Slimy compost with added ants and thread worms

[guff666]

I've seen hereabouts that ants in the compost bin are an indication of dry compost.

I have ants in my bin and tiny thread worms but it certainly isn't dry. Far from it in fact: there is a slimy liquid oozing out of the bottom.

It's one of the black plastic closed bins with a trap at the bottom.

I have two bins and am minded to turn the one into the other, but before I do that I would like to know if there is something I can add at the same time to improve the compost.

Guff

[Two_Sheds]

Slime indicates anaerobic composting: too much green waste & not enough carbon to balance it. Heaps of grass clippings and nothing else are a surefire way of getting slimy compost.


Not all parts of the compost heap are equal: some parts are cool, some warm, and the hottest bit is top centre. Parts will be dry (esp. those south facing) and others will stay wet.

What I would do: lift the whole thing up and off. Let the contents sit for a day or two to dry out. Then resite the dalek and start refilling it, dampening each layer as you go, and adding newspaper balls if you think it's too wet/slimy

[guff666]

That's brilliant, Two Sheds. Thanks