close-up-man-planting-seedlings-ground-allotment
12 composting tips
Veda Dante, February
2017
Composting is the act or process of organic substances decaying in a natural way into a rich soil. It is a practice that would help mother earth upcycle nutrients of life. We put composts into the loam and in return, the nutrients of the putrefying materials go back to the soil. Eventually, it travel to the roots of the nearby planted foliage. Soon after, the plants receive most if not all of the nutrients and benefits will be manifested through its physical appearance, like vibrant flowers and delicious home-grown vegetables.
Horticulturalist Amelia Robinson from Robinson Love Plants shares her top 12 composting tips that improve the growth of plants in your garden.
[caption id="attachment_7044" align="alignnone" width="690"]
Recycling organic waste at home prevents it from going to landfill, which helps reduce greenhouse gases. Image via Robinson Love Plants[/caption]
Be able to build your own ecosystem that will help you create bountiful produce. With the help of a compost, you will invite creatures that do not only discharge natural substances but will also help protect your greenhouse from bacteria and pests.
Composting is the act or the process of organic substances decaying in a natural way into a rich soil. It is a practice that would help mother earth upcycle nutrients of life. We put composts into the loam and in return, the nutrients of the putrefying materials will go back to the soil.
Backyard composting is the best choice for you if there is enough open space in your garden, if there are trees nearby, and if you have a regular supply of food scraps.
Cold composting is advisable you if you are not in a hurry to come up with your end product as it can take as much as two years. The fun side is that you do not have to do anything at all!
Materials that you can safely hot compose would include bones, biodegradable utensils, dead plants, lipids (grease and oils), horse manures (other herbivores such as cows, goats have stronger digestive system hence they can grind seeds better), food scraps (meat, fish, milk and dairy products), and seeds.
Both cold and hot composting would require you to follow certain intervals of aeration and moisture, specific ratios and strategic layering.
[caption id="attachment_7046" align="alignnone" width="690"]
Composting is the act or the process of organic substances decaying in a natural way into a rich soil.[/caption]
Soils with natural humus can attract bacteria and fungi that connect one plant to another, thereby encouraging exchange and transfer of useful substances like food, water, and other nutrients.
Select a container that is suited for the temperature. Are you going to need an insulator? Or would you wish to just go ahead and buy a cold weather composter?
Winter composting becomes tricky because of the presence of low temperature. This change in hotness will cause the development of composting to become sluggish. This is not, however, a reason to be worried for as long as your compose does not turn into an ice, the process will still continue.
Certain animals, such as birds are helpful when it comes to composting. Alectura lathami is a very good example of this. Brush turkey, which can be found in Australia creates piles from decomposing vegetation. Apparently, the main purpose of this bird is to produce heat to nurture the eggs on her nest.
Toilet composting has been proven possible and effective in 1960’s. The Bio-drum which was able to quickly compost waste and toilet paper without producing odor, and evaporate the liquid with the manure, introduced us to this concept. The entire toilet is divided into 3 chambers which performs different tasks.
Pets like dogs and cats can be affected with a disease that’s why we have to be cautious when including them in our compost. They sometimes eat inorganic foods as well. There is a possibility that they can acquire sickness caused by parasites. Some parasites can be very potent; they can live for a long span of time, and stay inactive in soils for a month without dying. An example of this would be Toxacara canis.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRsqnAnNxSU[/embed]
Extract reproduced with permission from Robinson Love Plants
Recycling organic waste at home prevents it from going to landfill, which helps reduce greenhouse gases. Image via Robinson Love Plants[/caption]
Be able to build your own ecosystem that will help you create bountiful produce. With the help of a compost, you will invite creatures that do not only discharge natural substances but will also help protect your greenhouse from bacteria and pests.
Composting is the act or the process of organic substances decaying in a natural way into a rich soil. It is a practice that would help mother earth upcycle nutrients of life. We put composts into the loam and in return, the nutrients of the putrefying materials will go back to the soil.
Backyard composting is the best choice for you if there is enough open space in your garden, if there are trees nearby, and if you have a regular supply of food scraps.
Cold composting is advisable you if you are not in a hurry to come up with your end product as it can take as much as two years. The fun side is that you do not have to do anything at all!
Materials that you can safely hot compose would include bones, biodegradable utensils, dead plants, lipids (grease and oils), horse manures (other herbivores such as cows, goats have stronger digestive system hence they can grind seeds better), food scraps (meat, fish, milk and dairy products), and seeds.
Both cold and hot composting would require you to follow certain intervals of aeration and moisture, specific ratios and strategic layering.
[caption id="attachment_7046" align="alignnone" width="690"] Composting is the act or the process of organic substances decaying in a natural way into a rich soil.[/caption]
Soils with natural humus can attract bacteria and fungi that connect one plant to another, thereby encouraging exchange and transfer of useful substances like food, water, and other nutrients.
Select a container that is suited for the temperature. Are you going to need an insulator? Or would you wish to just go ahead and buy a cold weather composter?
Winter composting becomes tricky because of the presence of low temperature. This change in hotness will cause the development of composting to become sluggish. This is not, however, a reason to be worried for as long as your compose does not turn into an ice, the process will still continue.
Certain animals, such as birds are helpful when it comes to composting. Alectura lathami is a very good example of this. Brush turkey, which can be found in Australia creates piles from decomposing vegetation. Apparently, the main purpose of this bird is to produce heat to nurture the eggs on her nest.
Toilet composting has been proven possible and effective in 1960’s. The Bio-drum which was able to quickly compost waste and toilet paper without producing odor, and evaporate the liquid with the manure, introduced us to this concept. The entire toilet is divided into 3 chambers which performs different tasks.
Pets like dogs and cats can be affected with a disease that’s why we have to be cautious when including them in our compost. They sometimes eat inorganic foods as well. There is a possibility that they can acquire sickness caused by parasites. Some parasites can be very potent; they can live for a long span of time, and stay inactive in soils for a month without dying. An example of this would be Toxacara canis.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRsqnAnNxSU[/embed]
Extract reproduced with permission from Robinson Love Plants
