Huge slugs in the compost dalek

[Oleander]

that's basically it!

Do I need to do anything about it or can I leave them in peace?

[lynda66]

i leave the slugs, in the compost heap, cos they eat green stuff and cardboard, so i reckon it has to come out the other end, therefore slugs do have a use round the compost heap is the only place i leave slug pellets, cos theres thousands of them in there, and i don't want them escaping for fresh stuff

[Kristen]

I would leave them in two pieces! Worms / slugs / snails in your compost heap means that it isn't composting "hot enough" to kill / deter them - unless the heap has finished composting, and is in the cooling-down phase.

[lynda66]

i thought worms in your compost was a good thing? i can feel the heat from mine just standing next to it ..... is now confused.

[nilling]

Slugs in the compost bin is the best place for them!

My compost bins get hot but that's probably due to the fact they are black and get full sun rather than the internal temp of the bin. I use to turn them over but I guess I'm too lazy now...

[Kristen]

i thought worms in your compost was a good thing? i can feel the heat from mine just standing next to it ..... is now confused.

The composting process will, ideally, generate huge heat (push a stick into the middle of the heap and see if it comes out moist and "steamy").

That will be too hot for worms, but once the high temperature stage of composting is finished then they will come in and help mix it all up and munch on the rougher bits which is all Jolly Good News.

Higher temperature composting is beneficial because:

It kills bugs / weed seeds etc.

It is faster than cold temperature composting (compost in Weeks rather than in Months)

The Daleks are well suited to higher temperature composting because the insulate, and attract the sun's heat, etc.

You need the right mix of material - if all you have is dry stalks and no fresh green material you will be unlikely to get high-heat. Conversely if all you have is grass clippings you've have plenty of heat, but a different set of bugs (Anaerobic ["without air"] instead of the preferred Aerobic ["with air"]) and you'll just get a slimy mess [in the short term, it will compost OK in the long term, but you will do just as well putting the grass clippings in a "pile" ]

You can put some grass clippings in the Dalek to increase the heat, or some manure, Pee-ing on it helps too [but I'm not sure which forum is correct if you were planning to upload photos ], or you can use a commercial compost accelerator like Garotta.

That's what I think the deal is, but I'm sure folk will correct me if I have got it pear-shaped.

[lynda66]

i'd better stop chucking worms in then lol ...... i have a 1.5m cubed cage lined with black plastic and a topping of polystyrene and a thick plastic mat. the slugs are all over the top, i've been putting nasturtium leaves in the last few days, they started to take over so i had to trim them, i guess it's cooler there, the inside is very hot, been mixing everything up as i go and wee'd on it, well actually i wee'd in a bucket for a week and chucked that on .... buckets aren't comfy, tried to get son to wee on it he just looked at me and walked off shaking his head

anyway if it gets too hot they will die ..... damn lol never mind.

[seasprout]

that's basically it!

Do I need to do anything about it or can I leave them in peace?

Huge slugs in the compost bin are not a problem, they will help with decomposition.

Its the huge alligators you should worry about.

[Snadger]

Huge slugs in the compost bin are not a problem, they will help with decomposition.

Its the huge alligators you should worry about.

.........or even worse, the Anaconda giving the alligator a hug!