In this article, I will give eight nutrient-filled household items that you can use as compost! One of the most important factor in managing your garden and growing your crops is the availability of nutrients.
The abundance of elements in our world led to the discovery of various usage and possible beneficial and harmful effects of such in our ecosystem. Did you know that at least 60 elements have been shown to be present in plant tissues? And, if all the 92 naturally-occurring elements are supplied to plants in readily available forms, the plant may as well absorb all of them!
But, there is also an existing possibility of nutrient disorder. When a nutrient is available in the soil at low concentrations, but the crop cannot take it up from the soil, nutrient deficiency symptoms appear. These are visible abnormalities which are reflective of the metabolic disruptions resulting from nutrient deficiencies.
Deficiency symptoms appear when the nutrient level falls below the critical nutrient concentration. The critical nutrient concentration may also be defined as the nutrient level beyond which a crop exhibit optimum growth or yield. In the leaves, deficiency symptoms can be chlorosis, necrosis, lack of new growth, accumulation of anthocyanin and stunted leaf growth.
For us to be familiar with such technical terms mentioned above, let me enlighten you by defining them. Chlorosis is defined as the yellowing of leaves due to chlorophyll degradation. Senescence, in a layman’s term is the ageing of the cells in plants. Necrosis is the irreversible injury to cells that further leads to cell death.
In this article, I will give you accessible household items that you can use as compost to add nutrients in your soil for successful plant growth. Check these items if they are available in your house, and start collecting them to act as your fertilizer!
Fruit and Vegetable Wastes
Some suitable composts are peelings of potato and carrot, leaves of cabbage and kale, husks and cobs of corn, squash shells, rotten and brown chunks of vegetables and even inedible vegetable stems and seeds. It will be better if you break these things in a blender as it can speed up the composting process. Fruit and vegetable wastes are rich in nitrogen.
Let us focus now on banana peels since it is somehow the most accessible for everyone. Who does not eat banana anyway? These peelings can add up potassium in your soil, which is also one of the most important nutrients that your plants need. Banana peels are also rich in calcium and manganese. For banana peels, you can slice it in small pieces, blend it and toss it as wet waste in the soil. This fertilizer is beneficial for plants that are developing fruits such as chili and tomatoes!
Coffee grounds
If you are a coffee or tea lover, and wants to maximize the leftover coffee grounds, you can add them up in your soil and serve as a fertilizer! These materials are rich in nitrogen and even phosphorous and potassium. Some micronutrients are also available in coffee grounds.
To use these as fertilizers, you can sprinkle them on the soil and add some on your compost. However, we need to take note that the coffee grounds are acidic. Thus, it will be beneficial for acid-loving plants such as hydrangeas, rhododendrons, azaleas, lily of the valley, blueberries, carrots, and radishes. However because it is too acidic, it may inhibit the growth of some other crops such as tomatoes, geranium, asparagus fern, Chinese mustard and Italian ryegrass.
Teabags and coffee filters
Since we are talking about coffee and tea, why not maximize everything from them and use their filters as well? Carbon is present in these filters. This nutrient in also essential in your compost and can be very beneficial for your soil and plant.
Increased soil organic carbon promotes soil structure, or tilth, which means more physical stability. This improves soil aeration which is the amount of oxygen in the soil. Carbon also contributes to water drainage, improves water retention, reduces erosion and leaching of nutrients that are relevant for the plants and feeds the soil organisms that are essential.
Tea bags can not only be composted as fertilizer, but loose leaf teas and compostable tea bags can also be dug in around plants. Tea bags in compost provide a nitrogen-rich aspect to the compost, which helps to balance the carbon-rich materials.
Charcoal Ash
Charcoal ash is a waste product of biomass combustion. However, it holds significant amounts of plant nutrients such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus.
