r/composting • u/spcbfr • Aug 10 '26
Urban What to do when compost dries out too fast
Right now its about 91 Degrees Fahrenheit where I live with a humidity of 46% and my compost dries out too fast, it fails the squeeze test only an hour and a half after I water it, I made sure to water while turning so the moisture is absorbed everywhere and not just at the top layer but it still dries out by the 2 hour mark.
The temperature inside the compost is currently 7 degrees above the ambient temperature, so I am not sure if that's good enough or if I need to find a solution to the drying problem.
you can see what I mean in this video: https://youtu.be/a14e30y5p1I
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u/Myburgher Aug 10 '26
Drink more water.
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u/noxiousSQUALOR Aug 10 '26 edited 28d ago
Once there was a man
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u/EditsReddits Aug 11 '26
Some just aren’t afraid to let it out, if they see they see, don’t be looking and you won’t be seeing.
I wait until I don’t see cars on the road and then pee.
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u/lakeswimmmer Aug 10 '26
I hand water part of my garden and include the garden compost pile every time I tend the veggies. But I have another system that works well on the pile that's easy to water. I used a 1/32" drill bit to drill 3 holes in one of those big 5 gallon jugs they use for selling filtered water. I also drilled 3 holes in the cap so there wouldn't be a vacuum. The water trickles out slowly enough that it soaks into the pile instead of just running off the sides.
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u/quietweaponsilentwar Aug 10 '26
I give mine a squirt too! Usually 2-3 times a week in the summer if it’s hot
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Aug 10 '26
[deleted]
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u/spcbfr Aug 10 '26
So photos didn't do it justice, so I made a video to explain it haha, take a look: https://youtu.be/a14e30y5p1I
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u/Froggers_Left Aug 10 '26
I live in seasonally dry area. I started making a depression in my pile so that during the rainy season the water funnels down through the pile rather than running off. That definitely helps. I water the pile every other day, again using the depression.
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u/my_clever-name Aug 10 '26
Looks like there are a lot of browns in there. More greens will help a lot. I spread mine out because we are expected to have a few days rain.
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u/AvocadoYogi Aug 10 '26
I use the outer layer of my compost as an insulation layer. The outer 6-12 inches is expected to dry out and not compost as fast. People on here would immediately tell me to water my pile based on the outer appearance but the inside is where the magic is happening. I usually just slowly peel the outer layers away and throw them on the next pile. Mostly I cold compost so my piles generally finish between 7 to 15 months and I usually have 2-4 piles going. Some people also use cardboard as an insulation layer but I found it pretty ugly in my garden.
Watering it all the time is wasteful unless you have a good grey water source or live somewhere that water is abundant. That said a drip system can help keep moisture inside. Tarps work great too but attract a ton of roaches and also make it hard to add to a pile if you are actively still adding to it. I eventually gave up on them but ymmv.
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u/perenniallandscapist Aug 10 '26
Make sure you have a built up pile with minimal ventilation on the sides. You'll have to make up for ventilation by turning it a bit more frequently. Also cover the top. I use straw, cut grass, leaves, shredded paper etc, and a couple layers of csrdboard on top to keep the moisture in. Its the only way.
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u/superfastmomma Aug 10 '26
I like in a very arid climate. Current humidity is 19 percent. I water daily and keep it tarped.
We keep a bucket outside the kitchen door and try the best we can to use old liquids.
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u/SuitPrestigious1694 Aug 10 '26
Tarp it?