How to make compost accelerator at home and use it effectively?

Composting is the natural biological process that converts organic wastes into nutrient-rich fertilizer through decomposition. It involves the breakdown of materials by microorganisms under aerobic conditions. The end result of composting is compost, a dark, crumbly, earthy-smelling material that provides beneficial nutrients to help plants grow.

While composting occurs naturally, it can take several months to over a year for the materials in a compost pile to fully decompose on their own. For gardeners interested in producing compost faster, there are various techniques and additives called compost accelerators that can speed up the composting process.

What is a compost accelerator?

A compost accelerator is any additive or activator that can expedite the process of decomposition and compost maturation. Compost accelerators work by altering conditions within the compost pile to encourage the growth and reproduction of beneficial microorganisms. This boosts microbial activity, accelerating the rate at which organic materials break down.

With the proper use of accelerators, gardeners can produce finished compost in as little as 4-6 weeks rather than waiting several months. There are two main types of compost accelerators:

1. Biological: These contain living microorganisms or enzymes that directly speed up decomposition when introduced to the compost pile. Common examples include compost starter inoculants, manure, and worm castings.
2. Chemical: Chemical accelerators alter the compost environment to make it more favorable for microbial growth and activity. These include nitrogen fertilizers, lime, and absorptive additives like biochar.

Benefits of Using Compost Accelerators

While composting organics like yard clippings and food scraps naturally over time produces an exceptional fertilizing agent, the lengthy process can test gardeners’ patience.

Speeding up decomposition to obtain compost’s “black gold” offers many advantages. Employing compost accelerators to give your pile a boost provides more than just hastened results.

• Produces compost faster: The main goal of using accelerators is to hasten the composting process so mature compost can be utilized sooner. This provides benefits more quickly than slow, untended compost piles.
• Increases microbial activity: biological accelerators introduce additional microbes, while chemical ones promote the multiplication of existing populations. More microbes mean faster decomposition.
• Provides nutrients: Some accelerators, like manure and nitrogen fertilizers, add nutrients like carbon and nitrogen that microbes need to thrive. This can prevent nutrient deficiencies from slowing down the process.
• Improves conditions: Accelerators enhance aeration, moisture, and temperature conditions so microbes can work at peak efficiency to break down organic materials.
• Reduces odor and pests: A faster composting time means less opportunity for unpleasant odors from anaerobic conditions or pests to develop.

Is the compost accelerator worth it?

While compost accelerators can be beneficial in certain situations, they are not always necessary for successful composting.

In a well-managed compost pile with the right conditions, beneficial microorganisms naturally colonize the pile and perform the decomposition process effectively.Whether there are enough of these microbes to get your garden compost bin acting quickly is for you to decide.

The easiest way is to see how long it takes for your garden compost to become a pile of hummus.Once you stop adding new matter to the compost bin, you can gauge how well it is working. The compost pile should sink considerably as bulk is reduced, and the composition will become less obvious as the whole pile turns into brown hummus.

You should see a noticeable change after three months. But after six months, the garden compost should really be ready to use. It should be rich, crumbly, and faintly smelling of damp woodland!

However, there are scenarios where a compost accelerator may be helpful:

1. Limited Time: If you need compost quickly for a specific gardening project or event, a compost accelerator can speed up the process and help you obtain usable compost within a shorter timeframe.
2. Imbalanced Compost Pile: If your compost pile lacks a balanced carbon-to-nitrogen ratio or shows signs of slow decomposition, a compost accelerator can introduce a concentrated dose of beneficial microorganisms to restore the balance and jumpstart the process.
3. Troublesome Ingredients: Certain organic materials, such as wood chips or leaves with high lignin content, may naturally decompose at a slower rate. In such cases, a compost accelerator can aid in breaking down these materials more efficiently.
4. Large-Scale Composting: For individuals managing large-scale composting operations, such as community gardens or agricultural settings, compost accelerators can help speed up the decomposition process and maintain consistent compost production.

Types of Compost Accelerators

There are many additives and activators that can speed up composting through various mechanisms. Some of the most common types of compost accelerators include:

Compost Starter/Inoculant

These biological accelerators are concentrated forms of beneficial composting microorganisms, usually in powder, granules, or liquid form. By directly inoculating new compost piles with huge populations of essential bacteria and fungi, decomposition gets kickstarted immediately. Microbial inoculants are especially useful when composting in cold weather when native microbe activity is hindered.

