Alec is new customer. His son bought him the HOTBIN for a birthday present. Five weeks in he is happily composting garden waste at 120F (50C) – great stuff
However his garden has been invaded with Houttunyia – as fast as he pulls it out, it grows back. What he wants to know is can he compost the roots?
Houttunyia is a plant that grows via rhizomes (horizontal underground stems that strike new roots out of their nodes, down into the soil, and then plants shoot from the stems). Even the smallest bit of rhizome can grow into
a plant. They can spread extremely quickly.
CAN YOU COMPOST THE ROOTS? YES!
HOTBIN composting tips
1) Ensure HOTBIN is already operating above 40C – the heat and thermophilic bacteria ensure the rhizomes are fully composted and no longer viable
2) Chop up any large root balls (use spade)
3) Knock soil of f the roots before adding to the HOTBIN as excess soil affects aeration
That’s it, well OK, one more thing…
If you want to be ultra sure it is fully composted, when you take out your compost after 90 days, put it in a bucket/tub and leave outside away from Houttunyia – if nothing grows, job done!
