Liquid compost is a balanced, nutrient-rich fertilizer that you can get by leaving solid compost to infuse into water. You can use it on flowers, vegetables, indoor plants and all kinds to stimulate their growth, flowering and improve the yield. The secret to obtaining this fertilizer is to use well-aged compost that does not contain dangerous pathogens and to employ a pump to aerate the fertilizer while it remains in the infusion. In this way, the beneficial microorganisms contained in the solid material can also grow in the liquid, improving plant health.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Prepare the Liquid Compost
Step 1. Eliminate excess chlorine from tap water
You need about 11 liters of water for liquid compost. Leave it in the sun and fresh air for a few hours. This way, all the chlorine it contains will be eliminated and will no longer kill the beneficial bacteria present in the compost.
If you are using water from your own well or another source that does not contain chlorine, you do not need to aerate the water
Step 2. Place a pump aerator in the bottom of another large bucket
To get the liquid compost, you will need a 20-liter plastic bucket. Place a pond aerator or aquarium pump on the bottom. You will attach this device to an external pump, which will keep the liquid moving during the infusion.
- Make sure the pump is able to move at least 20 liters of water.
- The pumping system is needed to aerate the liquid compost during infusion. The stagnant fluids become anaerobic environments and lose the beneficial effects for the plants.
Step 3. Attach the aerator to the pump
Connect the end of a hose to the aerator at the bottom of the bucket. Connect the other end of the hose to the external pump. You can leave the device on the ground next to the compost or attach it to the side of the bucket. Just make sure there isn't too much water getting into the pump.
Step 4. Fill the bucket halfway with loose compost
Once the aerator is in place and connected to the pump, pour the mature compost into the container. Avoid filling it more than half full and do not compact the material, which must be loose enough for the aerator to work.
- Be sure to use aged compost, as compost that has yet to ripen can contain dangerous pathogens that you shouldn't get in contact with plants.
- Ripe compost has a sweet, earthy smell rather than an alcoholic and rotten food fragrance.
Step 5. Finish filling the bucket with water
Once the compost is poured into the bucket, add enough water to fill it. Leave about 7.5 inches of space at the top of the bucket, so you can turn the contents over without spilling it.
Step 6. Add 30g of molasses and mix the compost
Molasses will serve as food for beneficial soil bacteria and help them grow and multiply. When you add it, mix it well to combine the water, compost, and molasses.
Use sulfur-free molasses, as this substance could kill beneficial bacteria
Part 2 of 3: Leave the Compost to Infuse
Step 1. Turn on the pump
Once the compost, water, and molasses are mixed, power up the pump and turn it on. The device will send the air to the aerator at the bottom of the bucket, ensuring proper oxygenation and recirculation of the liquid.
Step 2. Leave the compost to infuse for two to three days
The liquid compost must remain in infusion for 36-48 hours. By extending the preparation time, the amount of microbes present in the fertilizer increases. However, avoid exceeding three days, as the microorganisms will not have enough food to survive longer.
Liquid compost should always have an earthy smell. If the scent changes, throw it away and start from scratch
Step 3. Stir the compost every day
While it is steeping, stir it at least once a day to make sure the solid material doesn't sink. This way, you can be sure that everything moves as it should.
Step 4. Turn off the pump and filter the compost
When the infusion is complete, turn off the pump. Remove the hoses and aerator from the bucket. To filter the compost, line a new 20-liter bucket with a burlap sack or a large piece of cheesecloth. Pour the compost into the bucket, then wrap the bag around the solid material and take it out of the water. Squeeze it gently to remove excess liquid.
Step 5. Return the solid part to the compost pile
Once the solid material has been filtered, the liquid compost is ready to use. Return the solid compost to the compost pile and mix it with the rest with a hoe or spade. Alternatively, you can also use it to fertilize flower beds.
Part 3 of 3: Using Liquid Compost
Step 1. Use liquid compost within 36 hours
The beneficial microbes contained in the fertilizer will not survive for more than a few days. Given their short lifespan, it is important to use the fertilizer while it is still fresh, so don't wait too long if you want to get the best results. In any case, avoid storing it for more than 3 days.
Step 2. Wet the soil with liquid compost
You can apply it directly to the soil of your flower beds. Put it in a watering can and pour it on the soil around the plants. You can also transfer it to a spray bottle and apply it that way.
- For best results, add liquid compost to the soil two weeks before the plants begin to sprout.
- Liquid compost is also an excellent fertilizer for young and newly transplanted plants.
Step 3. Transfer the liquid compost to a spray bottle to use as a foliar spray
This type of treatment is applied directly to the leaves of a plant. If the fertilizer is very dark, mix it with equal parts water before pouring it into the container. Add 0.5 ml of vegetable oil and shake the bottle. Spray the fertilizer on the leaves early in the morning or late in the evening.
- Vegetable oil helps the compost stick to the leaves.
- Always dilute compost before applying it to young or delicate plants.
- Avoid sprinkling compost on the leaves during the hottest hours of the day, as the sun could burn them.
