Actinomycetes: The White Stuff in Your Hot Compost
Вставка
- Опубліковано 4 лип 2024
- Video Summary: What are the little white strands in your hot compost? Those are actinomycetes and Steve explains their function and why they're a good sign
Actinomycetes Blog Post
urbanwormcompany.com/actinomy...
Ultimate Guide to Vermicomposting
urbanwormcompany.com/vermicom...
Video Timeline:
0:00 Start of Video
0:26 What are actinomycetes?
0:43 Fun fact about actinomycetes or actinobacteria
1:45 Are actinomycetes a concern in the worm bin?
About the Urban Worm Company
Website: urbanwormcompany.com
Shop: shop.urbanwormcompany.com
Instagram: / urbanwormco
Facebook: / urbanwormcompany - Навчання та стиль
First time this happened to my pile was in the winter, my first thought was “Dang, it must be too cold for bacteria, but maybe there are some fungi doing some work”. It just happened again, and my heart drops, thinking I had done something wrong. So good to know that these are essential compost pile workers!
Yep! They're good guys
Perfect timing!! I was turning my hot compost pile and saw all that white stuff and thought it might be ash because it was so hot...now I know!! Awesome video Steve!!🪱🪱🪱
Same!
Thanks VLD!
Awesome video - quick, to the point and informative. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Great video! My neighbor freaked out when he saw this in his compost pile. He's OK now thanks to you!
That's great!
Thanks, this is good to know!
Glad it was helpful!
What a great subject to cover in this episode! You are so right that most people misidentify this phenomenon of nature, yet I've never heard anyone else address it. Thank you! Combined with fungi and insects like Springtails, actinomycetes is very helpful in the process of decomp.
I've seen this all over my New Mexico yard under and amongst the abundant layer of leaves that fall from the 50yr+ old trees that occupy nearly every patch of ground in my neighborhood.
I allow the leaves to remain in place until spring, and find this white growth in the lower, moister layer.
When I first moved here 2yrs ago, I too wrongly assumed this to be fungi, and therefore didn't bother to research it as I do most everything in my life.
Once I educated myself, I began wearing a mask when raking up the dried leaves.
Any dust created while removing the deep layer of leaves that haven't yet decomposed, could be detrimental if breathed in by those with compromised immune systems. I'm nearly 70yo, so I decided not to take any chances.
As far as wormbins are concerned, I suppose it's all about balance/ ratio and each particular environment. I'm so glad you addressed this in relation to a wormbin, because my location is abundant with this bacteria, and I'm planning to start my own bin very soon. Now, I can rest easy knowing it's okay for the worms. 👍
Hey ChaCha, if you're finding this under leaf layers, then that very likely *is* fungi rather than actinomycetes
Wow interesting thank you
You got it!
Awesome!! I always thought it was saprophytic fungi.
Cheers Steve 👍
You can certainly have those but not in the really hot parts of the pile!
Needs more video clips or photos of it. But thanks. The white stuff might be something else.
It's a beneficial fungi and your compost that helps break down some of the tougher carbon materials like wood chips, shredded bark wood nuggets or any Woody material even paper or cardboard. I believe it feeds on the cellulose of the wood and helps break it down easier in your compost pile.
It’s not actually a fungi though. It sorta behaves like one but it’s actually a bacteria
Hi Steve I am from Belize 🇧🇿 I really like your video wish I can contact you directly
Thanks! You can give me a shout at steve@urbanwormcompany.com
but mine is stringy flaky like styrine
This video leads people to believe that fungi are not present in compost and actinomycetes are doing all the work. There are indeed fungal dominant compost piles and bacterial ones. Are you saying that only actinomycetes and other bacteria are solely responsible for healthy compost production?
Not my intent here. I should have emphasized finding actinomycetes in the *hot* parts of compost in the first few weeks of composting. Sure, there are fungal dominant piles, but fungi won't proliferate in temps over 60C/122F. If you're finding these white filaments in the core of a 150°F pile, they aren't going to be fungi.
Awesome video, thanks for the edutainment. I’d just like to add that actinobacteria are dominant in reduced oxygen environments so seeing an abundance of them indicates that your compost is becoming or is already anaerobic and is now potentially culturing disease causing life forms. Seeing them is a great time to turn and reintroduction oxygen to the pile.
Great input (and YT handle) Big Sexy!