Compost is a natural fertilizer or soil enrichment produced from decomposed materials. There are several materials that can be used for compost one of which is flowers.
Flowers are excellent sources of carbon which can be used to balance nitrogen in a compost pile. To compost with flowers, you need to do the following:
Preparing your Flowers
Most flowers are excellent for composting asides those having thorny stems and poisonous flowers too.
Thorny stems require a lot of time for them to decompose when compared with non-thorny stems. Poisonous flowers having hemlocks will destroy the compost pile.
Separating the Petals
Once your flowers are prepared, remove every petal in the stem and put them in the compost heap either through a ground pit or a covered bin.
You can also, cut the soft part of the leaves and stems to be included in the compost pile. The dried flower heads and foliage can also be added to the compost pile as extra carbon sources.
Piling the Flowers and Leaves in your Compost Heap
The ideal height is 4 – 6 inches high and can be wide depending on the number of materials used.
To speed up the composting process, you can also pile them 1 – 2 inches thick. If the compost pile is too damp, place them under the sun for a day.
Shred the Materials
Shred the flowers into pieces while using a materials or equipment sharp enough to shred them.
Afterwards, pile them together with other materials such as grass clippings if they are brown flowers. For fresh flowers, combine them with brown materials such as sawdust.
Layering and Mixing of the Compost
To layer your compost, place the green materials and brown materials alternately with one on top of the other. The layers should be irrigated occasionally with adequate but not excessive water.
Once that is done, turn the compost pile once a week to allow air flow and penetration as this will help to complete the decomposition process. Afterwards, wait for about 6 months for the leaves to break down in compost.
When we talk about the green materials, flowers are excellent sources of green materials as long as they are not dried flowers.
For the dried flowers, they are good sources of carbon and are considered brown compost materials. The brown materials should be balanced with the green materials.
What is the quickest compost?
If you are a beginner in composting, the fastest method of composting is the 3-bin system where the compost is turned frequently and added all at once per unit.
What is a natural compost starter?
This is an additive which you mix in with the organic matter in your composting bin to Jumpstart the natural decomposition process.
How do I know my compost is ready?
Your compost is ready when it looks, feels, and smells like rich, dark earth rather than rotting vegetables.
Conclusion
Flowers are excellent composting ingredients and are considered green composting process. For the dried flowers, they are considered brown compost materials.
