Corks in compost

[BayViewPlot]

Hi, new plot acquired few months ago and have been searching all the great advice on a daily basis since!

Am composting everything I can, however have noticed that wine corks (of which I have many and fully intend to collect more) do not break down with any speed.

I was wondering as an alternative could I chop them up into little bits and add them to the compost as a kind of perlite-style component. The soil is clay after about a foot or so but otherwise not too heavy.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks to everyone who makes this site great!

Dave

[Snadger]

Good question Bayview plot!
Probably would deplete the surface Nitrogen as it slowly broke down though!

Often wondered about polystyrene beads myself particularily to give a bit of structure to clay type soils? As these aren't organic shouldn't deplete nitrogen but would probably break down eventually leaving some nasty chemicals in the soil!

[Mrs Dobby]

Hi Dave and welcome to the madhouse known as the vine!

No idea re the corks, but have a few ourselves, and I'm sure one or two others may have more (LJ perhaps? ) amd perhaps some good ideas! The only use I know for them is as 'cane toppers; to prevent you pocking your eyes out, but if they are suitable for composting, then I suppose we'll add them too! Look forwards to hearing others replies!

[Snadger]

Wecome to the vine btw, Dave

[Geordie]

You could always break them up and put in bottom of pots to help drainage....polysterene is alos good for this Snadger

[pigletwillie]

The real cork ones do break down eventually but beware those fake plasticky ones.

[BayViewPlot]

Thanks a lot all. Will crack open a cheeky spanish number in your honour and save the cork.

In the meantine I'm collecting marge tubs to create a slug beer bath trap. Means getting some slops from the pub over the road (shame)

haha, love this healthy living!

[JennieAtkinson]

That sounds like my idea of fun BWP. I would have to test alot of bottles to see if I got the right kind of cork .....

[nick the grief]

If you've got a shredder you could try sticking them thro that & then but them into an old compost bage & water with SUlphate of ammonia then leave for a year or so they will break down eventually.