Should You Water Compost?
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Does your compost pile resemble a dry bale of straw or, on the contrary, a smelly mud? The balance is subtle.
For the magic to happen and your peelings to transform into black gold (humus), the microorganisms need to drink. But be careful: successful compost should have the consistency of a wrung-out sponge.
How often should you water? With what type of water? How do you manage humidity in summer and winter? Here are the golden rules to ensure your fermentation never fails.
1. Why is it necessary to water your compost?
Composting is the work of billions of bacteria, fungi, and tiny insects. Like us, these unsung heroes need water to live and "eat" your waste.
- Too dry: The bacteria die of thirst, the process stops, and you end up with intact dead leaves after 6 months. Ants may infest the pile.
- Too humid: Air no longer circulates. Harmful (anaerobic) bacteria take over, creating methane and rotten egg smells.
2. The Sponge Test (The 40-60% Rule)
How do you know when to get the watering can out? Do the handle test (wear gloves!):
Take a handful of compost and clench your fist:
- If water is dripping: It's too humid! Add dry materials (cardboard, dead leaves) and ventilate.
- If the handle crumbles and doesn't hold: It's too dry! You need to water it.
- If the handle remains compact without leaking: That's perfect.
3. How to water a compost heap effectively?
The classic mistake is to pour a bucket of water all at once. The water will create preferential paths and flow straight to the bottom without wetting the mass.
Water with a fine spray while turning the pile over to thoroughly saturate the layers.
Compost's ally: The Parisian Watering Can
To moisten a compost heap, you need volume and a gentle diffusion. The Parisian watering can is the ideal tool.
- 🌧️ Diffusion apple: Mimics rain for even distribution of moisture.
- 💪 Large Capacity (6L or 11L): Avoids trips back and forth to the tap.
- 🛡️ Robust: Thick, UV-treated plastic that can stay outside next to the composter.
4. And what about indoor composting (vermicomposting)?
If you compost in the city using a worm composter (worms that eat your waste), the rule changes. The worms are very susceptible to drowning.
Never use a watering can here. If the environment dries out (often in summer or if you add too much cardboard), you need to add moisture in the form of a mist .
The savior of your worms
To rehydrate your worms' bedding without drowning them, a spray bottle is essential.
- ☁️ Micro-misting: Moistens the cardboard and surface waste.
- ✨ Aesthetics: If your composter is in the kitchen, your tool should be beautiful.
5. The alternative to watering: The Green/Brown balance
The best way to avoid having to water is to balance your water intake:
- "Green" (Moist) Materials: Fruit peelings, fresh grass clippings. They provide water.
- "Brown" (Dry) Materials: Cardboard, dead leaves, straw, egg cartons. They "absorb" the excess.
If your compost is too dry, add peelings (melon, zucchini, etc.). If it's too wet, add shredded cardboard.
6. Bonus: What to do with "Compost Juice" (Leachate)?
If your compost is working well (especially closed models), you will collect a dark liquid at the bottom: "Compost Tea".
This is a super-powerful fertilizer! Don't throw it away. Dilute it to 10% (1 part juice to 10 parts water) and use it to water your houseplants. It's a natural growth booster.
Distribute your "Liquid Gold"
Compost tea stains and smells strong. Applying it to the base of your houseplants without getting it on the carpet requires precision.
- 🎯 Fine Beak: Pour the diluted fertilizer directly into the soil.
- 💎 Noble Material: Copper is not affected by the acidity of compost juice.
The cycle of life
Watering your compost nurtures the life that will later nourish your plants. It's the virtuous circle of the gardener!
Equipping yourself for the garden