3 Reasons Your Compost Pile Is Going Cold or Not Heating Up

We get asked all the time why a compost pile is ging cold, or not even heating up and this video will help to hopefully fix that problem for good. Check out our new clothing line! http:www.freshpickedapparel.com

[@MIgardener]

Quick correction = I meant 27 cubic feet of compost. By brain wasn't up for math at 7am. 3' x 3' x 3'

[@agostobloj]

also, PLASE, translate to the units we use in the rest of the world!! 27 cubic feet (according google) is about 0.76m3

[@beware_the_moose]

which is basically just short of a metre by a metre by a metre.

[@whiskers1978]

It's also a yard by a yard by a yard thus a cubic yard

[@killuminatepeacefulness3948]

MIgardener | Simple Organic Gardening & Sustainable Living. Luke. Do u think if I start saving the little runners from my strawberry plant, I can keep them in my house through the winter until next year?? Unfortunately I have a all container garden. Soo it's hard to over winter anything outside. I was also thinking about keeping a little greenhouse inside to keep them safe and comfortable.

[@shawncope110]

Thank you for this vid i have been adding to the same pile in stead of making a new one turning every 2-3 days it worked but not very well thank you we love your vids

[@tennesseenana4838]

I've been watching lots of videos about composting since I've never done it before, This one is the first I've heard that says NOT to add anything new to an already composting pile. Best advice ever!!!

[@schwam6]

1. size of pile 0:55 2. Not flipping it enough 3:15 3. Not enough water/ to dry 6:33 BONUS: adding to an already finished pile 9:00

[@chrisferrario1540]

jon smith love this Cliff’s version with time stamp!Thanks

[@SJ-xr1wk]

thanks for the summary!!

[@joequillun7790]

@@SJ-xr1wk X2 on that. :)

[@JEvrist]

“Too” dry

[@EquipmentReviewer]

Some heroes don't wear capes thanks!

[@vajra0765]

How to compost in tumbler composters video Luke.That would be helpful for us who have paper size lots on cities who cannot have a compost pile.

[@careya]

I think my compost pile was done composting, and I kept adding grass to it wondering why it wasn’t heating up again. This is the first video I have seen talk about this, and I have watched a ton of composting videos. Thank you very much.

[@christineroulin9518]

I know this is an old video and you're probably not going to see this comment, but I still wanted to say that - even though I've watched a lot of gardening videos, also about composting - this is the first video that really helped me understand what I've been doing wrong and what I should be doing instead. Thank you so much for this!! Greetings from Belgium

[@villagehardcore2772]

Some composting videos focus too much on explaining the science, and others use only pain english in an attempt to be accessible.... this video was a good balance of both. I like the analogies you use as they aid in comprehension and act as mnemonic devices. As someone familiar with fermentation but not composting, the science made sense to me. Great job!

[@joanhelenak]

Your videos keep getting better and better. I really noticed how much you slowed down your speech cadence to be better understood. Great job, I'm looking forward to more!

[@MIgardener]

I didn't notice, but thanks! :)

[@mr.greenjeans8323]

Sometimes Luke does talk pretty fast

[@theacguy9546]

I have watched 100 videos about compost and this is the only one that got straight to the heart of the matter thank you

[@OskyPinamar]

I just turned my compost pile today! Thank you for such valuable experiential information.

[@rawbug1]

This was extremely helpful. I am about to start a compost pile this week, my first one ever, and this video was very helpful. Thank you!!

[@Samanthaf420]

Your efforts in providing the abundance of quality information you put into this vidja is still earning ya subs nearly 2 yrs later

[@annedavid9267]

I've watched this video a few times already and I keep coming back to it every now and then to make sure I' doing the right thing and I always learn something new. Thank you.

[@dman7857]

Just flipped my pile after watching the video and started a new pile to add daily scraps to. I was adding to my large bin and it was filled. When I flipped my pile I noticed the inside was dark black and full of worms but the outside was intact. Thank you so much for the awesome video!!

[@steph7614]

Finally found a video that answers the question of whether or not you should continue to add to a pile. I have been ready to get started, but couldn't understand how I would separate the finished product from working parts. (If watching you didn't catch that part, the answer is no, do not continue to add. Start a new pile) Thank you!

