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QUESTION: How long does it take for compost to turn to soil?

ANSWER: Compost eventually breaks down and turns into a soil additive over time. Depending on the environment provided, the materials being composted, the size of the pile, the moisture level in the pile, the temperature of the pile, and how often the compost is being turned, decomposition will take place anywhere between two weeks and two years.

Compost is ready when it has cooled, turned a rich, dark brown color, and broken down into small, soil-like particles. When compost no longer looks like rotting vegetables, garden waste,  and decomposing food scraps and begins to look and smell like soil, it has finished decomposing and is ready to use in your garden.

QUESTION: How long does it take for an orange peel to compost?

ANSWER: Depending on the environment that you provide in your compost pile, it can take orange peels up to six months to decompose fully. You can speed up the decomposition process of your orange peels by tearing them into small pieces, as smaller pieces will break down quicker. You can also increase the speed of decomposition by being sure to turn your pile once every couple of weeks.

QUESTION: How long does it take for a compost pile to heat up?

ANSWER: If you compile your compost heap correctly, it will typically heat up within a period of 24 to 36 hours to its ideal temperature, which is between 141 and 155 degrees F. The reason that this is the ideal temperature that you want your compost to reach, is because this is the temperature that weed seeds and disease pathogens will die at.

Once your compost reaches its ideal temperature, it will stay hot for several days, and sometimes up to a week or longer. If you are concerned about the temperature of your compost pile, you can check how hot it is by using a compost thermometer.

If your compost pile is not heating up, check the moisture level of the pile, as low compost temperatures are usually the result of not enough or too much moisture in the pile. It might also be because there is not enough nitrogen, or green materials present in the pile.

If your pile is too wet, you will need to spread out the materials in order to let them dry. Heat is essential to successful composting, as heat is the driving force that helps break down organic materials. Heat is also important, as it kills funguses, weed seeds, and disease pathogens in the pile before you add the compost to your garden beds. 

QUESTION: How long does finished compost last?

ANSWER: Finished compost lasts well over one year, but it is best to use it within one year because it starts to lose volume and nutrients after a year has passed. Microbiological activity will also begin to diminish significantly after the first year. Technically, as long as compost is stored properly, it will not go bad or expire, but it is recommended that you use all your compost within one year before it starts to deteriorate.

QUESTION: How long does compost last in pots?

ANSWER: Both commercial and homemade compost can last for over one year when sealed, but the overall volume and composition can start to break down and deteriorate significantly after the first year and the microbiological activity can also diminish significantly after the first year, so it is recommended that compost be used within a year for optimal results, though compost doesn’t really expire or become unusable after a year has passed.

If stored properly, compost won’t expire, but it will lose volume and nutrients as time goes by. You can also rejuvenate old compost and used compost as well by replacing lost nutrients and adding in more organic matter.