How to make your own Compost

Blue Magnum (Zambeza) feminized

The better your soil, the better your buds. To ensure a bountiful outdoor season, preparing your own compost can be a smart choice - specially if you are going to use the super soil recipe.

If you have read our article on The Best Outdoor Soil Mixes For Cannabis, then you will have some idea of the potential of organic compost, and the great things you can do with it. The super soil recipe outlined in the article is a prime example of how good organic compost can be turned into the ultimate cannabis substrate.

But maybe you don’t want to use shop bought compost. Maybe, you want to start experimenting and making your own. Making your own compost is a central component of any serious garden. Not only is it the most efficient way to naturally recycle organic matter, but it is simply one of the most cost efficient ways to get your soil.

Mastering the art of compost can be tricky at first. To get the best results, it takes some time, experience, and trial and error; but once you have it down there is little that compares to watching your marijuana thrive on compost you have specially formulated, knowing that that love and care transfers into the final product.

When you have your own compost, it is possible to substitute the shop bought compost in Subcool’s recipe for your own, creating your own version of an organic super soil.

HOW TO GET STARTED MAKING YOUR OWN COMPOST

When making your own compost, the easiest way to start is with a shop bought compost bin. While you can make your own, or not even use one at all, it’s most efficient to start out with a container that was specifically designed to boost the rate of decomposition. Compost bins allow for active composting, a process by which the compost is kept at an ideal temperature (between 50-60 degrees Celsius). Without a compost bin, cold composting is more likely to occur, which is much slower. To avoid this, more manual mixing of the compost is needed. This still works just as fine, but it is more work.

Composting isn’t just throwing together random bits of matter. When a pile is well taken care of, it will heat up quickly, and uniformly transform your wastes into rich and dark humus. It’s important for the compost to reach a high temperature inside, that’s how insects, diseases and weed seeds are killed of. In a cold compost, one that doesn’t heat up sufficiently, the soil isn’t safe to use and will never smell and look good.

Generally speaking, to make compost you will want to try and maintain a certain carbon to nitrogen ratio within the bin. This ratio is 30 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen (30:1). This is not so much for the cannabis itself, but more so for the organisms that decompose your organic matter. This is the ratio bacteria operate most efficiently at, but it is not an indication of the actual nutritional value of the end product – this will come from the other qualities of the materials you decide to compost.

THE BROWN AND GREEN

Often, the carbon is referred to as the brown part, and the nitrogen as the green part. Thinking of the browns and greens makes it easier to identify sources of each more quickly. Matter containing much carbon tends to be brown in color, and similarly, matter with nitrogen is green.

Examples of biodegradable carbon

The cellulose within carbon provide food for the micro-organisms that break it down, making it vital to the process. Such matter includes:

- Dead leaves
- Straw
- Paper
- Woody plant trimmings (shrubs and tree cuttings)
- Pine needles
- Sawdust

Note: Sawdust can compact very easily and create impenetrable layers. This can inhibit both the micro-organisms and air circulation, causing anaerobic decomposition - something you want to avoid (see below).

Examples of biodegradable nitrogen

Nitrogen is used by the micro-organisms to build their cell structure, and is not needed in vast quantities for them to function. Nitrogen is found abundantly in this matter:

- Manure
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Plant waste
- Seaweed
- Coffee grounds

Note: when using manure it is handy to know that poultry manure, such as that which comes from chickens, is extremely high in nitrogen; whereas manure from other animals, such as horses, is general high in both carbon and nitrogen.

WHAT NOT TO USE

A hot compost is amazingly efficient at killing pests and insects, but some waste can throw off the balance of the pile and disrupt the process. Don’t add dairy products, cooked foods, meats, diseased or infested plants, herbicide sprayed plants, oils, and of course no plastic products.

AEROBIC VS ANAEROBIC DECOMPOSITION: THE IMPORTANCE OF AIR CIRCULATION

Aerobic simply means that air is involved, versus anaerobic, which means that no air is involved. Nutrient rich compost is made through a process of aerobic decomposition. This process happens when air is able to circulate through the compost, ensuring the micro-organisms that perform the process have enough oxygen to survive.

Anaerobic decomposition occurs when air cannot circulate within the compost, causing the micro-organisms to die. You can tell when this is taking place as the compost will smell sour and unpleasant. When this happens the compost becomes toxic to plant life, so be careful not use it with your cannabis! To prevent anaerobic composting, a compost pile should be turned regularly to help circulate air. Most bought compost bins are designed to allow for a degree of air circulation.

SIGNS THAT YOUR COMPOST IS READY

If you are using a compost bin you will find that things at the bottom of the bin tend to be ready before those at the top, due to the continuous nature of constantly adding things in. Although some people will say that compost “is never ready” and can always compost more, you will know your compost is ready for plant use when:

It is dark brown or black

It is soft to the touch

It is airy and crumbles easily in the hand

It has a pleasant (to some) earthy smell

When it comes to creating your own compost, the most important thing is to experiment and persevere – don’t give up! It takes time to master. Also, there is much more to be said about composting that can be covered here. Many excellent resources are available for more research on the topic. But most importantly - get started and get your hands dirty.