real quick…I have a 2 bucket compost bin and worm bucket as I plan on going organic no till when the weather permits. I was just wondering if the drippings in the bottom are supposed to smell bad? the compost itself smells fine but the runoff is rancid smelling. should I just dispose of it or is it useable. thanks for the help
833-420-2420
The drippings smell bad because your compost isnt aerated.
The drippings are usable but you want to mix them with clean water and bubble air though it to kill the anaerobes, these become plant available fertiliser. (dont use a weak fishbowl pump)add labs to the mix if you have any.
My suggestion going forwards would be to turn your compost and worm bin, then pour some clean water over the top to drag 02 though, keeping the leachate to give to your plants to (mix in with the water)
I have been recently researching all I can about vermicomposting (worm bins, cold composting) and have heard that this liquid is both good and bad. The experts in the field that I have read up on usually say do NOT use this liquid because like fearNuke says, it is almost always full of the “bad” microbes because the water sits there and “looses” dissolved oxygen due to the good microbes consuming it. Soon there is no oxygen left, and the bad microbes take over. The good stuff in this liquid would be most likely heavy concentrations of some nutrients. If I were to try and find a use for it, I would just dilute it heavily in water and maybe water in some flower beds outside or on your grass maybe, but I wouldn’t add it to my cannabis garden, just to be on the safe side.
thanks so much I’ve been trying to research it but only ever could find stuff on teas. I do turn my compost bucket every day and I dont get any “bad” smells out of it but one day I just decided to pull that top bucket out and it just smelled so bad
No problem at all, happy to help. If you are still looking for good information on teas, check out KIS organics webpage. In the blog section, there is a treasure trove of good info. My favorite article about the compost teas can be found there too, but I will drop you a direct link.
https://www.kisorganics.com/blogs/news/the-ultimate-compost-tea-guide