Hello: Been wanting to share my experience ever since I saw this thread but never got to do it. In India, I was into container gardening and fed the plants with basic NPK fertilizer. But once I introduced earthworms into my pots, I only fed my pots with daily vegetable waste cut finely and once washed dal / rice water. My plants seemed to thrive in it. I tried the same in the UK with my pots but the compost didn't take it too well. I guess what you use - compost / soil does make a difference. Sindhu
Hello Its interesting to read what you have written..What you did with the worms and veg waste is compost. For compost to work it needs dry and humidity. You can have a seperate bin where you can put some soil and the compost materials even leaf waste etc..lawn clippings, grass etc.. And keep the lid closed to help create the humid. Then use soil from that bin. Only disadvantage will be smell. They even sell special containers for this purpose. some keep open compost bins in the corner of their garden away from house. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Anandchitra: Well, I had to give up on composting because of the smell and the flies - didn't want to trouble neighbours since we lived in an apartment. Now here being in the UK, we live in a rented house and change homes every year or so, and therefore haven't tried composting in a big way! I did try it in a plastic bag but for good compost the dry(paper, hay) and wet (grass, leaves) mix should be right otherwise you get a slimy sludge (not very encouraging!) and that is what I ended up with! Would love to try it all over again though once we are settled in one residence. Thanks for mentioning composting - I guess trying composting on compost doesn't work!?! What do you think? Sindhu
Sindhu I agree with everything you have written and it makes sense too. However I did not understand the last line composting on compost? BTW you can buy compost soil too to add to plants. Its really the most easiest and worth the extra penny.
hello chitra compost na chummava my whole garden is full of this here a pile there a pile everywhere a worm worm .....like old man donald had a farm...!! i just dig pits put everything like leaves, veg waste etc tea and coffee waste from a nearby tea shop and also some worms i dig up out on the roadside during rains.....vekkapatta mudiyuma...? then cover with cow dung mixed in water once everyweek add more waste on top the cycle keeps going once in a while i mix this mud, sand and compost and `serve to all plants ' they bloom quite big esp the hibiscus (i have about ten varieties i had fourteen....) the others like papaya mango guava are soon to come and so do the monkeys...!! the avarakkai's drumstick not to mention the six variety of edible greens hey when you talk about gardening i get carried away... hope you are not ``thittifying' for my giving you a whole list of it...!! (like they say....epadi irukke nnu ketten...appadiyo enthaan kettom nu aayiduthu...arambichutta...thannilernthu, thalavali, athulernthu, joram, athulernthu..doctor....porum porum ini keppen?..ahaha) sathya
anbulla sathya please do get carried away..its a pleasure to read..also gardening is my favorite subject so its wonderful to share with others.. I am truly impressed to read about your compost experience..Bow Your list is making me J. this year dh is planning to do only okra as both of them love that veg. no planning is done for my veggie pavakkai, surakai, avarakai, etc. poor me will do on my own. will keep u posted.
Dear AC rani, One of my flowering plant is not giving flowers anymore. Do not ask me the name of the plant etc.. I like the flower, then I buy. Somehow, it only gives leaves and the stalk is also smaller. I cannot be a game for the compost.. :hide::hide:. Anything else to nourish its health.
Hi Anandchitra: Composting on compost - what I meant was using vegetable waste on compost will probably not work. It might work on soil but not on compost. Using compost for my pots is something I have to get used to since I have always used soil! But it's nice to know that there are others are into composting. Good for the environment. Inspires me! Sindhu
Mals my angelpie Please do find out name of plant. Because if flowering plant does not give flowers there is a reason and need to look into it. Compost is not the only source of noursihment. Here we get soil that has compost mixed in it for sale, soil enriched with other fertilizers for sale etc. You need to check with your local nursery and get fertilizers. I will recommend slow release fertilizer like osmacote which look like small stones tiny actually. They release over period of time. also try liquid fertilizers.change soil and pot too. trim roots. First find the name because you can benefit more.