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How to Keep Birds Away From Your Garden

You work hard on your garden. All of those countless hours watering, weeding, and waiting are worth it when you finally get to reap the harvest. That is until birds get the first pick of your prime fruits and vegetables. Rather than giving up even a nibble to birds this season, try some of these humane ways to keep birds away from your garden.

Scarecrows, Owls, and Other Scary Things

Scarecrows and gardens go hand in hand, however it’s time to think outside the old box. Scarecrows, plastic predators, shiny objects, and even balloons tied to your garden fence really can keep birds away from your tender vegetables and fruits. However, the success lies in how you use them. Rather than just planting your scaring objects out in your garden, be sure to move them around every couple of days. Birds become wise to these tools if they see the same old thing day after day. Change it up often in order to really get a bird’s attention and to keep them at bay. Objects that work great for this include:

Scarecrows or dummies dressed in human clothing

Old CDs

Reflective tape

Plastic owls, snakes, or other predators

Garden spinners

Mylar balloons with a face drawn on them

Build a Stick Tent

If you have just a few precious plants that birds are really working over, consider building a stick tent over them. Using several small sticks, push one end into the ground at varying angles so that the other ends help to cover and protect your plant. Of course, larger plants will need longer sticks and smaller plants smaller sticks. The idea is to make a stick cage around the plant that birds can’t get through.

Windchimes

Similar to a scarecrow or plastic owl, windchimes can help scare birds away. After all, they provide plenty of movement and noise that may have a bird thinking twice about entering your garden. Just be sure to use the same principles as you would with a scarecrow and move it around every couple of days. You may also have better luck with a windchime with shiny metal or other reflective surfaces.

Get Noisy

There are many noise machine products on the market aimed at scaring birds and other garden pests away. These machines emit a high pitched noise similar to that of an attacking hawk. Some are tripped by motion and also include flashing lights. Again, you may want to switch these up periodically as some birds may grow accustomed to them and start to ignore them instead.

Decoys

Sometimes birds will be fooled by decoys. We’re not talking other birds here. Rather use decoys that look like the fruit or vegetables the birds are after. Painting rocks to look like food and them placing them in your garden a few weeks before the real harvest is ready may trick birds into thinking your garden products aren’t as tasty as worthwhile as they thought.

Use Netting

The most fail safe yet labor intensive and expensive option is to use netting to cover part of all of your garden. Chicken wire or other fine mesh works well. You may choose to cover only the plants that are most bothered by birds or cover your entire garden.

Some options for netting include netting at the ground level. This would place the netting right over the most vulnerable plants. In some cases, you may drape the netting directly over the leaves or you may use sticks to build a frame.

If you choose to net your entire garden, you will need some form of sturdy framework, such as tall posts or trees to attach your netting to. Either way, netting provides a barrier that birds can’t get through and keep your plants safe. If you choose to net your garden, just make sure to cover the entire space from top to bottom. You don’t want any uncovered spaces near the ground that would still allow a bird through.

Embrace the Birds

Believe it or not, birds can actually be beneficial to a garden. They eat slugs, snails, and insects that may be munching on your garden plants. Rather than try to rid your garden of birds, consider sharing some of your harvest with them in exchange for keeping the insects and slugs away.

Composting for Beginners

There are many reasons to start composting. Fighting climate change, saving money, and adding a boost to your garden are just a few. Whatever your reason for wanting to compost, some of us may be deterred simply because it can be a little daunting. Let’s take a look at how to start composting and show how anyone, anywhere can do it.

What Can You Compost?

It’s important to know that not everything is compostable. Even products that are listed as compostable, such as some brands of wipes, paper towels, or grocery bags, aren’t going to work as well in your home compost pile. With that in mind, some great options for composting are fruit and vegetable scraps. This includes banana peels, potato peels, and apple cores. You can also add egg shells, coffee grounds, and leftover rice or pasta. Don’t add meat or dairy scraps or foods that have been cooked in oils or butters as these can attract rodents.

Grass clippings, weeds, and flower trimmings are also compostable, depending on the space you have available. Twigs, straw, and pine needles can be added in as well.

