Does Anyone put a "Jacket" on Their Compost Dalek to Help it Along in Wintertime?

pinkskyinthecity

As the temps drop, would anyone suggest this as a way to keep the decomposition process going? I have a Dalek type and am thinking of making a bubble-wrap jacket for it. Will this be effective, I wonder? 

Lizzie27

I am trying that out for the first time this year and so far it seems to be working as I've still got the brandling worms and other creepies inside. Hopefully it will make a difference over the winter. 

fidgetbones

Well the hotbox type composters seem to be just insulated with polystyrene, so I don't see why it wouldn't work. Not much goes in mine in winter. The kitchen trimmings get dumped in, but they really don't get going until spring when I mix it up with grass cuttings.  It is the bacterial decomposition that generates the heat, but insulation should keep it in better to give a better result on the edges which cool off first in a normal bin.

Wilderbeast

My pallet bins have insulation fitted inside and plastic over the top to protect it all and I can keep hot bins all year round. Any insulation will help 

Kili

Not sure if this works with anything other than a Hotbin but as I understand it the hotbin people recommend putting a hot water bottle in the bin for 24 hours to get the temperature up if it drops below 15 degrees. Maybe that would work for any small compost bin as a way of keeping the temperature up for the bacteria in the compost.

Info here>>> https://www.hotbincomposting.com/blog/detailed-composting-faq/how-to-use-the-kick-start-bottle.html

pinkskyinthecity

Kili said:

Not sure if this works with anything other than a Hotbin but as I understand it the hotbin people recommend putting a hot water bottle in the bin for 24 hours to get the temperature up if it drops below 15 degrees. Maybe that would work for any small compost bin as a way of keeping the temperature up for the bacteria in the compost.

Info here>>> https://www.hotbincomposting.com/blog/detailed-composting-faq/how-to-use-the-kick-start-bottle.html


won't it kill the existing worms inside if a hotwater bottle is next to them?

kitmorris

pinkskyinthecity said:

As the temps drop, would anyone suggest this as a way to keep the decomposition process going? I have a Dalek type and am thinking of making a bubble-wrap jacket for it. Will this be effective, I wonder? 

I have fitted a insulation jacket onto a Dalek Composter using a insulation jacket normally used on a hot water tank.   It’s heavily padded with a red waterproof cover.  I put it on and then covered it with thin black plastic  and wrapped it tight.  I also put a bubble wrap cushion under the lid.  It works very well and takes a very short time to compost in the summer but longer in the winter and the worms multiply very quickly and continue to work all winter.  I am about to put another jacket on my 3rd dalek

Nanny Beach

No,I have also got 3 of these,hubby cut a square out of the front and put a frame with slide up door so you can access the compost. I don't use any over winter. Mulch in autumn and spring,let the worms do their thing. We never even covered the pallet ones we used to have. Just looked up out of interest says you have to insulate against loosing all 3 types of heat loss, conductive, convective, radiant.

Lizzie27

That's a good idea @kitmorris. I've got bubblewrap/fleece/old willow screening round my Daleks but haven't insulated the lids. Will do that tomorrow!

LG_

The Green Johanna has an optional, purpose-made winter jacket so they obviously think it's a good idea.
https://www.gardenersworld.com/reviews/gardening-kit/green-johanna-330-litre-hot-composter-review/