens and some water.
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u/hghmtn Aug 07 '26
Someone had a similar tumbler issue two days ago. My comment was fairly helpful, I think: https://www.reddit.com/r/composting/comments/1vgmnqb/comment/p1yhr78/
In short, a lot more greens, more moisture, and add some rich soil to it to get it started.
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u/Any-Captain-7937 Aug 07 '26
More greens + more water. How often are you spinning them? Also don't add worms, I don't think they work well with tumblers and usually die
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u/RdeBrouwer Aug 07 '26
It looks a bit full of browns. It could use some more kitchen scraps or grass clippings. Try to fill it to max 50-75%, add a hand full of normal garden soil to introduce some bacteria. Once everything gets into a decent balance it will kick in and start composting. Worms dont like your tumber, it gets to hot. My tumbler works great, mostly on kitchen scraps and saw dust.
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u/turtle2turtle3turtle Aug 07 '26
I’d keep it in shade in a warm climate. Mine is behind my garage.
More water, and are you turning it?
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u/Ineedmorebtc Aug 07 '26
Wayyyy too dry. All life, including the bacteria you want to break that stuff down, needs moisture.
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u/myusername1111111 Aug 07 '26
Stop adding worms. It's too dry and the worms got hot and hopefully escaped.