Homemade Fertilizer for Indoor Plants-9 Easy to Make Compost

Although you can buy organic compost, it is possible to recycle some organic waste that remains at home to make your own homemade fertilizer for indoor plants.

From time to time it is essential to add some fertilizer to the substrate of our plants, especially when it is in pots, to complement the amount of available nutrients; as this improves the fertility and life of the plant.

Advantages of Homemade Compost

Composts and commercial fertilizers have their charm, they are quite effective and practical; however, they are delicate to use, as they are highly concentrated, and they can affect the nutrient balance of the soil if they are not used correctly. On the other hand, they can pollute if they are made with artificial components and many contribute to excessive acidification of soils. For this reason, even when you buy ready-to-use prepared fertilizers, it should be organic.

Homemade compost is great because:

• You reduce the amount of waste because you can take advantage of a few to feed your plants.
• Being made of recycled materials, they are more economical and kind to the environment
• It’s soft. It does not dramatically alter the chemical balance of the soil, so it will not harm your plant
• Provides a series of nutrients in a gentle and natural way to your plants
• Many also work as natural repellants against certain pests.

Easy Homemade Fertilizer for Indoor Plants

Use Bananas as Fertilizer

Bananas are rich in potassium and their peel is brimming with this nutrient that your plant needs to effectively photosynthesize and build resistance to pests. To make your banana compost you must boil the peel of a couple of bananas for 15 minutes. Let cool and water your plant with this infusion.

Eggshell fertilizers

Eggshells are rich in calcium carbonate and other minerals, and can also serve as an insect repellent against snails and caterpillars. Rinse and let the eggshells dry. Then grind them using a grinder or food processor.

Add the powder around the base of the plants to use as an insecticide and mix it with the substrate to act as a fertilizer.

Wood Ash Compost

If you have a fireplace or if you have made a barbecue with wood, you can use the ash that remains as compost; As they contain large amounts of potassium and calcium, they also repel ants and other insects.

To use it as compost, you just have to take a handful of ash and dissolve it in water. Water your plant or spread it on the ground.

Coffee Grounds as Fertilizer

Do not throw away the coffee grounds that are left each morning, as it can serve as compost for your plants. Coffee is great for acidophilic plants (gardenia, camellias, hydrangeas, fuchsias, azalea, rhododendrons, anthuriums, ferns, begonias, cyclamen, and dahlias, among others) because it alters the soil pH slightly to favor their development, as well as containing nitrogen and essential minerals.

To make compost with coffee grounds, you must let it dry after preparing your coffee. You can put it on an extended tray near a window. You will then mix this dry coffee with the substrate of your plant, in a proportion of 10% or less. Remember to use it in minimal amounts, because you can greatly alter the PH of the substrate.

You can also make liquid fertilizer by mixing the coffee with water (in small amounts) and letting it sit overnight. Then you can water the plant with the mixture. If you have a little coffee left in the coffee maker and you have one of these acidophilic plants, you can apply it directly, diluting it very well with water.

Rice Water Fertilizer

When you wash and rinse the rice before cooking it, do not throw away the whitish water that remains. Use it to water your plants on a regular basis.

This water has micronutrients that can be absorbed by the roots. I use it with my succulents and it keeps them beautiful, they grow very fast and are very healthy.

Manure

Manure comes from a variety of sources like cows, horses, chickens, and even bats. Each type of manure is rich in nitrogen and other useful nutrients, but you’ll need to use it carefully. Raw manure is highly acidic and may actually have more nutrients than your indoor plants need, so raw manure can burn your lovely plants.

It’s best to use composted manure. You won’t have to wait long cause manure quickly turns into a perfect odor-free soil amendment. Since it is less nutrient-dense and acidic, you can use plenty of it to improve your soil’s water retention properties without risking your plants.

Kitchen Scraps

Do not waste your kitchen organic waste. Organic matter contains incredibly high amounts of potassium, nitrogen and other essential nutrients needed in your indoor garden. Save these useful nutrients rather than throw them out. When you have organic waste or any food scraps, add it to your compost pile.

Aquarium Water

If you have an aquarium or fishbowl that contains (obviously) fish waste from the bottom of the tank, which makes a great plant fertilizer. So instead of throwing that water out, give it to your garden plants. But make sure you use fresh water and not water from a saltwater tank. That would be really bad. Also, be aware of the smell and stick to using this on your ornamental indoor plants.

The aquarium water contains a high level of nitrogen, one of the most vital nutrients for healthy plants.

Compost with Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is great for acidophilic plants. To prepare it, dissolve a teaspoon for each liter of water and water your plant with this mixture. This should be done once every 2 or 3 months, overdoing it can have the opposite effect and affect your plant.

The fertilizer must be applied seasonally, respecting the life cycles of the plant. If you have bought in our online store, surely you have a file with the summary of the care of your plant and the fertilizer recommendations. You can also check our care section.

In any case, homemade fertilizers are usually very gentle on the plants, so you can apply them with a little more freedom. I am sure that your plants will thank you and they will become even more beautiful. Hope you will use your organic waste to make homemade fertilizer for indoor plants.