While nature can naturally break down organic matter over time, compost starters play a vital role in expediting this process by introducing beneficial bacteria. These starters accelerate decomposition and infuse your compost with essential nutrients, resulting in nutrient-rich soil for healthier plants. In this comprehensive guide and review, we explore the benefits of compost starters and provide practical tips on using them effectively. Jobe's Organics emerges as a standout choice for the best compost starter, boasting a potent blend of organic ingredients meticulously crafted to optimize microbial activity and enhance compost quality. Discover the key to unlocking your composting success and transforming kitchen scraps and yard waste into valuable soil nourishment.
Our Top Picks For Compost Starters
The Best Compost Starters
Best Overall
The Jobe’s Organics Granular compost starter is designed to help boost the composting process. This unique fast-acting organic fertilizer will give user-visible results. The secret of this composter can be found in Jobe’s Biozome which consists of three microorganisms including mycorrhizal fungi, bacteria, and a unique Archaea species. Feel free to sprinkle two cups of the Jobe Organics Compost starter for each cubic yard of organic waste and enjoy outstanding results. You will easily begin to see positive results within three weeks of application.
The OMRI is listed for organic gardening by the USDA which means it is free from synthetic chemicals. Also, the Biozome helps in resisting diseases, drought, and insects during the growing season.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Helps prevent insects and diseases
- Comes with an easy pour bag
Cons
- Has an unpleasant smell
Most Reliable
The Compost-It compost accelerator pack is what you need to create a unique garden-ready compost within just a month. This unique compost starter is designed to help boost natural processes while removing hitherto frustrating and slow long waits. The starter is perfect for all methods of composting such as drums, tumblers, piles, and compost bins. Also, the starter is perfect for worm farms because of its hundred percent biological formula which is efficient, effective, and quite easy to use.
This unique formulation is made up of billions of colony-forming wonder-workers from nature. The unique blend of enzymes is a major component due to their unique ability to biodegrade grass, leaves, and kitchen food scraps.
Pros
- Comes with over sixty active ingredients
- Capable of creating perfect compost quickly
- Cuts down unhealthy and unpleasant odors
Cons
- Takes some time to see results
Best Ingredients
The Espoma organic traditional compost starter is designed to be enough to cover your compost pile. Every time you add a layer of organic material, use the Bio-Excelerator on the last layer. In a situation where you moisten the extra layer after you add the Bio-Excelerator and regularly turn the pile, you will cut down the time needed for the humus to be produced to about 3 months.
Pros
- Pet friendly formula
- Natural and organic
- Easy to use and apply
Cons
- Must follow instructions closely
Most Easy to Use
The fourth item on this list is the SCD probiotics C100 compost starter. This compost starter is a natural compost starter that is designed to help convert food waste into compost thus boosting the soil texture. Always ensure to cover the surface of the food waste All Seasons Bokashi. The All Seasons Bakoshi will help prepare the food waste to become of premium quality compost.
This compost is chemical-free as it is made using a natural and fermented blend of SCD Probiotic technology. Also, you will enjoy more nutritious compost as the starter helps to break down the organic waste in your gardens, bins, and soil thus giving you a healthy soil mix. Another unique advantage of this starter is that it helps to cut down household and compost odors and can be used anywhere around your house.
Pros
- Chemical-free and nutritious
- Children and pet free
- Cuts down odors
Cons
- Packaging could be improved upon
Best Quality Bins
Our final pick is the original premium quality bokashi composting bins. Although these bins cost a bit more, you can be sure of getting more quality than the cheaper options. With this dual bin starter, you will enjoy all you need to begin your bokashi compost. All the parts of the bin are replaceable in a case where anything goes wrong after the expiration of the warranty period. Also included in the package includes 2 x Bokashi bins as well as 2x 2.2 lb bags of premium bokashi bran as well as a guide.
Pros
- Premium and reliable quality
- Easy to install and use
- Eco-friendly materials
Cons
- Regular maintenance required
Finding Your Next Compost Starter: A Buyer's Guide
A compost starter, also known as an “activator” or “accelerator,” is composed of bacteria and fungi targeted at starting the decomposition process. You will find a lot of biological activities occurring during the process of decomposition. It goes beyond just grass and leaves dying; it involves the bacteria working all day long to decompose the organic matter.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Compost Accelerator
If you are still reading this article, it means you are serious about getting better results from your composting. Here are a few tips you should consider if you want to buy a compost accelerator.
