Is Fuligo septica beneficial to my compost pile? - Ask Extension
Hello!
I have set up my first compost pile and am trying to hot compost. In my yard I am also growing hairy vetch and crimson clover to help fix m...
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Is Fuligo septica beneficial to my compost pile? #813010
Asked October 03, 2022, 1:17 PM EDT
Hello!
I have set up my first compost pile and am trying to hot compost. In my yard I am also growing hairy vetch and crimson clover to help fix my existing soil as well, after this rain (and watering twice a day before that) a bunch of slime mold appeared in my yard. I don’t mind it, and if it’s beneficial to the soil I’m all about it.
My question is, will it help my hot compost decompose faster if I throw it in there?
Once I set up my worm bins, will the slime mold hurt the worms or help with decomposition of plant matter?
I am also cultivating lactobacillus to add to my compost pile. Will the Fuligo septica eat the microbes I’m cultivating?
Adams County Colorado
Expert Response
Hi Casey!
Thanks for your questions. I am excited to hear you are trying out your first compost pile.
Slime mold can be beneficial for the soil, and certainly won't do any harm! You can throw it in the compost and it will help speed up the process by also 'eating' the decomposing material. It will not cause any harm to your worms and they should co-exist just fine together. Regarding the lactobacillus, I could not find any information indicating that the slime mold will NOT eat lactobacillus. Because of this, I would say the slime mold will likely eat the microbes of lactobacillus in the compost.