[@poochie49]

Very well explained. I have been adding scraps to my compost pile every few weeks. Now I know it is better to start a new one. Thanks.

[@anilkapur1584]

The topic has been well covered, the four basic points to make sure that one does not go wrong while making a compost. Thank you very much!

[@NiaLin]

I plan to start composting. Been researching, etc, so this info was very helpful! Also, yesterday I sowed some of the seeds I bought from you recently. So excited to watch them grow! Thanks for always giving us info we really need.

[@MIgardener]

You will do great composting!

[@hawkblacc1795]

Best explanation I’ve watched so far on composting & composting mistakes 💯💪🏿🤓🌱

[@gabrielbayley4247]

4th year composting right now and this is such a great video... just started flipping mine that I started this spring as it was starting to cool down. my set up is 3 bins side by side, each about the same size as yours... which makes easy to flip as I just move it from one bin to the next rather than pulling it out to stir and return to the same bin. people often ask if it smells and I always tell them that if your compost smells then you are doing it wrong

[@rickparshall]

Gabriel Bayley lol some people think dirt smells bad... 😂I personally love the smell of good dirt!!

[@donnajoacrey2699]

Your tips are excellent, clear and easy to understand, I'm in the beginning stages of starting my compost pile, so this was perfectly timed for me lol! Thanks so much! Love your channel!

[@MIgardener]

Thanks a million!

[@highlandscommunityclub1160]

You hit the nail on the head of my composting problem ...I will stop adding to it!! Thank you!!

[@mpthangoldaz]

I'm not a gardener yet but I hope to start small next summer, I love your videos ! Always informative !

[@larrypadilla8706]

Thanks for the tips, man. I made the mistake of continuing to add material after the pile had already broken down. Now I have compost with random other material in it.

[@YasChosenChild_70]

Thank you so much! That explained so much! I have 1 pile-DONE, & didn’t know what to do! Lol So now I know! I’ve actually made compost & didn’t realize it! You’re a great Teacher! 👍❤️

[@rickparshall]

I like your Arms Family Homestead shirt!! I have my compost set up in stages.. 8x8 for raw, 8x8 for second stage and area for finished compost that wheelbarrow can get to easily... it is incorporated into the chickens run.. THEY LOVE IT, the second stage I add sprouting grains and grass clippings into which heats up a bit again and the sprouts keep chickens interested in working it..(yup they earn their food😁 turning the piles and adding extra nitrogen (and usually scattering the piles EVERYWHERE..had to add little walls out of boards to contain each stage) the finished product takes around 3-4weeks and is BEAUTIFUL!!! Cool setup

[@rickparshall]

I also incorporate the rabbit waste into second stage which usually has a lot of worms in it.. chickens love scratching around in rabbit poop

[@shanepasha6501]

You did a good job in explaining how to administer a successful compost operation. Thanks.

[@jennifertaylor9733]

Right on time! Need more seeds for late summer and fall gardens. Any new recipes?

[@ThatGardener]

Fantastic video and great tips. Learned a lot and pushing to get great compost. We managed to get some superb compost this year after trial errors and following your tips. Thank you.

[@debragallardo5754]

Wow, thank you for articulating composting. Your information is so helpful. I think I know what to do now and not to do. Thanks again! God Bless!

[@maryknipp9623]

Thank you for this video. This is one of the best videos on composting! It helped me a lot!

[@yes350yes]

Nice compost info-- not sure about the soap opera intro music. Certainly piles will compost as in cold composting but to hot compost you will need a balance of green material for the microbes /bacteria to feed on and multiply. This can be anything from manures, food scraps[no meat], or even rabbit food pellets which I use to initiate piles, since I dont get enough food scraps as most of my scraps go into my worm bins.

[@nancyguajardo85]

I was just gonna start a compost pile, today/Thank you for sharing this information!

[@frederickoajr]

Thank you…Love how you made the process crystal clear !!!

[@franktse8521]

That last tip was great. I always add the daily kitchen scraps to the pile, and it just slows thing down to a crawl.

[@moviemavenmommy]

Thanks for showing HOW to flip a compost pile. This was exactly what I needed to understand

[@SAMATOZ2]

I recently bought a 'compost corkscrew' to turn my compost and it works a treat. Cost less than $20. Now I turn my compost every couple of days, takes 5 minutes and little effort.