Same through with the coffee grounds, there is still essential considerations in using charcoal ash. Always remember not to use it with acid-loving plants namely blueberries, azaleas, hydrangeas, strawberries, rhododendrons, camellias, holly, potatoes or parsley (and those mentioned above!). Do not use it for newly planted seedlings and seeds. On the other hand, garlic, chives, leeks, lettuces, asparagus and stone-fruit trees can thrive with the usage of wood ash.
Dried Leaves
Those dead leaves in your backyard can also be used to make a good compost! This is so much better as an alternative to chemical fertilizer. Compost nourishes plants, retains moisture in the soil, aids fertilizer distribution, facilitates weeding, attracts worms, and aids disease prevention. You can try crushing or shredding them and then mixing them in with the soil. You can gradually incorporate them into the compost. Overall, leaves are beneficial if you can maintain your yard.
Paper
Paper is everywhere, of course we know that you have some type of paper in your home! Despite its extensive processing, paper itself is derived from plant fibers. Paper, when handled properly, can be a valuable source of carbon for a compost pile. Paper blended with other nitrogen-rich materials can yield nutrient-rich fertilizer under the right conditions and with enough regular care.
Eggshells
Now after taking that sweet breakfast, let us use your eggshells for another purpose! These shells are rich in calcium. Shell fertilizer is particularly beneficial to plants like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. The additional calcium will aid in the prevention of blossom-end rot. Broccoli, cauliflower, Swiss chard, spinach, and amaranth are calcium-rich vegetables that could benefit from extra calcium from eggshells.
Wine, beer or liquor
Leftover beer or wine, believe it or not, makes a great fertilizer for your garden! It is completely organic because the yeast in the beer does most of the job. The concept is that the beer’s acid will inhibit the growth certain pests. On the other hand, the sugar and yeast will add beneficial soil microbes that will aid plant development.
Essential Questions and Answers
Here are some essential questions to ponder in terms of visual symptoms of nutrient deficiency and availability.
1. Why are deficiency symptoms of immobile elements such as calcium, boron, chlorine, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, silicon, sulfur, and zinc more pronounced in younger than in older leaves?
This is because immobile nutrients are not easily metabolized by the plant or are not transported in the phloem which is a tissue that transports nutrients. With this fact, the movement of immobile nutrients is limited to occur from one plant part to another.
2. Why do plants seldom exhibit deficiency symptoms of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen although they are used by the plant in large quantities?
It is because such elements are naturally abundant in the environment and organic materials naturally contains carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, that’s why there’s an enough source for such. Unlike the other nutrients that are not that abundant in the soil and in the environment.
3. What is the role of silicon and chlorine in plants?
Chlorine is essential (working in tandem with potassium) to the proper function of the plants stomatal openings, thus controlling internal water balance. It also functions in photosynthesis, specifically the water splitting system. It functions in cation balance and transport within the plant.
While, silicon, deposited in cell walls, has been found to improve heat and drought tolerance and increase resistance to insects and fungal infections. Silicon, acting as a beneficial element, can help compensate for toxic levels of manganese, iron, phosphorus and aluminum as well as zinc deficiency.
4. What is the role of pH in the nutrient availability?
Soil pH is being used as an indicator for the occurrence of soil problems. Like for instance, a pH below 5 means aluminum, iron, and manganese become more soluble and phytotoxic and calcium and molybdenum deficiency are likely to occur.
A pH below 5.5 poses occurrence of molybdenum, zinc, potassium, and sulfur deficiency. Above 7.5, zinc and iron toxicity may occur. Above 8, calcium phosphates are formed, and above 8.5, zinc and iron deficiency are more likely to occur.
Does this article helped you in choosing possible fertilizers from your household items? Enjoy your gardening journey!
If you are looking to start your garden, check out the links in the description for our recommended books and audiobooks.
Don’t forget to download the free ebook too.
Backyard Gardening Book (paperback)
Backyard Gardening Book (audiobook)
Urban Gardening Book (paperback)
Urban Gardening Book (audiobook)