Manure

Adding manure from cows, horses, chickens, etc. is a traditional compost accelerator. Manure supplies significant amounts of nitrogen and also contains digestive bacteria and trace nutrients that facilitate decomposition. Herbivore manures have optimal carbon-to-nitrogen ratios to support microbial growth. Manure should be aged for at least 6 months before use to avoid weeds and pathogens.

Blood/Bone Meal

Like manure, blood and bone meals provide a quick burst of nitrogen and micronutrients. Their fine textures also absorb excess moisture if a compost pile becomes too wet. However, they can attract pests and must be buried under layers if used.

Grass Clippings

Fresh grass clippings are high in nitrogen and moisture, making them ideal “green” activators for compost. They heat up piles quickly and can be continuously added in thin layers. Allowing grass to partially dry first prevents matting and anaerobic conditions. Excess salt in treated grass can inhibit microbial activity.

Fruit/Vegetable Scraps

Like greens, fruits and veggies add moisture and nitrogen to energize compost. However, high-water content items like melons, citrus peels, and onions should only be applied in moderation as they release liquids and can make piles soggy. Starchy vegetables may attract pests.

Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds contain up to 2% nitrogen, and their dark color absorbs heat. Their fine texture provides additional surface area for microbes to colonize during decomposition. Used coffee filters also add carbon. About 2–3 pounds of ground per cubic yard of compost is recommended.

Wood Ash

Wood ash adds valuable potassium, phosphorus, and calcium to compost. It helps neutralize acidity and provides grittiness to improve pile aeration. Limit ash to one cup per bushel of compost, as excessive amounts raise the pH too high. Do not use ash from chemically treated lumber or coal.

Lime

Like wood ash, lime raises pH levels in acidic compost to make microbes happy. It also provides calcium. About 1/2 cup of powdered lime per bushel of compost is sufficient. Overliming can inhibit essential fungal decomposers. Do not use more than 5 lbs/cubic yard.

Rock Phosphate

This finely ground phosphate rock introduces phosphorus, calcium, and over 30 essential trace elements to stimulate microbes. About 1-2 cups per cubic yard of compost is adequate. Overuse can damage beneficial fungi.

Biochar

Biochar is charcoal produced from plant matter pyrolysis. When tilled into compost, its highly porous structure improves aeration while its electrostatic properties retain moisture and nutrients. Rich in carbon, biochar balances excess nitrogen from manures and grass. Use around 5% biochar by volume.

Urea

Lab-made urea fertilizer is 46% nitrogen in a rapidly usable form for microbes, boosting protein synthesis and multiplying cell growth. Mix in 1-2 lbs evenly per 10 square feet of compost, taking care not to overapply. High nitrogen can result in ammonia accumulation.

Rock Dust

Contains a diversity of essential minerals. Provides a balanced nutrient profile to prevent any deficiencies from limiting microbial activity and decomposition. Trace elements like iron, magnesium, and zinc act as enzyme cofactors.

Air/Water

Simply turning and mixing compost on a regular basis improves oxygenation for aerobic bacteria, while adding water eliminates excess dryness. Proper moisture and aeration accelerate decomposition and can be done for free!

How to Use Compost Accelerators Effectively

From ready-made inoculants to homemade concoctions using items like eggshells or molasses, there are many ways to give your compost pile a boost.

However, accelerators must be used properly in order to be effective. Applying too much of certain additives or using them incorrectly can actually slow down composting.

By educating yourself on recommended usage instructions, evenly distributing accelerators throughout the pile, monitoring moisture and aeration, and allowing for adequate curing time, you can leverage accelerators to speed up composting safely and efficiently.

• Read all labels carefully and adhere to the recommended amounts. Too much of any additive can be counterproductive.
• Layer in accelerators as each new batch of material is added, dispersing evenly. This inoculates everything and prevents pockets from forming.
• Turn and mix the pile after adding accelerators to fully incorporate. Do not just sprinkle on top.
• Achieve a proper carbon-to-nitrogen ratio in the base compost mix before using nitrogen-rich additives.
• Use multiple biological accelerators together, like manure, compost tea, and molasses, to diversify microbes.
• Monitor temperature and moisture levels frequently when using accelerators to ensure optimal composting conditions.
• Allow sufficient curing time after using accelerators for the finished compost to stabilize before planting.
• Adjust and experiment with different additives to create custom compost recipes that work best for your piles.