[@robertn4815]

Thx for the very informative video :) I started composting for the first time last summer. My two compost piles are still cold in April (matching the outside temperature), although sometimes it is 10-20 degrees F warmer than the outside temperature. I live in South-Central Alaska which is consistently cold and dry (it's only really wet in our rainy season which is august). So I started the two piles last summer, I got one of those temperature reading rods a few weeks ago, so I only have been able to get a reading since recently. My pile has been shrinking a lot since I started it (I keep them above 3x3x3), so I assume that must be good and that it means that there is some decomposition going on. I have been adding kitchen scraps to it all throughout the winter and I have been mixing it twice a week since the snow has been gone (trying to kick the aerobic activity into gear) and I have also been adding 2-4 gallons of hydroponic runoff into the pile everyday since the snow melt because it looks too dry (I skip adding water on the rainy days). I am trying to gradually get it wet enough without overcompensating. I am thinking that once the outside temps start to get warmer and the pile gets wet enough, it should start heating up to 120-140 temps like it should right?

[@JoyAdele68]

Good information! Thank you so much for clearing up a few questions I've been asking!

[@davefinney1339]

Thank you for the info on composting. I've been lazy at it and need to be more active in composting.

[@barnburner2475]

I Love your content Luke! You seeds are top notch too. Thank you for all you and your family do. God Bless and Merry Christmas!

[@erinwatts5285]

Thanks for the tips! I didn't know I had to add water to it and that's why it's just sitting there doing nothing even though I was flipping it. I'll try adding a little water every other day because we are still having 100 degree days here in southern Oregon and my pile always looks so dry

[@tracycrider7778]

Keep it moist, it will break down faster

[@ericd6879]

I learned alot with this video. Ideas that have not been mentioned in other compost videos. Thank-you

[@NWFishingSecrets]

Just what I needed thanks!

[@RootedInTx]

Really loving the intro not sure how new that is, haven't been on lately but just wanted to say well done. Also love the composting advice thank you very much

[@MIgardener]

It is very new, as in 2 weeks old barely.

[@spencerhoadley5723]

Moving literally today, good information about compost for the new house!

[@MIgardener]

good luck with the move!

[@ariefbudianto8391]

For me, it's quite an aerobic exercise to turn 3x3 compost pile every week. Especially if the materials are wet and slimy..😀

[@angeladaigrepont4993]

I always learn something new from your videos keep up the great work and thank you for sharing your knowledge with us :)

[@dunestaniszewski2300]

It’s awesome your wearing an Arms Family Homestead shirt! I started a compost pile two months ago, and it just won’t heat up! This video helped a lot... thanks!

[@mjj5276]

I've just started a couple of days ago.More to it than I imagined but we'll see how I go.

[@adolfocontreras1716]

Thanks, you answered my question, which was when do I stop adding to the same pile.

[@leonarddavis3684]

I started my second bin about 3 weeks ago, I usually make a full pot of coffee, but i don't drink it all, I use this to keep my compose moist.

[@Mindscry]

Sorry, you drink like a cup and dump the rest on your compost? I've used the grounds and the filters, but hadn't heard about the actual coffee. New to this.

[@leonarddavis3684]

@@Mindscry No, I make a full pot, but if we don't drink all of it, there may be a cup or 2 left. I put that in my compost.

[@willzedman1717]

Best information on composting I've ever seen

[@KristyLeeVlogs]

Thank you for the bonus tip! That's the mistake I've been making.

[@amandajeanlimabean4602]

Great video! I've finished my first compost batches this year and have more "cooking". I would love to see a video on how you incorporate the finished compost into the garden.

[@thetacountry4487]

AmandaJean LimaBean me too

[@xtreamvex]

Its really easy just add to your garden. I used it when I set up my garden for the season or when I turn the dirt, I add at then.

[@susanebrown-yp5ny]

Thank you This helps me. I was continually adding food scraps to my pile. Also it got rained on too much.

[@OrganicBackyardGardening]

Love the new intro! Great video!

