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.