Composting ingredients can be divided into brown vs green materials. This is important to know as you will want to layer these items for the best results. In general, green ingredients are nitrogen sources. Food scraps and grass and yard clippings fall into this category. Brown ingredients are rich in carbon. This includes twigs, straw, newspaper, or egg cartons.

Choose Your Space

If you have an outdoor space for composting, the options are limitless. You may choose an open-air style, where you just clear a space on the ground, or you may want to look into a composting bin. An old trash can or wooden box works too.

If you don’t have an outdoor space, you may want to look into a community garden or friend or neighbor where you can access the space. There are also many indoor techniques that you can try using worms or microorganisms.

Create Your Compost Mix

The key to composting is in the layering. Remember those green vs brown ingredients? Here’s where they come to play. You’ll want to build a solid foundation out of brown materials. These will allow for proper drainage and aid in aeration.

You’ll then want to add a layer of green ingredients on top. Keep layers to about 1-2” thick. If you have a lot of leftover food scraps or yard clippings, you may consider storing them in a plastic container until you can properly layer them with brown ingredients. Thicker layers or improper ratios aren’t going to decompose as you want them to.

Layer alternating brown and green items until you’ve used all of your ingredients. You may also want to add a bit of nitrogen rich fertilizer to further speed up the process. You may also want to chop or shred your ingredients into smaller pieces for quicker decomposition.

Wet, Turn, and Repeat

Once your compost pile is built, keep it wet. You don’t want water running out of it, but it should be damp to the touch. You’ll also want to turn or stir the pile every 10-14 days to ensure that air gets to all of the inner spaces. You can continue to add layers on top of your pile or to your bin as you need to but this may increase your decomposition time. Instead, you may choose to start a new pile. Just make sure to keep a good ratio of green and brown materials.

Most food scraps and clippings will take 2-4 months to decompose. Other products may take 6 months to a year. You’ll know your compost is ready when the temperature of it drops. While the materials are decomposing, the pile or bin will be warmer, the drop in temperature will indicate that fermentation is no longer happening. The finished product will look, feel, and smell like regular soil.

Mix the new compost in with new plantings, potting soil or spread it among your established plants for a nutrient boost.

The Best Vegetables to Grow in a Container Garden

There’s nothing like the taste of fresh vegetables, especially if they come directly from your own garden. But not everyone is fortunate enough to have the space or equipment for a vegetable garden. Or do they? There are many vegetables that grow well in containers, making any space, no matter how small, the perfect spot to raise your own fresh and healthy vegetables.

What Vegetables Grow Well in Containers?

No matter what vegetables your taste buds are craving, you’re sure to find some that will grow well in a container. Generally speaking, going with a dwarf variety of any of these vegetables is going to get you more yield for the space but it isn’t necessary.

1. Tomatoes

Tomatoes are probably the posterchild for potted vegetables (technically a fruit). They really do well in just about any size of container. There’s also a myriad of varieties to choose from, from tiny cherry tomatoes to the extra-large Beef Master. Tomatoes have the added benefit of being easily started from seeds early on in the spring inside your home and then being moved outdoors as the weather warms up. Just be sure to place your tomato containers in the full sun and give them plenty of water for the best outcome.

2. Peppers

Another well-known container vegetable is peppers. Whether you’re looking for a sweet pepper or a hot one that will knock your socks off, you can easily grow nearly any variety in very little space. Like tomatoes, peppers need lots of sun and prefer the heat but don’t need a lot of other upkeep. These are another great option to start with seeds indoors and then move outside in the warmer weather.

3. Onions

Onions are a very versatile vegetable and a pantry staple for many family cooks. They are also part of the trifecta of main ingredients for homemade salsa. If any of this interests you, consider planting some onions as part of your container garden. Green onions especially grow well in shallow containers and can give you lots of flavor in very little space.

4. Leafy Greens

For quick and delicious results, leafy greens are a container gardener’s dream. Anything from lettuce, to kale, to spinach to arugula grows well in containers. All of these leafy greens are fairly shallow vegetables, making them perfect for vertical planters as well for even more space-saving capabilities. Another huge benefit of growing leafy greens in a container garden is, depending on your climate, you can get multiple harvests per year!

5. Beets

To add a splash of color to your container garden, consider adding beets. These vegetables require a slightly deeper pot than other container vegetables, but will produce a high yield in a fairly short amount of time. Look to place them in full sun for the best results.