[@blissfulspirithealingandyo4270]

Best compost video I’ve watched! Thank you

[@selamewnetu4975]

The starting music makes me calm down to listen to your class😄👍

[@jwelsh939]

Thanks for all your knowledge!

[@rada5309]

blessings from Canada

[@ThahnG413]

dude i put coffee grounds in my compost pile and when i turn it smoke comes off amazing how hot the compost pile got after adding coffee

[@davesterchele2679]

High Nitrogen!

[@cassandradehmer6029]

I found out that the night crawlers and worms LOVE coffee grounds!! My compost pile is full!

[@kimmartin2522]

I will be getting some!

[@MIgardener]

coffee has lots of nitrogen which the bacteria love.

[@gabrielherera1045]

Coffee grounds i should try it

[@PM-bk1ry]

Very explanatory. Thank you.

[@valeriebenko2657]

Show us the compost pumpkin! 😀

[@FairyFrequency]

Fantastic gardening! Wishing you a lovely day x) 🦋

[@Annie-ui5nm]

❓❓ I compost my fall leaves. This year I am composting in a large plastic bin. I drilled holes all over it for air. It's all now fairly rich an black. Can I dump the whole thing in my garden, or will that be too much? I need to start anew, because I am still adding to it. Don't want it to rot. I do keep it stirred though. Thanks for your pointers. 👍

[@trendane]

Hey there, Luke! In our back yard, we have a huge spruce which has, over the last decade or so, dumped a fair bit of its needles and such onto the ground. A great deal of it has been there for years and, while I know that coniferous leaves and such will make the soil more acidic, at what point will it have broken down enough that I could use it in a compost pile? I'm just wondering if it works similarly to coffee grounds and such....that all of the stuff one might be worried about screwing up the soil pH is in your coffee cup and the grounds are perfectly fine to compost. Can the same eventually be said of pine needles that have been in the rain/sun for several years?

[@wednesdaynotifications1460]

Trendane Sparks once spruce needles decompose, they become neutral, from what i have heard anyway. If your worried about pH, just use lime to neutralize it once it is finished. Always do a pH test before trying to alter it!

[@Beecozz7]

David the Good just posted the same info!!! Have you ever seen Joel Salatin's compost piles??? WOW!!!

[@mrgruffy4499]

I find that the same thing happens when I leave tea and coffee grounds in a 5-gal bucket for a few days. When I turn the grounds to bring in oxygen, the grounds are warm, and give off a bit of water vapor. (Steam is too hot to be visible. What you see are tiny drops of water vapor). And the coffee grounds have already broken down to a moist powder. Why not put the grounds outside? It's December. I do put the grounds in my compost pile during summer. I have my washing machine and a lavatory in my shop. I drain waste water from these onto my compost to keep it damp. I put most of my fallen leaves in bottomless 55 gal barrels. In winter, I take the water from my shop lavatory, and pour it into these barrels to help the leaves settle, but not to pack tightly. These were my trash burn barrels after the bottoms have rusted away.

[@joealbert3232]

Love the new intro

[@riverponicsgrowingsystems7450]

Riverponics flowing your way, great info brotha !!!

[@ramonamacabugao1613]

Great info! Thanks Luke.

[@tammiedudley829]

Jumpoff A: Thank you so much for your responses - I will definitely try the chalk. Again - Thank You!

[@rosemcommm]

I have a lot of leaves, old/rain damaged hay from farmers, and woodchips - so a lot of browns. I add feather meal (12-0-0) to my piles and they get crazy hot. I find it's easier to gather brown material in bulk and then just add an organic fertilizer (like feather meal) when you want to create a pile. It's a lot easier than trying to get enough green material (food scraps, grass clippings, etc...) together at once. A 50# bag of feather meal is enough to break down two or three 4x4x4 welded wire rings worth of material. This breaks down to about 2x4x4 or ~30 cu/ft. 75-100 cu/ft total. Well worth the $50. If possible add soil to your compost pile (10%) to help capture all that nitrogen you're adding.

[@MIgardener]

It is definitely easier to add lots of brown material.

[@kinremnant4616]

Heard from one of the Ted videos that shredding up leaves and composting them is what a lot of people do in Eastern Countries (ex Europe etc). Mentioned that adding other things slow down the process. The idea of it is that it is what Forest naturally does to keep the ground fertile. Also mentioned that most people use a leaf blower wrong and that it has the ability to be reversed. Sucking in Leaves and shredding them to compost later. Something interesting I am planning to experiment with. :)

[@nancywebb6549]

I think straw is considered a green.

