Composting for Carbon Dioxide in GH?

[nortonj]

I got started with my new GH last year. After reading Shane Smith's book, Greenhouse Gardener's Companion, I learned that in the winter when there is little fresh air flowing into the greenhouse, that the available Carbon Dioxide levels can be drastically reduced, and that the plants will not grow as well. The book suggests composting in the GH, which should emit CO2.

I went all out with composting - I had 2 open buckets of kitchen scraps, a worm factory compost bin, and I even started a dog poop worm compost bin (which didn't last). Then I noticed that I was getting Bud Blast in several of my Catt's. Could it be my composting causing the bud blast? I was also letting the temps get low at night. Being new to GH growing, I'm not sure which factors to look at. Now that it's getting to be winter again, I'm trying to determine whether I should start composting again in the GH. Would love any advice!

Thanks,
Jean

[Brotherly Monkey]

I think compost piles give off a significant amount of ethylene gas, and remember hearing that browning bananas can cause bud blast, due to releasing a large amount of ethylene. But this is more based on speculation and I have no solid reference for either

[Ray]

The normal level of CO2 in the air is about 300 ppm. The optimum for boosting vegetative growth is in the range of 1100-1500 ppm.

It is doubtful that your greenhouse is so tight that the level is reduced. Mine is pretty well sealed, and I had a terrible time keeping the level up in the daytime, using a CO2 cylinder and controller.

You might give this a read, from the Hydrofarm website: Hydrofarm - Carbon Dioxide Enrichment Methods

[PaphMadMan]

The idea of composting in the greenhouse in wiinter sounds good, adding a little extra carbon dioxide and some free heat, but I think Brotherly Monkey hit on a potential problem - ethylene gas causing bud blast and short flower life. I'm not sure if the composting process itself generates it or not, but any fresh plant material in the compost gives it off as it ages and dies, especially fruit. If your greenhouse really is air-tight enough for carbon dioxide to be low, then ethylene can't escape either.

[SOS]

Another issue you want to take into consideration is that with low temperatures, your compost pile is a vector for disease and fungi to go crazy on your plants. I would advise against it, strongly.