FAQs

Help! My Compost is wet and smelly.

Your compost may have turned anaerobic. There maybe too much greens (nitrogen), or organic matter may have become compacted resulting in loss of oxygen and the release of unpleasant odors.

Add extra browns (carbon) to your compost to help absorb any extra moisture. Be sure to aerate/turn your compost 1-2 weekly to avoid compaction and loosen up the material. 

 

Help! There are maggots in my compost.

These are likely to be black solider fly larvae (BSF). Don’t be freaked out if you see these little critters in your compost. Unlike household flies, the BSF doesn’t have a mouth, meaning they can’t bite or transmit disease. They actually support clean and odor free compost and are champions at breaking down our food scraps. They love warm and moist conditions, so be sure to bury your food scraps and aerate your compost regular to keep them at manageable numbers. 

 

Help! What can I do about pesky fruit flies?

Fruit or vinegar flies (Drosophila) love to feed and breed on rotting food scraps. They are harmless but can be annoying if found overpopulated. Bury rotting food scraps in your compost and cover fresh food scraps with a layer of compost so there is no visible food scraps for fruit flies to lay eggs on. An overly wet, moisture heavy compost can also attract an abundance of fruit flies. Add more carbon/browns and aerate your compost. Keep an eye on your kitchen caddy as fruit flies can easily migrate from one surface to the next. Lemongrass and fruit fly traps can also help.

 

Help! I have ants in my compost.

Surprisingly, there are some positives to finding ants in your compost. If under control, ants add nutritional benefits to your compost and soil. They can support an increase of biodiversity and other beneficial organisms into the compost, and their tunnels provide air pockets, which can speed up the composting process. However, having too many in your compost pile can be as annoying as fruit flies. DON’T LET YOUR COMPOST BECOME TOO DRY. Large numbers of ants can mean your compost pile is too dry. Moisten the pile with water but be careful not to soak the pile, only add enough water to keep the material damp (like a wringed out sponge). 

Some other solutions to consider: Apply vinegar liberally around the pot and on the outside surface. Sprinkle cinnamon or turmeric
powder around the base and inside the pot.

 

Help! My composter has become white and flakey.

After approx. 3 months of decomposition in your composter (approx. 1 month per tier) and a further 1 month of maturing, you should have created beautiful black gold. Congrats! You are now a certified compost creator! Depending on your personal preference, you can use a sieve to achieve a finer texture or simple leave as is for a ‘chunky’ look. Items that may have not fully composted (bones, some seeds) can be put back for another composting cycle.