6. Herbs

Nothing tops off fresh vegetables like fresh herbs. Fortunately, many herbs including basil, oregano, parsley, rosemary, cilantro, and thyme grow extremely well in containers or even indoors. They also require fairly small, shallow containers, so they will fit perfectly among your other vegetables.

How to Start a Container Garden

Getting into container gardening requires minimal investment and time. You can go as big or as small as you like, and the great thing about gardening in containers is you can easily change the design.

Start by deciding what you want to grow. Tomatoes, beets, and peppers are going to take a deeper pot, around 12-14”, while lettuce and onions require only 6-8”.

Select your containers. Peppers and tomatoes can be planted as a single plant per pot while lettuce and onions can have several plants per container. Make sure the containers have good drainage. You may need to add some holes to the bottom if not.

Choose your soil mixture. Regular outdoor garden soil isn’t going to cut it. You’ll need nutrient rich potting soil or a mixture to get the best results. Regular fertilization may be needed as well. Do a little research to determine what your selected vegetables prefer.

Place your plants, or seeds, in your containers and put them in a sunny, warm spot outside. This can be anything from a balcony to a small backyard. Most vegetables are going to need 6-8 hours of sunlight a day. Water is needed while allowing the soil to dry in between.

Container gardening is a great alternative for those of us that don’t have the space or resources for a large outdoor garden. Just because you don’t have the space doesn’t mean you can’t have all of the fresh vegetables you want.

DIY Watering Systems for Container Gardens

Container gardening is the perfect option for those with a green thumb but very little outdoor space. While a container garden can provide plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowering beauty, it can be a little higher maintenance than an open soil garden. Most of that maintenance comes in the form of watering.

How Often Do Container Gardens Need Watered?

Plants growing in containers require more frequent watering than those growing in the ground simply because they are constricted by the container themselves. The water they get in the soil is only in a very small space, while plants growing underground have access to a much larger space. Also, potting soil tends to hold and retain less water than regular soil. This just means you’ll need to keep a closer eye on container gardens and water them anytime the soil is dried out.

Depending on the weather and how much direct sun a container garden gets, you may need to water once or even twice a day. Add water when the soil gets dry and cracked or when the soil just below the surface is dry to the touch.

DIY Watering Systems for Container Gardens

Most of us just don’t have the time to water a container garden frequently. So, in order to get the most out of our potted plants, installing a watering system may be necessary. Let’s look at a few different options for making your own container garden watering system.

Drip Hose Irrigation

There are many drip irrigation kits available that will allow you to run a drip hose to all of your containers. These are extremely convenient in that you can water all of your different pots just by turning on a water faucet. But these systems can also be costly. Instead, consider repurposing an old garden hose.

Connect the hose to your water source. Be sure you have the other end capped.

Drape the hose across your containers. You may have to bunch them up in order to reach every container.

Mark the hose in each container.

Using an electric drill or hammer and nail, make a hole at each mark to allow water to drip from the hose into the container.

Turn on the water and water every container at once! If you have a longer hose, make sure the water pressure is enough that water is reaching the end.

Plastic Water Bottles

Old plastic water bottles make the perfect slow-waterer for container plants. This is also a great option for watering when you’re gone. This method works better if you only have a few containers, but can still do the trick for larger container gardens. You’ll just need more water bottles. You can use any size of water bottle or even a plastic milk jug so that you’ll have to fill it less frequently.

Using an electric drill or hammer and small nail, make an 1/8” hole in the lid of a small water bottle or the bottom of a milk jug.

Fill the bottle with water and screw the lid on tightly.

Invert the bottle and slightly bury it in a small hole near the plant. If using a jug, just push the dirt up around the base of the jug where the hole is.

The water will slowly drip out over time and keep the soil moist. Refill when the bottle/jug is empty.

Water Wicker

This method will allow you to water multiple containers from one water source. It uses a cotton rope to wick water from a source into the soil of your container. This may not provide enough water for those that really drink it down, so be sure to check that the soil in your container is moist enough.

Cut a cotton rope into lengths that will reach from each container to a central water source.

Bury a couple of inches of one end of the rope in the soil near your plants. You may use a pencil to poke the end of the rope even deeper.

