When it comes to indoor gardening and houseplants, it’s easy to overlook the importance of nutrient-rich soil. While buying soil from the store can seem like a convenient option, creating homemade compost can enrich your plants and transform your indoor space into a thriving garden. Composting isn’t just reserved for outdoor gardens—it’s an incredibly rewarding process that every indoor gardener can embrace. In this blog post, we will take you through the wonders of creating homemade compost for your indoor plants.
Why Compost?
Composting creates humus, the nutrient-rich, decomposed organic matter that enriches soil and provides vital nutrients to plants. Unlike synthetic fertilizers, compost improves soil structure and promotes a healthier root environment for your plants. This means that your houseplants will have better drainage, increased organic matter, and ultimately, will grow stronger and healthier. Composting is also environmentally friendly, allowing you to recycle kitchen scraps and reduce waste.
Getting Started: Essential Ingredients
To create compost, you’ll need a blend of two main ingredients: greens and browns.
– Greens are rich in nitrogen and include kitchen scraps like fruit peels, vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and tea bags. They provide essential nutrients that help break down organic matter.
– Browns are high in carbon and include items such as dried leaves, shredded paper, cardboard, and small twigs. They provide structure for your compost pile and help maintain airflow.
Choosing the Right Composting Bin
For indoor composting, the choice of your bin is crucial. You’ll want something that prevents odor and is space-efficient. Here are some popular indoor composting options:
1. Compost Bins: These are containers specifically designed for composting. They often come with features to control smell and promote proper aeration.
2. Vermicomposting: This involves using worms, typically red wigglers, to accelerate the composting process. Worm bins can be kept indoors and require minimal space, providing rich worm castings for your plants.
3. Bokashi Composting: This method uses a special bran to ferment waste through an anaerobic process. Bokashi bins are compact and ideal for indoor use, making it perfect for urban dwellers.
Steps to Creating Indoor Compost
1. Setting Up Your Bin
Choose a location in your home with suitable ventilation to avoid odors. Your compost bin should be easy to access and ideally placed in a kitchen or a balcony where it’s warm and receives indirect sunlight.
2. Layering
Start by adding a layer of browns at the bottom of your compost bin. Followed by a layer of greens. Continue adding alternate layers of greens and browns, resembling a lasagna structure through your bin.
Be cautious not to add too many green materials at once, as they can cause the pile to become overly wet and smelly. Maintain a balance where browns slightly exceed greens.
3. Moisture Regulation
Your compost pile should be as damp as a wrung-out sponge. To achieve this, occasionally sprinkle water over the pile if it looks too dry. Conversely, if it’s too wet, add more browns like shredded paper or dry leaves to absorb the excess moisture.
4. Turning the Compost
To aerate the compost and speed up decomposition, use a small garden fork or compost aerator tool to mix or “turn” your compost every 1-2 weeks. Ensure everything is mixed well to facilitate efficient breakdown. However, if you opt for a worm bin or Bokashi system, turning is not necessary as these setups have different processing techniques.
5. Patience and Time
Composting is a gradual process that usually takes 2-6 months. Be patient as the organic material breaks down. Pay attention to its texture and smell—compost should smell earthy and not rotten.
Tips for Successful Indoor Composting
– Avoid Meat and Dairy: These can smell bad and attract pests. Stick to fruit, vegetable scraps, and plant-based materials.
– Citrus and Onion Caution: Use sparingly, as they can make compost too acidic, which can be tough on worms if you’re using vermicomposting.
– Chop it Up: Smaller pieces decompose faster. Chopping your scraps into smaller bits before adding them to your compost bin can accelerate decomposition.
– Mind the Temperature: Compost breaks down more slowly in colder temperatures. Placing your bin in a warmer area of your home can help speed up the process.
Using Your Compost
Once your compost is ready, mix it with standard potting soil in a 1:3 ratio, compost to soil, for most houseplants. You’ll notice your plants looking perkier and growing more vigorously than ever, benefiting from the natural nutrients and beneficial microorganisms found in your homemade compost.
Conclusion
Creating homemade compost for indoor plants is a fulfilling and eco-friendly endeavor. Not only does it provide the best kind of nutrition for your houseplants, but it also allows you to contribute positively to the environment by recycling waste. By following these steps and tips, you’ll have nutrient-rich compost that keeps your indoor garden lush and vibrant. Happy composting and gardening!
