Compost is the most beneficial soil addition available for your plants. It provides plants with much needed nutrients and helps to improve soil composition. However, this valuable soil component can be used for more than just gardens.
Compost can easily be used for indoor plants, outdoor potted plants, and around trees and shrubs. Doing so helps to keep your plants healthy and vibrant, but there is a special method you must use when adding compost to these plants.
Using Compost for Indoor Plants
Before using compost on indoor plants, you need to be sure that your compost is completely ready. It should be dark and have a soil-like smell. It should be mostly broken down and crumble easily. If it is not ready, then you will need to wait to use your compost on your indoor plants. You should also only use compost on established house plants, meaning that they should not still be seedlings.
To use compost on your indoor plants, add about an inch of compost to the pot. Mix this into the top one to two inches of the topsoil. You can repeat this process every year when you repot the plant.
Using Compost for Outdoor Potted Plants/Containers
Container plants can also benefit greatly from the use of compost. To create a mix for your potted containers, use one part compost, one part perlite, one part sharp sand, and one part good soil. Just be sure that the compost is mature to avoid burning the plants’ stems or roots.
Using Compost for Trees and Shrubs
You can also use compost on your outdoor trees and shrubs. To do this, spread about one or two inches of compost over the topsoil around the tree or shrub, starting about six inches from the trunk. You can add mulch if you choose but you don’t have to mix this in. Worms will help to meld the compost into the soil over time.