[@Jimmytwogunz]

Great information !! I have a question to ask.. I have a closed off Compost bin and it's going to be a pain to turn it every 2 to 4 weeks... Could I just leave the lid open and try to turn the top half as best as I can? It is getting HOT and I'm adding carbon to make sure it doesn't get to wet from the heat inside

[@gabrielfrias3974]

this really helped thank you

[@InLoveWithVintage]

So where do you keep all of the browns and such while you are waiting to start a new pile? Like, say you have plenty of greens but building up browns to begin the next pile while first batch finishes up...where do you keep it? Or do you hot compost one and cold compost the other?

[@johndavis7992]

YOUR VIDEO WAS VERY HELP FULL GRASS CUTTINGS ON TO THE COMPOST WITH 2 X FOUR LTS OF WATER AND IT WAS VERY HOT IT WAS STEAMING AFTER ONE WEEK.

[@fergusdangerfield156]

Thanx for another superb video. Do you think I could use barley straw as a carbon source for my compost heap? Not on it's own of course, but with other brown material . Many thanx.

[@dayanandarajapakse9476]

This is really helpful in my work. Thank youm

[@skypilgreen7376]

Lots of great information. Thank you!

[@ivantruckman1]

I like this intro music with the slight reverb . very cool

[@johns4625]

Love your posts. How do we restart the heat? My issue is compost pile started at 1 cubic yard, but you said you flip it every few days when it shrinks 30%. Yet we can’t add anything to it to keep it larger right? I started a little too small, I’ve been flipping it, it got hot then cooled off. Might be too wet compared to yours. Anyway, should I bulk it back up? Will that let it restart?

[@chevy6299]

Thanks that cleared up a couple of things.

[@josephpoole4550]

thanks,will start another one

[@Annie-wu7kc]

Excellent info thank you Luke !!!

[@shawnreid1436]

Do these same principles apply when using a barrel compost bin? I just started mine about two weeks ago and our springs are quite cool so nothing has heated up yet, just want to make sure I’m on the right track!

[@ti8607]

How do you compost in the colder winter months? Will it still compost?

[@bryanvagenos5089]

also wanted to say very informative. I have been learning a lot tx for all the insight.

[@orcapod1025]

That was helpful, thank you. Now I just need to figure out how I am going to set up a system that I can add to weekly, I guess. Thanks again!

[@dman7857]

I have a stainless mixing bowl I add scraps to and walk it to the compost when it gets full. I am sure to add all peels, cores, eggshells, coffee grounds, etc. Now I have a main compost and a large bin and a second one to use until I put the large one into the garden. Good luck 👍👍

[@opencoop4268]

Thanks for another great video. I wonder if turning the pile during the adding-to-it phase is important or do you recommend first just getting the 3x3x3 then start watering and turning every week?

[@tracycrider7778]

Get the 3x3x3 first

[@carolscabinas]

Thanks! Best explanation ever!

[@michaellockwood4237]

Well explained. Thank you.

[@thetacountry4487]

Excellent video thank you!

[@ttss1234]

I'm new to this and live in Phoenix az. Temps here are already hovering around 100 and I have started a pile... Is there a ratio for determining how much water to add? Am I looking for dampness in the core or the entire pile?

[@pedromq7807]

Very good video. Thank you. I finally understood

[@cassgann130]

Thank you!! very informative.

[@ahouseinthedesert2737]

I do add in material at later stages, but only those high in nitrogen..i sprinkle in grass clippings, coffee grounds or veg scraps. It works well..

[@aesthetics48]

What are your thoughts on the compost barrels I've seen advertised? Thank you.

[@ryandickson5566]

Hey love the video. I need help with my compost. I have a blue drum I drilled holes every 6 inches. The holes are 3/8 of a inch. It wont heat up at all. Can the cold weather have anything to do with it

[@brirutledge6086]

Ryan Dickson I am currently having the same problem and did exactly what you did. Any suggestions?

[@anamulkabir6444]

thanks for a very informative video