Place the other end of the rope in the container of water, making sure it can reach the bottom.

Fill the water container and keep it full. Check to be sure there is enough water getting to your plants by checking that soil is moist just below the surface.

With the right watering system in place, your container garden can be as low maintenance as you like. Your plants will thrive without extra upkeep from you, especially during the hottest and driest parts of summer.

Best Household Items to Use as Plant Fertilizer

Beste huishoudelijke artikelen om als meststof voor planten te gebruiken

Het toevoegen van meststoffen kan planten voorzien van noodzakelijke voedingsstoffen om ze sneller te laten groeien en gezond te houden. Natuurlijk kun je meststoffen in de winkel kopen, maar waarom gebruik je in plaats daarvan niet wat huishoudelijk afval? Het is namelijk een duurzame en betaalbare optie.

Eierschalen

Na het maken van je ontbijt kun je eierschalen uit de vuilnisbak houden door ze in je grond te verwerken. Je kunt ze vermalen en in een dunne laag over de grond verspreiden om een langzame en constante dosis calcium en kalium in de grond te brengen. Grotere stukken helpen ook de bodem luchtiger te maken, terwijl kleinere stukken sneller afbreken.

Kookwater

Als je voedsel zoals groenten of pasta kookt, komen sommige voedingsstoffen uit die ingrediënten in het water terecht. In plaats van ze verloren te laten gaan, kun je je (afgekoelde) kookwater gebruiken om planten een boost te geven.

Aquariumwater

Als jij of een vriend een zoetwateraquarium bezit, bewaar het water dan nadat het is schoongemaakt. Aquariumwater bevat visafval dat vol zit met dezelfde voedingsstoffen die in commerciële meststoffen zitten, zoals stikstof, fosfor en kalium. Het bevat ook veel nuttige bacteriën. Om van de voordelen te profiteren, geef je je planten gewoon zoals normaal water met het aquariumwater.

Bitterzout

In tegenstelling tot gewoon tafelzout, dat absoluut niet goed is voor planten, bestaat bitterzout juist uit twee belangrijke voedingsstoffen die planten nodig hebben: magnesium en sulfaat. Rozen, komkommers, paprika’s en tomaten zijn allemaal planten die baat hebben bij veel magnesium in de grond. Los een eetlepel bitterzout op in een liter water, en gebruik het mengsel als bladspray of om planten water te geven.

Bananenschillen

Bananen zijn voor mensen een geweldige bron van kalium, en kalium is ook een van de essentiële voedingsstoffen die planten nodig hebben. Om een meststof te maken van bananenschillen laat je ze twee tot drie weken in een kom water weken. Zeef het water in een gieter of andere bak, en gebruik het vervolgens om je planten water te geven. Je kunt bananenschillen ook meteen door de tuinaarde mengen, maar de geur kan dieren aantrekken die de schillen misschien willen opgraven en opeten.

Best Household Items to Use as Plant Fertilizer

可用作植物肥料的最佳家用物品

添加肥料可以为植物提供必要的营养物质，帮助它们更快生长，保持健康。虽然你可以在商店里购买肥料，但为什么不使用一些家庭垃圾来代替呢？这是一个可持续的、负担得起的选择。

蛋壳

在做完早餐后，你可以在土壤中使用蛋壳，减少一些厨余垃圾。它们可以被压碎，在土壤上铺上薄薄的一层，将钙和钾缓慢而稳定地引入土壤中。较大的蛋壳有助于给土壤通气，而较小的蛋壳会更快地分解。

烹饪用水

当你煮熟食物如蔬菜或意大利面时，这些食材中的一些营养物质会释放到水中。与其让它们白白浪费，不如用你的（冷却的）烹饪水来给植物提供助力。

鱼缸水

如果你或朋友拥有一个淡水鱼缸，请保留清洗过后的水。鱼缸里的水含有鱼的排泄物，这些排泄物充满了商业肥料中的相同营养物质，如氮、磷和钾。它还含有大量的有益细菌。只需像往常一样，用换过的鱼缸水浇灌植物，就可收获好处。