Compost Accelerators to Avoid

While many additives can successfully speed up the composting process, some traditional accelerators can actually cause more harm than good when used improperly.

Certain substances introduce toxins, throw off ideal carbon-to-nitrogen ratios, or create conditions that hinder helpful microbial activity.

Using the wrong compost accelerators could slow decomposition, reduce compost quality, or even ruin your entire pile.

Before mixing any additives into your compost, it is important to understand which ingredients support healthy, rapid decomposition and which can potentially inhibit it.

• Large amounts of acidic materials like citrus peels, pineapple, etc. can inhibit microbial activity.
• Excessive wood ash or lime raises pH excessively, limiting fungi.
• Too much sawdust or carbon material prevents proper heating.
• Meat, fish, and dairy products can cause odors and attract pests.
• Pet or human feces can contain harmful pathogens that are difficult to destroy completely.
• Inorganic fertilizers like ammonium nitrate do not support biodiversity like organic sources.
• Chemical quick composters containing synthetic ingredients or acids can damage soil biology long-term.
• Treated wood and timber, coal ash, and biosolids contain heavy metals and pollutants.

With the right balance of materials and proper use of accelerators, compost piles can safely and effectively be transformed into mature, usable compost in a fraction of the normal time. A faster composting process allows for more compost to be produced and put to use in nourishing gardens and landscaping.

DIY compost accelerators at home

Though materials like food scraps and leaves will eventually decompose on their own, the process can take many months to complete.

For those interested in creating compost faster at home, there are numerous homemade concoctions and activators that can give your compost pile a boost.

From enriching microbial teas to nutrient-packed additives, these compost accelerators are simple to prepare using ingredients you likely already have in your pantry and garden.

Compost Tea: This microbial inoculant is made by steeping finished compost in water. Add 1 cup of compost to 5 gallons of non-chlorinated water. Let steep for 1-2 weeks, stirring frequently. The water extracts beneficial bacteria, fungi, and protozoa from the compost to multiply. Strain and apply compost tea by sprinkling it on and into compost piles to accelerate decomposition.

Eggshell Tea: Crush up eggshells and let them sit in water for a week. The calcium from shells feeds microbes. Strain and sprinkle this mineral-rich tea on compost.

Manure Tea: Similar to compost tea, soak aged manure for 1-2 weeks. Dilute the filtered tea 10:1 before using it to avoid burning plants.

Molasses: Mix 1 tablespoon of molasses in 1 gallon of water. The sugars feed microbes. Spray directly onto the compost.

Yeast Mixture: Dissolve 1 envelope of baker’s yeast in 5 gallons of warm water with 1 teaspoon of sugar. Let it sit for 1 hour before applying it to boost fungal growth.

Seaweed Fertilizer: Make a diluted seaweed solution by soaking kelp in water for 2 weeks. Rich in minerals and growth hormones to stimulate microbial activity.

Bokashi Bran: This fermented bran inoculates piles with lactic acid bacteria to help break down organic matter. Layer bran throughout the compost.

Sugary Drinks: Rather than pouring unused sodas, juices, and sugars down the drain, sprinkle them occasionally on compost for an easy dose of microbial foods.

Human urine is rich in nitrogen, which is an essential element for composting. It serves as a fantastic natural accelerator.

What is good for using as a compost activator?

If you have room for a pile of animal manure, this could be the very best compost accelerator. Manure is hot, breaks down quickly, and contains lots and lots of goodness. So adding a shovel of poultry manure every week to a garden composter will make the whole thing work hotter and quicker. You could think about composting pet bedding (from gerbils to goats) too, as this tends to be covered in animal urine and feces and provides a little bit of manure along with some bulk.

Composting pet waste is a good compost accelerator or activator. And, again, it will save landfill space. But omnivores and carnivores do produce waste with possible risks to our health. So any such pet waste should be buried deep in the compost heap. In fact, human manure is excellent as a compost activator but must be handled with care in a similar way. All manures may contain pathogens to some degree. They need to be buried deep in the compost heap, and care should be taken that excess rainwater run-off doesn’t flow anywhere sensitive, such as towards animal housing or highly used areas of the garden.

A more simple way to activate the compost heap, used by many, is simply to get a friendly male to pee on it for you! Urine activates the heap but is a much safer product than feces. We all know you can survive drinking urine if you have too (I really would rather not). The same cannot be said for feces, which are full of things it is best to avoid!

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