Any plants/flowers I cannot add to compost?

Emily227

Someone gave me an Easter lily last week and it's about ready to be thrown out. I want to add it to my compost, but it got me wondering whether there are any flowers/plants/greens that should not be added?

madladybride

I have heard that you should not add tomato plants.

derky17

There are a few that I know they say to avoid.  I think most members of the nightshade family are a no-no (because of their toxic nature)...and I think Daffodils as well for the same reason--they release a toxin that kills the other flowers.  In fact, there are enough plant or flowers where I'll look most of them up (if I'm not sure) before tossing it in them in my compost.

curlydoglover

Diseased plants, mainly.

Most people don't put tomato plants or other nightshades in because they can be more susceptible to diseases than other plants in your veggie garden - for example, last year's early blight disaster that hit New England.

Some people avoid putting weeds in.  I only do if the weed is fully mature or particularly invasive.  I do compost dandelions because they're such lovely sources of nitrogen.

I've never heard of avoiding composting toxic plants like aconite, delphinium, foxglove, etc., but this could be because it's fairly rare to rip out thriving perennials for compost.

derky17

curlydoglover:

I've never heard of avoiding composting toxic plants like aconite, delphinium, foxglove, etc., but this could be because it's fairly rare to rip out thriving perennials for compost.

Yeah, I was a little surprised by my warning as well....but the man I bought my home from is a master gardener and he mentioned that when I trim back my Angel horns (or whatever they are called--if I google it I could find out the exact name--but they are in the "highly poisonous" category) to throw them in the garbage, to not compost them and don't put them out with the yard waste either (because our city does mulch our yard waste).  I just sort of accepted his word on not composting....I mean, I suppose it makes sense.  

daisyterp

Emily227:

Someone gave me an Easter lily last week and it's about ready to be thrown out. I want to add it to my compost, but it got me wondering whether there are any flowers/plants/greens that should not be added?

 

You know you could probably plant the lily and it could keep growing right?