An abundance of active ingredients
One way to know if a compost activator will be good enough is by the volume of active ingredients. The correct volume of ingredients will help boost decomposition while also helping with cellular replication and decomposition.
Presence of organic formulas
The right organic accelerator ought to be composed of as many organic ingredients as one can imagine. Because most people who get into composting do so due to its environmentally friendly nature, the organic formula content is vital. Do not buy compost activators that are made up of too many synthetic ingredients and chemicals.
Nitrogen constituents
The very best accelerators are often made up of nitrogen-rich ingredients and extra elements such as calcium and magnesium. With these components, the bacteria component of your compost will grow faster, thus boosting the process of decomposition.
Brand reputation
One way to know if you are making the right choice is to check the brand’s background and its products. You can quickly ascertain this by checking online for reviews and customer feedback on the products. It is always safer to deal with a brand that offers good customer service and after-sales support.
Cost
The final thing to consider will be the cost of the accelerator. While compost accelerators aren’t exactly the most expensive things out there, the quality of the product most often depends on the cost. Therefore, be on the lookout for product quality before you consider the price.
How Compost Starters Work
Compost piles help you leverage the power of nature. The food materials and plant matter placed in the stack will break down naturally with time. The different stuff combined in the pile will become dark material that is exceptionally rich in nutrients. When they are placed in garden and landscape areas, the compost enriches the soil to give your plants better nutrients.
Compost accelerators help in speeding the decomposition process which happens in a pile. The major component of the booster includes microbes and minerals which help with decomposition.
Benefits of Compost Starters
Here are a few reasons why you should get yourself composter starters.
Helps speed up the composting process
The average compost heap takes a full year to produce compost. With the right accelerator, you can speed up the entire process by helping to naturally boost the compost heap to get quality compost within 21 days.
Helps in increasing compost quality
Compost accelerators help increase the compost heap’s temperature, which helps break down the compost into more minor constituents while keeping the much-needed nutrients.
They are natural
Most reputable compost accelerators are made using a hundred percent organic components. This will help you gain the needed level of reassurance for producing healthy and organic compost, which helps contribute to organic plant growth.
Helps in sterilizing compost from pathogens
The accelerator will help boost the compost temperature piles to temperatures above eighty degrees to make sure that any harmful diseases or pathogens are killed off while the compost gets sterilized.
Tips for Using a Compost Accelerator
- Ensure you only add fresh materials such as garden weeds, lawn clippings, and raw kitchen vegetable peelings
- Do not add cooked food to this accelerator as it will draw vermin. Cut or shred waste into smaller pieces where it is possible, especially with woody stems.
- Ensure you cover the heap to retain the moisture content
- Finally, regularly turn the heap to allow the air required for a quicker decomposition effect. When you are ready, make sure you spread the compost on your garden as a soil improver or mulch and keep all materials not composed at the bottom of the heap.
The below video gives more tips and tricks on how to use a compost starter.
Final Thoughts
Organic wastes such as leaves, kitchen remnants, and lawn clippings can be precious raw materials. For people with gardens, it may be wise to make your compost using some of these functional raw materials. However, the composting process may take some time which is why you need a compost starter. Using the right compost accelerator will help provide the needed level of soil organisms along with valuable minerals. This guide and review have shown you all you need to know before buying. You should easily make the right choices with these.
People Also Asked
When can I use compost accelerators?
You can always use compost accelerators when the compost is produced. When dealing with green waste, it is best done during the summer, while kitchen waste can be done throughout the year.
Is it possible for me to make compost accelerators myself?
You can easily find materials on the internet for this purpose. But you should purchase one of the items highlighted in this review and buying guide for the best results.
What are the components of a compost accelerator?
Depending on what the product is, a compost accelerator usually contains phosphate, nitrogen, potassium, bone meal, and cornmeal, as well as lime and animal droppings. Some of the products also include microorganisms and fungal cultures.
