Years ago, I had read about composting orange peels and there were studies that stated to avoid adding orange peels to your compost pile. It was believed that by adding orange peels it could scare away worms, bugs, and very such organisms that are very important in the process of composting.
Today orange peels are considered very useful in a compost pile. So, if you have orange peels, you can go ahead and add them to the pile. Furthermore, you could also add numerous other citrus peels, as they are equally beneficial green matter to add to the compost mix.
Any citrus peel that is high in nitrogen contribute to quick decomposition, as it increases the activity of the microorganisms that are present in the pile. Grape, lime peels, lemon peels, and various citrus peels a nutrient-rich and can be added to the compost pile.
However, you must know that, if you’re working with a worm bin then worms do not consume orange peels, so avoid adding them to your worm bin. However, if you’re utilizing a traditional composter, then don’t stress and add fresh peels.
Orange peels in compost
While adding orange peels to the compost pile there are certain things that you could consider in order to successfully compost these peels. Take a quick look;
- Adding orange peels directly to the compost pile will not be as beneficial, as cutting them into small pieces. All orange peels contain nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus that are very beneficial to the soil and plants. When cut in small pieces, they would break down quicker speeding up the process of decomposition.
- A compost pile must have a balanced ratio of browns and greens. Organic materials that come under the category of browns are very high in carbon. And materials that come under the category of greens are high in nitrogen. The brown materials are those that are dry and easily found around your yard and home that include, dry leaves, branches, newspaper, sawdust, etc. Green materials are easily found in your kitchen that include leftover foods, fruit, and vegetables peelings, etc. Most green materials are wet therefore a balanced layer of both is very important.
- You must always make sure that the compost pile is not soaking or very dry. Two successfully compost orange peels you must make sure that the compost pile is damp.
- The file must also have sufficient aeration and the right temperature. A compost pile has several microorganisms living in it, that require a good amount of oxygen to continue the process of decomposition. If the oxygen is low or absents the process will be slow or come to a complete halt. This will leave the orange peels undone.
There are various other useful ways you can recycle the orange peels in the garden. Many gardeners use it as a repellent for insects and pests that include aphids and whitefly. You can now make your very own orange peel pesticide by boiling a few slices in water for 20 minutes. Now turn the heat off and let it stand for 30 minutes. Once it cools you can store the liquid in the spray bottle. And just like that, you have your very own homemade orange peel pesticide.
Well, that’s all for this article and, I do hope our tips and suggestions will help you to successfully add orange peels to your compost. Happy composting!