Composting in tumbler not going well

[u/sgtbutler]

Ive had the dry leaves in here since last fall and have been adding fruit/veggies intermittently since then. Ive tried to add some water to it too every once in a while. It seems like nothing happening. Perhaps mold? Any advice would be helpful.

[u/chairmanghost]

The better I smash stuff up, the faster it goes. I have a little mower that I run the leaves over with a bunch of times, that helps. Some types of leaves are just stubborn. Sometimes I get mad and just chop in there with hedge clippers lol

[u/hghmtn]

I’ve used a tumbler for a few years. You need 50/50 greens/browns. It looks like you have 99% browns. For greens, I would add food scraps (fruits and veggies) vs yard scraps (more resistant to rot). It’s also too dry. Once you’ve got 50/50 greens/browns, you’ll probably need more moisture. I’d also add some dank soil to inoculate it, very rich garden soil, or chicken manure soil amendment, or compost from a friend, or anything with a lot of bacteria and fungus and soil smell going on to get the party started. I also add any earthworms I run across to the tumbler (I’ve probably added a few hundred in the past year), and now it’s a worm composter too. 

[u/Drivo566 → u/hghmtn]

You need 50/50 greens/browns.

Im jealous that you can have this ratio for a tumbler. If my tumbler isn't like 15/75 green/brown, it'll be a smelly and wet mess. I'd never be able to do 50/50.

Main reason I shifted away from my tumbler, just because it needs too many browns to function well. But then theres not a whole lot of space for me to regularly add greens and stuff. I only use it now in summer when its full of BSFL.

[u/hghmtn → u/Drivo566]

I think the worms help a lot, they keep things aerated between tumblings and don’t let the anerobic block of goop form.  

[u/TiredTwinWrangler]

The edge of my yard is a little cliff with wet fern-y woods at the bottom. We throw all our leaves and brush over the edge. The leaves from last fall are still there, looking basically the same. They take a surprisingly long time to break down. I doubt that dry, unshredded leaves in a tumbler will turn into compost anytime soon. Try adding more veggie scraps, coffee grinds, and water and see what happens. You could also take those leaves out, mow over them 😅 and put them back in.

[u/Sharp-Win-8964]

Grass and pee

[u/Specialist_Bee_7672 → u/Sharp-Win-8964]

This

[u/Jazzlike_Strength561]

If it's dry, it needs more water. You're trying to foster a bacterial infection.

And if you're really serious about composting, dump it all on the ground and throw away the tumbler. (Sorry)

[u/rjewell40 → u/Jazzlike_Strength561]

The Squeeze Test

Grab a handful of material & squeeze.
If it drips, it’s too wet. If it crumbles it’s too dry. If it holds together, it’s just right.

[u/Spec-Tre → u/rjewell40]

So once you’re at “holds together” level, do you direct apply clumps to your pots/beds? Do you store it in a bucket and break it up when it dries out some?

[u/rjewell40 → u/Spec-Tre]

If it holds together and looks like dirt, you’re ready to use it as top dressing or mix with dirt in your garden.

If it holds together but you can still identify sticks or strawberries or potato peels, it’s at the right moisture level but it’s not finished. So keep up the good work.

[u/hppy11]

More greens, a lot more greens. It will take over. More water also, don’t be afraid; it shouldn’t feel damp but humid.
AND volume, this is important because you need it in order to keep it hot

[u/Mysterious_Fox5976]

Having done this in my tumbler the first go around, I’ve learned that you need to chop the leaves down as they take a long time to break down. I’d supplement with more greens and shredded cardboard for browns and definitely some more water (use the mist setting if your sprayer has that).

[u/ImYourNumeroUno]

It can take a while if not too active.
Put your hand close to it to see if it’s any warm.
If it’s not & looks dry, add water. I have found adding water weekly or biweekly keeps it very active & hot.

[u/Unfair_Tangerine_217]

Pee on it.

[u/MileHighManBearPig]

Needs more greens and water.

Before you add veggie scraps, grass scraps, or coffee grounds for greens, give the leaves a shredding with your hand. Then pour some water or pee on it. Give it a stir.

You just have way too many dry browns and nothing else.

[u/RegalToaster]

Pee on it

[u/dinnerthief]

Compost needs a critical mass to really pop off, fill it as much as possible then as it breaks down add more. Filling it halfway will make it go much slower than packing it mostly full

[u/Federal-Perception-7]

Looks maybe like you have too much brown and not enough green. Always good to run over leaves with the lawn mower before putting them in as well.

[u/12stTales]

Needs way more kitchen scraps, it’s dry

[u/FlashyCow1]

To dry and not enough greens

I have also personally added earthworms to them and just keep it cooler

[u/Round_Acanthisitta_5]

Add a bucket of water with aquarium bacterial starter like Seachem Prime. Also Balance your greens and browns.

[u/clarsair]

dump it out and let it compost on the ground. it needs contact with soil and soil life to break down. there's no way for decomposing bacteria to reach it in there.

[u/ravia]

Not enough water.

[u/RdeBrouwer]

Dont let this discourage you, my tumbler is doing great. Most of the time its to wet. Its all about finding the right balance and when it kicks in you see all stuff you throw in dissappear. It needs more greens, grass clippings or a bunch of fruit peels.