Now that you have read how to sow your new plant babies from seed and if you are already have transplanted your new babies on to their new containers, it is now time to know how to properly take care of them.
One important factor in growing your new plant babies at their fullest or making them bear healthy fruits/ leaves, is what you feed them.
NUTRIENTS, NUTRIENTS, NUTRIENTS.
Yes, even your plant babies need em nutrients! It actually plays a vital role if you want a healthy and big harvest.
But how do we determine that we are giving them the proper nutrients they need?
THEY ARE ALL DIFFERENT
Each plant has a different soil requirement, sun requirement, watering requirement. However, compost is one of the most basic need of any plant!
WHAT IS COMPOST?
Compost is made out of organic materials ( kitchen scraps, cardboards, papers, leaves, etc.) that has been broken down in the process of composting. Composting is technically like recycling organic waste products that are easily accessible in your home or space in order to produce a nutrient rich “soil conditioner.” This minimizes your contribution to landfills while also feeding your garden!
A healthy compost requires a fine-tuned ratio of brown materials (which provide carbon such as leaves, branches, etc ) and green materials (which provide nitrogen such as coffee grounds, vegetables, fruits, etc.).
USING COMPOST ONTO YOUR PLANTS
It is fairly simple to use compost onto your plant babies, just scrape of the top and if possible, the sides of the pot the soil will be able to loosen out a bit and so the roots get to breathe. Add in 1 -2 inches of compost and just spread it around your pot, mixing it with the current soil your plant baby is sitting in.
HOW CAN YOU CREATE COMPOST AT HOME?
1. Get a container (used up timba, old or new plastic box) add holes at the bottom and possibly on top.
2. Add in a small net so you're compost can get oxygen while minimizing getting insects inside your compost bin.
3. Add in your CHOPPED or turned into smaller pieces of the brown materials (white paper, not glossy, brown paper, leaves, branches etc.) then add moisture
4. Add in your CHOPPED or turned into smaller pieces of the green materials such as kitchen scraps, fruits peels, vegetables, USED coffee grounds, crushed eggshells, etc.)
5. Add in more browns.
6. moisten and let it rest
MAINTAIN MAINTAIN MAINTAIN
It is important to always check on your compost bin.
When the bottom layer is extra dark and rich in color, you’ll know that your compost is ready for use. Have patience with your compost, as this process can take anywhere from 2 months to 2 years, really depends on how fast the bacteria (good bacteria) you attract onto your bin and how moist you keep it.
Don't forget to add aeration to your compost pile to help the bacteria break down the materials. Make sure to turn your compost as often as once a week in order to provide the oxygen needed for decomposition. This can be done with a shovel or fork!