Can You Put Aloe Vera in a Compost Bin?

Method

• Living aloe vera is a green component when used in a compost pile. This means it is a nitrogen-plentiful source and must be balanced by a carbon-plentiful source such as wood chips, straw, sawdust, paper, dry leaves or bark. Like any component of a compost pile, it will decompose faster if it is chopped or ground up. This provides plentiful surface area for decomposing microbes to break down the aloe vera quickly.

Problems

• If aloe vera is composted without any other materials or if it is composted with a lot of other green, nitrogen-rich materials, the compost pile will likely go anaerobic. This means that there is not enough oxygen in the pile and/or there is too much moisture. Microbes that don't need oxygen to survive -- anaerobic microbes -- are consuming the nitrogen-rich materials very quickly, and often produce a stinky, sulfurous smell. This isn't good for the compost pile or for the ambiance nearby.

Growing

• Many gardeners accidentally end up growing plants out of their compost pile when vegetable seeds that were added to the pile sprout in the nutrient-rich compost. As long as the pile isn't turned or doesn't get too hot, they'll even grow to maturity. This is not the case with aloe vera. It can be planted near the pile, but often the compost pile itself is too hot, too moist or has too many decomposing microbes at work for aloe vera roots to survive.

Considerations

• If you need to compost a lot of aloe vera and the compost pile begins to smell bad, add more carbon-rich materials and don't add too much water. The pile should be only as moist as a wrung-out sponge. Before adding aloe vera to the compost pile at all, consider planting it elsewhere or giving it away. It is a useful medicinal plant, especially for sunburns, and makes an interesting, easy-to-grow landscape or potted plant.