... is it safe to add Rhubarb leaves to the compost pile, or my composter ... (Click on the Photos for more Information), *FTC Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases with no extra cost to you, *FTC Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases with no extra cost to you. Of course, initially, prior to the microbial action of composting, rhubarb leaves in compost piles would still be toxic, so keep the pets and kids out. Even if one of the kids got into it, ahem, they would suffer no ill effects except a scolding from Mom or Dad. So what happens if you put rhubarb leaves in compost piles? Further, it has been reported that the level of acid does not inhibit the So is it okay to add rhubarb leaves into compost piles? So go ahead and add rhubarb leaves to the compost pile, just as you would any other yard debris. Rhubarb Flowers: What To Do When Rhubarb Goes To Seed, Milk Fertilizer Benefits: Using Milk Fertilizer On Plants, Help, My Rhubarb Is Leggy – Reasons For Spindly Rhubarb Stalks, Prickly Kale Leaves – Does Kale Have Thorns, Corn Husk Wreath Ideas: How To Make A Corn Husk Wreath, DIY Air Plant Wreaths: Wreath Making With Air Plants, What Does Well Drained Soil Mean: How To Get A Well-Drained Garden Soil, What Is A Tree Hydrangea: Learn About Growing Hydrangea Trees, What Is Cenangium Canker: Managing Sooty Bark Canker On Trees, Fast Growing Evergreen Shrubs – Best Evergreen Shrubs For Privacy, Thanksgiving Tradition: Turning Homegrown Pumpkins Into Pie, Growing Thanksgiving Dinner – Must Have Turkey Side Dishes, Interesting Uses For Pecans: What To Do With Pecans, The Bountiful Garden: Bringing The Garden To Thanksgiving. Just like other poisonous plants such as Ivy, rhubarb leaves can be safely composted. However, since the oxalic acid is broken down, diluted and pH balanced quite quickly, this is not a concern. Since rhubarb leaves are poisonous, I am wondering if it is safe to add Rhubarb leaves to the compost pile, or my composter? Further, it has been reported that the level of acid does not inhibit the microbial action of composting, and that compost including decomposed rhubarb leaves has not had a detrimental effect on plant growth where this compost has been applied. Go here for more information and tips for composting rhubarb leaves. Yes, composting rhubarb leaves is perfectly safe. Many folks have been concerned about adding rhubarb leaves to their compost piles. Rhubarb resides in the genus Rheum, in the family Polygonaceae and is an herbaceous perennial plant that grows from short, thick rhizomes. *FTC Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying, this free rhubarb resource website alive. Yet another garden myth destroyed; you can put rhubarb leaf blades in the compost pile. This will also quicken the :). Although the leaves contain significant oxalic acid, the acid is broken down and diluted fairly quickly during the decomposition process. The problem with rhubarb is the huge leaves which can’t be eaten so we were going to put these in the worm farm, however, first I googled whether we could. Rhubarb leaves contain oxalic acid, which is corrosive and a kidney toxin, but this has no significant effect on soil micro-organisms. If you have a large number of leaves to compost, you may want to If you are interested in making a natural insecticide using rhubarb leaves, and for more information about the leaves of the rhubarb plant, GO to Recipe for Natural Insecticide Using Rhubarb Leaves, RETURN to More Rhubarb Questions and Answers, ©2010-2020  Rhubarb-Central.com All Rights Reserved WorldwideNo Reproduction Permitted Without the ExpressedWritten Consent of the Site Owner, ★ Please use the "Like" button above to help keep this free rhubarb resource website alive. It’s … What actually occurs when rhubarb is added to a compost pile is that the oxalic acid is mostly broken down, diluted and pH balanced rather quickly. Eating plants grown in rhubarb-leaf compost is also perfectly safe. Whilst rhubarb leaves do contain oxalic acid (a corrosive and a kidney toxin), oxalic acid has no significant effect on soil micro-organisms and will not affect microbial activity. There were conflicting answers, some said if it’s poisonous to humans then it’s poisonous to worms, others said that rhubarb leaves are not as poisonous as people think. Standard. Thanks! composting time and avoid them possibly clogging the compost pile. Is Your Rhubarb "Stringy" when you cut it? Love your rhubarb? After all, every gardener knows you can eat rhubarb stalks, but that the leaf blade itself is toxic. Nutritious it may be, but the leaves of the plant contain oxalic acid and are toxic.