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3.3 Using the seep liquid
The seep liquid collected in the canister contains nutrients which
plants can readily use. You can use the seep liquid as follows:
• As a fertiliser for ornamental garden plants, diluted with
water in a ratio of 1:5. Undiluted seep liquid can also be used
but then you should water the area meticulously after use
in order to prevent the liquid from burning the plants. Using
fertilisation in the autumn is not recommended since it can
interfere with the winter preparation of perennial plants. The
recommended storage period of seep liquid before it is used
as a fertiliser is approximately one year.
• As a source of nitrogen for garden compost: intensifies the
functioning of garden compost, which is low in nutrients and
rich in carbon. When used in this manner, the seep liquid does
not need to be diluted.
• You can also recycle the seep liquid through the Composter
for Summer Cottage Use by pouring it over the mass from the
top. Add some bulking agent and absorb a maximum of 5 litres
of liquid per day. If the mass is already wet, do not moisten it
further with seep liquid.
4. Potential problems
Composting not successful?
The majority of problems are caused by the wrong
type of bulking agent. Ensure you are using Biolan’s
bulking agent!
4.1 Smell of ammonia or decay
• Ensure that you are using Biolan Compost and Toilet Bulking
Agent (Accessories on page 5) and that the quantity you use
is sufficient.
• Temporarily increase the quantity of the bulking agent until
the smell subsides and the moisture content is appropriate.
• Remove the wettest mass from the composter through the
emptying door and spread it around ornamental plants in
a layer of a couple of centimetres thick. The bad odour will
dissipate in a few days.
• Place a couple of shovelfuls of bulking agent on the bottom of
the composter through the emptying door.
• Ensure that the seep liquid hose, liquid separation plate (part
16) and the seep liquid drain have not become obstructed.
• Bring the mass down and mix plenty of bulking agent in it.
• Remember to open and empty biodegradable bags before you
place them in the composter.
4.2 Waste fails to compost
The reason for the waste failing to compost is usually the
compost being too dry or too wet. The moisture of the compost
mass is appropriate when squeezing it in your hand releases a
few drops of liquid.
If there is a lot of matter, such as toilet paper that has not
decomposed in the compost being removed from the bin, the
liquid volume has been too low in relation to the solid matter. The
liquid volume must be increased (e.g. urine, warm water, cooking
liquids). The excessively dry waste located at the bottom of the
composter bin can be returned to the composter from the top
and moistened.
If the compost is wet and malodorous, there is too much liquid.
Liquid may temporarily flow from around the emptying door
when the compost is first used or if the compost bin is too full.
Follow the instructions provided in item 4.1.
4.3 Compost mass freezes
The Biolan Composter for Summer Cottage Use is not completely
insulated. If you use the composter in the winter, it is a good
idea to empty it partially in the autumn to ensure that it will
accommodate the mass generated in the winter. Freezing does
not damage the composter. The composting action restarts once
the weather becomes warmer.
2.4 Emptying
Partial emptying of the compost often raises the temperature
of the mass due to the added oxygen, and this intensifies the
composting action.
• Empty the Composter for Summer Cottage Use only when it is
almost full. Only remove the compost mass that has matured
to the cover soil phase and leave the raw waste in the bin.
• To ensure that composting continues as efficiently as
possible, remove a maximum of half of all the contents. If you
use the composter in the winter, it is a good idea to empty it
partially in the autumn to ensure that it will accommodate the
mass generated in the winter.
• Open the emptying hatch and remove the mass from the
bottom of the bin with a shovel. Finalise the emptying with the
emptying aid (Accessories on page 5).
• Also clean the liquid separation plate (part 16) and the seep
liquid drain. Check that the seep liquid hose is not obstructed.
• If the mass you removed is considerably wet, place a couple of
shovelfuls of bulking agent on the bottom of the composter.
• Clean the edges of the emptying hatch and opening. Close the
emptying hatch.
• Push some of the mass downward from the top of the bin
with the compost mixer (Accessories on page 5) or a shovel.
Starting from the corners is the easiest way to do this. Be
careful not to break the inlet air channel (part 4) located in the
centre of the composter.
• When needed, empty the seep liquid canister. This is important
before the winter, in particular, to prevent the canister from
breaking when it freezes.
2.5 Cleaning
• Washing the composter is not necessary. Various moulds
and ray fungi are important decomposing organisms in the
compost and do not need to be washed away.
• When needed, clean the air valves (parts 3 and 9), seep liquid
hose, liquid separation plate (part 16) and the seep liquid
drain underneath the plate.
3. Using compost and seep liquid in the
garden
The compost makes an excellent soil conditioner and contains
nutrients with a long-lasting effect for plants to use. Compost
soil changes and develops constantly and should be used in a
different manner in the different stages of its development.
Compost soil is usually divided into two groups based on how
mature it is: semi-mature cover soil and mature compost soil.
3.1 Maturing cover soil into compost soil
When the Composter for Summer Cottage Use is emptied,
the mass in it has usually matured to the cover soil phase. It is
recommended that cover soil only be used for covering the
growing bed of ornamental plants. If you want to use it for edible
plants, it should be post-composted for another year to ensure
that the intestinal flora dies and the mass matures into proper
compost soil.
3.2 Using cover soil
Cover soil refers to semi-mature compost mass. The
decomposition process has progressed to a phase in which toilet
waste and any food waste has decomposed completely. Harder
wood matter and eggshells and citrus peels, for example, may still
be visible, so cover soil looks coarse. Semi-mature compost may
still contain substances that impede growth and germination,
so it should not be used for a growing medium. Cover soil is not
harmful to plants when spread to cover the beds of ornamental
plants in a layer of a few centimetres thick. This will allow the
nutrients contained by the compost to release for the plants to
use.
