If you don't have your own garden, you can easily make your own compost on the balcony. You need a plastic bin and a little patience, but with the right tips you can speed up the decomposition.
How do you make a compost (€449.00 on Amazon) on the balcony?
For a balcony compost you need a 75 liter plastic bin with ventilation holes, a saucer, a stable frame and compost material such as organic waste, twigs and cardboard. Make sure there is a good mix of dry, moist, fine and coarse material to ensure optimal decomposition.
The construction instructions
A plastic bin with a capacity of 75 liters is ideal for compost (€449.00 on Amazon) on the balcony. Drill several holes in the bottom and sides that are no larger than 2.5 centimeters in diameter. The holes are used for ventilation and water drainage. To prevent the liquid from running onto the floor, you need a large coaster.
Build a sturdy frame around the coaster out of four bricks and four squared timbers that are placed on top of the stones. You should be able to easily pull the coaster out from between the bricks to empty it. Place the plastic bin on the squared timbers. This distance between the barrel and the coaster allows air circulation.
Line the bottom of the bin with cardboard, over which you scatter a layer of thin twigs. The branches ensure better ventilation from below, while the cardboard catches small material from the branches and compost contents. Close the bin with a lid so that the heat is retained inside.
Filling the compost correctly
A layer of fresh compost supplies the new approach with important microorganisms that can immediately start rotting. If possible, add small-sized organic waste to the compost, as small residues are used more quickly. Make sure there is a good mix of dry, wet, fine and coarse residues. A ratio of 60 to 80 percent wet waste and 20 to 40 percent dry components is ideal. Leftovers from cooked food and meat are unsuitable.
This organic waste goes into the compost:
- Banana, potato and egg peels
- Leaves, needles and weeds
- Tea bags, leftover bread and coffee grounds
Tips for proper composting
In the beginning, the bin fills up at breakneck speed because the biomass takes up a lot of space. Rotting progresses fastest at optimal outside temperatures of 20 degrees Celsius. As soon as the microorganisms begin to decompose, the contents collapse. For a household of four people, one bin can last up to nine months until it is completely filled. After a year you can pour the contents into a second bin. This rearranges the substrate and aerates it thoroughly.
Make sure that the compost is neither too moist nor too dry. A wet compost tends to produce odors, while the microorganisms cannot work in a dried out substrate. The water content is ideal when the substrate feels like a squeezed sponge. Once the compost gets too wet, you can add some cardboard. Regular watering helps against dryness. Nettle manure is suitable for this because it also promotes the activity of the organisms.
