If you don't have your own garden, you can easily make compost yourself on the balcony. You'll need a plastic bin and some patience, but with the right tips, you can speed up the process of rotting.
A balcony does not offer much space for compost
The building instructions
A plastic bin with a capacity of 75 liters is ideal for composting on the balcony. Drill several holes no larger than 1 inch in diameter in the bottom and sides. The holes are for ventilation and water drainage. So that the liquid does not run onto the floor, you need a large coaster.
Build a stable frame of four bricks and four squared timbers around the coaster, which are placed on 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 timber. This distance between the barrel and coaster allows air to circulate.
Line the bottom of the bin with cardboard, over which you sprinkle a layer of thin twigs. The branches ensure better ventilation from below, while the cardboard catches small material from the branches and the compost contents. Close the bin with a lid so that the heat stays inside.
Fill the compost properly
A layer of fresh compost supplies the new approach with important microorganisms that can start decomposition immediately. Put the smallest possible organic waste on the compost, as small leftovers are used more quickly. Make sure there is a good mix of dry, moist, fine and coarse leftovers. A ratio of 60 to 80 percent moist waste and 20 to 40 percent dry components is ideal. Leftovers from cooked food and meat are unsuitable.
This organic waste goes on the compost:
- Peels of bananas, potatoes and eggs
- leaves, needles and weeds
- Tea bags, bread scraps and coffee grounds
Tips for proper composting
At 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 four-person household, one bin can last up to nine months before it is completely full. After a year, you can pour the contents into a second bin. As a result, the substrate is rearranged and thoroughly aerated.
Make sure the compost is neither too wet nor too dry. A wet compost tends to develop odours, 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.