A FERTILISER AND A SOIL CONDITIONER
Compost or organic matter is a key ingredient for healthy plants because it acts as a fertilizer and a soil conditioner. It simply improves the quality of your soil naturally. It is derived from plants and animal remains such as dead plants, plant waste, and animal manure. One of it’s advantage is it’s ability to withhold water and nutrients therefore enabling your plants to grow in a better way. It will also help your soil stick together, allowing bacteria to easily break down the nutrients in the soil.
HOW TO MAKE ORGANIC MATTER
1. Build your compost pile on the ground or get a bin of wood of plastic. In case of building it on the ground choose an area that drains well and is not too exposed to direct sunlight, as it might dry out your compost pile.
2. Fill the bin a quarter full of garden or topsoil.
3. Add nitrogen-rich matter such as kitchen scraps (fruit and veggies, coffee and tea) and also make sure to include carbon-rich garden scraps like leaves, grass, wood, manure, straw and animal bedding. Put half as much carbon matter as nitrogen matter.
4. Add paper goods like cardboard, paper and tissues.
5. Make sure to never include meat (incldudes bones or fats), dairy products and diseased plants. Also make sure to never include excrement from humans or pets (unless from horse or cow if fresh).
6. Stir the compost regularly to proivde adequate oxygen and moisture. This speeds up the process as well. A pile that’s not mixed take up to 3-4 times longer to decompose.
7. Wait a minimum of 2-3 weeks before using the compost. The finished compost should be dark brown, crumbly and shouldn’t have an odor. Take the dark or crumbly material from your pile and leave the unfinished compost for more decoposition.