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Why does my home made compost fizz when I wet it?

B3B3 Posts: 27,505
in Plants
When I water the pots,there's a fizzy froth on the top which disappears almost immediately. Our water is fairly hard and there's nothing strange in the compost that I'm aware of.
In London. Keen but lazy.

Posts

  • PurpleRosePurpleRose Posts: 538
    Hi

    I am not sure what it is. We live in a hard water area too. When I water pots which are topped by compost. Any compost, I get a white fizz appear then disappears as the water soaks in.

    I thought that it was normal as I have always noticed it
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I only notice it with my own. I wonder if it's something to do with acidity.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Still wondering. Google hasn't a clue😊
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Have you tested the PH of your compost? My suspicion would be that your water contains calcium carbonate or similar and the acid in the soil is reacting to create carbon dioxide. If I remember my GCSE chemistry correctly acid plus salt creates carbon dioxide plus water.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I wondered if that was what's going on.   Although my soil is mildly acidic, i cant grow rhododendrons or the like.  It definitely looks like a chemical reaction, but I'm surprised it's so spectacular. If I added the  water to bicarb , nothing would happen.. Not concerned but just curious😊
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    You'd need to add the water to a solid acid to get the same effect. I've added garden lime to my compsters in the past which helps raise the ph a bit.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Do I need to? @wild edges
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Only if its acidity was causing a problem. It sounds like your tap water is doing the job well enough.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    No problem that I'm aware of so I'll log it as an interesting phenomenon😊 @wild edges
    In London. Keen but lazy.
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