How to Add Compost to Potted Plants

Composting is a natural way to recycle organic materials and turn them into nutrient-rich soil. Adding compost to your potted plants is an excellent way to improve soil fertility and promote healthy plant growth. In this article, we'll go over some helpful tips on how to add compost to potted plants in your home or garden.

Choose the Right Compost

Before adding compost to your potted plants, you need to select high-quality compost that appropriately suits your plants' needs. You can either purchase compost from a garden center, or you can make your own compost. Homemade compost usually consists of a mixture of brown materials, such as leaves or twigs, and green materials like kitchen scraps or grass clippings. Make sure the compost is adequately decomposed and doesn't contain any harmful chemicals or toxins.

Prepare the Soil

The next step is to prepare the soil before adding the compost. Remove any debris or dead plants from the pot and loosen the soil gently. Use a small hand rake or trowel to blend the compost into the topsoil, working it evenly throughout the pot. Use a ratio of one part compost to three parts soil, depending on the plant's needs.

Use Compost Tea as a Fertilizer

You can also use compost tea as an organic fertilizer for your potted plants. To make compost tea, steep a few shovels of compost in a container of water. Let the compost soak for a few days, then strain the water into a spray bottle. Spray the compost tea onto the soil and leaves of your plants to fertilize them naturally.

Apply Compost Throughout the Year

Adding compost to your potted plants is not a one-time event. You can use compost by adding it to your plant's soil at least once or twice a year. If you want to keep it simple, add a small amount of compost to the topsoil of your plants and mix it in with a small hand rake every time you water them. Alternatively, you can add a layer of compost on top of the soil and let it decompose naturally while the plant grows.

Conclusion

Adding compost to your potted plants is an excellent way to nurture your plants, promote better growth, and enhance the soil's fertility. Now that you know how to add compost to potted plants, you can experiment with different types of compost and application methods to find what works best for your plants. Remember to choose the right compost, prepare the soil, use compost tea as a fertilizer, and apply compost regularly throughout the year, and your plants will thrive.