soil amount for composting

Question

Just got a tumbler composter – first time to try. Have put small amount of soil (-20% total) & adding brown & green as directed. Wouldn’t it be good to add more soil? If so, what % of total? Thanks for this website – very informative!

Answer 1

You can add more soil and it will not hurt to add more, but it is not necessary. The soil is like an activator. Adding the soil will add some microbes that are naturally in the soil that will soon start turning your browns and greens into compost. Adding more soil will add more microbes, but the microbes you have already added will multiply quickly on their own as long as things are kept moist and turned regularly.