Compost help!?
Question:I live in an apartment complex and have no outdoor area for my own use other than the (shared) cement slab in the back where we put the rubbish out. I am doing plants inside this year (tomatos, basil, cilantro and some flowers) and want to do some compost. Any ideas how I can do this? I also have very limited funds and would prefer to not buy any fancy high-tech composting containers. Besides, there is limited space. Thanks all!
Answers:
To be honest, there is absolutely no need for you to compost for your plants.
If you are doing it to cut down on garbage or some other reason, then its a different story.
However, for indoor plants there is no need for compost - potting soil contains everything a plant will need and many now contain fertilizer that will last 6-9 months.
All you have to do is change the soil once a year and you will get the same resultsas if you used compost - or you can purchase a bag of worm castings and add that to the soil.
also, any composting you start now will not only smell up the apartment, but will take several months before you can use it.
Compost is used for outside gardens that have poor soil - if you ar using potting soil it is not necessary.
I would doubt that you'll be able to do this where you live and even a small indoor one would attract bugs and would stink.
You are in luck, the only equipment you really need is a large barrel like a trash can. Put your organic material in it and periodically give it a stir with an old broom handle or if you are strong enough, pick it up and give it a shake. You can put it on the concrete slab, just make sure you make the trashmen aware that it is not trash and leave it alone.
For about $20 you can buy a compost pail online. All this can be found with directions to get you started at http://www.compostguide.com
Some other great sites are: http://www.epa.gov/compost/ ; http://vegweb.com/composting/ ; http://vegweb.com/composting/ ; http://www.howtocompost.org/
Composting takes a bit of space and time, plus you will have plants composting and the slight odor from that. I think you will not have space for composting on a budget right now. I might put that space to use by using your part of the outdoors for your tomatoes and herbs, as they need a lot of sun and warmth to grow well.
Have fun!
You can also consider worm composting which requires very little space. See the link below.
I agree with the other answer - you don't need to make or use compost for your potted plants. If you don't get the mixture just right, compost can be very smelly. I hope you have space with a lot of sunlight for the tomatoes and herbs.
There is an easy and inexpensive way to compost. I have done this for 13 years. You will be using worms called Georgia Red Wigglers. The eat natural waste, such as fruit and vegetable scrapes, newspaper, cotton socks, nutshells, etc. They will consume 1/2 their weight in 24 hours. Which does not seem like a lot for one little worm, but 1 pound of worms will eat 1/2 pound.
Materials: Potting soil, cleaned eggshells and/or peanut shells, sand, 2 plastic opaque containers, 1/8" drill bit, drill, and Georgia Red Wigglers.
One container needs to beable to fit easily inside the other container with about 2" of open space on the bottom when set together. You do not want the containers to be tight fitting. The bottom container is being used to catch the excess liquid from the food scapes and worms. If this is not done the worms may drown if the liquid becomes too much. You want to be able to empty the bottom container ever so offten. The liquid is a great natural fertilizer.
1. The container the composting will go into needs to have holes drilled into it. Drill the holes on all the sides and bottom. Every 2-4 inches is fine.
2. Fill the container with the holes with 1-1/2" to 2" of potting soil.
3. Mix about 3 cups of sand and crushed egg shells or peanut shells into the potting soil. These are used by the worms as grit for their gizzards, so they can eat the food. You will need to sand once a year; about 1 cup.
4. Add food.
5. Add worms gently.
Give the worms about 2 days to get use to the new surroundings. Once they have settled in they will start eating 1/2 their weight.
Helpful hints: To stop fruit flies from making a home in your container make sure the food scrapes are washed very well.
The container can be kept outside as long as the soil will not freeze.
The worms do not like light. Keep the lid closed as much as possible.
I feed my worms my old cotton socks, shirts, newspapers, and old flower bouquets. I keep my container in my basement.
If you need worms I can ship you some. I live in IL and you would need to pay the shipping costs.
Hope this helps. Good luck.
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