How to heat up compost

[Bryce Thomas]

You could try it? Mine just don't ever get hot-hot because we don't tend to get hot enough weather to get it going (so I never throw seeds in my compost, as they don't get cooked). If your climate is hotter it should heat up the center of the bin more.

I live in gilbert AZ so its always hot even at 2am

What can i do about the wet in the center and drier towards the outside?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I live in gilbert AZ so its always hot even at 2am

What can i do about the wet in the center and drier towards the outside?

That's pretty normal. The stirring will help with that, distributing the moisture around. Get the stuff inside towards the outside, and vice versa.

 

[Tonyroo]

If 90 gallon black bins dont heat up then how does compost even work?

It works better without a container. I lay my yard waste on the ground, adding a bit of dirt and watering turning it once a week and having it covered in heavy black fabric tarp.

 

[Bryce Thomas]

It works better without a container. I lay my yard waste on the ground, adding a bit of dirt and watering turning it once a week and having it covered in heavy black fabric tarp.

Can you turn compost too much? I think turning it a couple times a day instead of the average once or twice a week is releasing heat in my composting bin

 

[Tonyroo]

Turning the compost often causes disruption to the microbes, they need time to settle. Which in turns helps to speed up decomposition and generate some heat from there actions. The compost pile need to maintain some moisture for microbes to thrive.

 

[Bryce Thomas]

Turning the compost often causes disruption to the microbes, they need time to settle. Which in turns helps to speed up decomposition and generate some heat from there actions. The compost pile need to maintain some moisture for microbes to thrive.

Is it ok that there are fruit flies beginning to accumulate when I open the lid? Yes I will push the rotting fruit deeper in if necessary

 

[rosemarythyme]

Is it ok that there are fruit flies beginning to accumulate when I open the lid? Yes I will push the rotting fruit deeper in if necessary

Probably can't be helped if you're composting anything they consider tasty. I get fruit flies every summer but as long as they stay out in the compost area instead of the kitchen I consider that "good enough."