泄盐（硫酸镁）

跟对植物绝对不利的普通食盐不同，泻盐实际上是由植物需要的两种重要营养物质组成的：镁和硫酸盐。玫瑰、黄瓜、辣椒和西红柿都是受益于土壤中大量镁的植物。将一汤匙泻盐溶解在一加仑的水中，用这种混合物作为叶面喷雾或拿来浇灌植物。

香蕉皮

香蕉是人类钾的重要来源，而钾也是植物所需的重要营养物质之一。要用香蕉皮做肥料，请将其在一碗水中浸泡两到三分钟。将水过滤到浇灌罐或其他容器中，然后用它来浇灌植物。你也可以将香蕉皮直接埋入花园的土壤中，但其气味可能会吸引动物挖出香蕉皮并吃掉它们。

Best Household Items to Use as Plant Fertilizer

可當作植物肥料的最佳居家用品

「施肥」能為植物提供其必要的養份，使其能生長得更快，並維持健康。雖說您可以直接在商店裏買到肥料，但為什麼不嘗試拿一些居家日常的垃圾來當作替代品呢？這絕對是個永續且經濟實惠的選擇。

蛋殼

做完早餐後，蛋殼可別扔掉，您可以拿來當作肥料施加在土壤上。僅需將蛋殼碾碎，鋪薄薄的一層在土壤上即可，這能讓蛋殼中富含的鈣和鉀慢慢地融入土壤裏。蛋殼的大小則各有利弊，大塊的蛋殼有助於土壤透氣，而小塊的蛋殼能較快被分解。

水煮或汆燙過食物的水

當您水煮蔬菜或是義大利麵等食物時，食材中的營養物質皆會流失至水中。與其將這些水直接倒掉，不如待其冷卻後用來澆灌植物，可促進植物生長。

魚缸水

若您或您的朋友有用淡水水族箱或魚缸養魚，在清潔後時務必將魚缸水保留下來。魚缸水中含有魚的排泄物，富有氮、磷和鉀等與商業肥料中相同的營養物質。它還蘊含著大量的有益菌種。想要不錯過這些好處，僅需用換下來的舊魚缸水為您的植物澆水即可。

瀉鹽

一般食鹽會不利於植物生長，但瀉鹽卻不同，它其實是由鎂和硫酸鹽等植物生長所需的兩種營養物質組成的。常見的玫瑰、小黃瓜、甜椒和蕃茄等植物皆會因土壤中富含鎂元素而生長得更好。把一湯匙瀉鹽溶解在一加侖的水中，將混合後的溶液裝在噴霧瓶中噴灑植物葉片或是直接用來澆灌植物即可。

香蕉皮

香蕉是人類攝取鉀的重要來源，而「鉀」也是植物生長所需的重要營養元素之一。想要將香蕉皮用作肥料，可以將其浸入一碗水中，泡個二至三天。將過濾掉香蕉皮的水裝入噴霧瓶或其他容器中，便能用來澆灌您的植物。此外，您也可以將香蕉皮直接混入花園的土壤中，但香蕉皮的氣味可能會將小動物吸引過來，將香蕉皮挖出並吃掉它們。

Best Household Items to Use as Plant Fertilizer

Os melhores Itens Domésticos para Usar Como Fertilizante de Plantas

A adição de fertilizantes pode fornecer às plantas os nutrientes necessários para ajudá-las a crescer mais rapidamente e permanecer saudáveis. Enquanto você pode comprar fertilizantes em uma loja, por que não usar alguns resíduos domésticos? É uma opção sustentável e acessível.

Casca de Ovos

Depois de fazer seu café da manhã, você pode manter as cascas de ovos fora do lixo, usando-as em seu solo. Elas podem ser esmagadas e espalhadas em uma fina camada sobre o solo para introduzir um fluxo lento e constante de cálcio e potássio no solo. Os pedaços maiores também ajudam a arejar a terra, enquanto os pedaços menores se quebrarão mais rapidamente.

Água de Cozimento

Quando você ferve alimentos como vegetais ou massas, alguns dos nutrientes desses ingredientes são liberados na água. Em vez de deixá-los ir para o lixo, use sua água de cozimento (resfriada) para dar um impulso às plantas.

Água de Aquário

Se você ou um amigo possui um aquário de água doce, guarde a água que você iria desperdiçar. A água do aquário contém resíduos de peixes que estão cheios dos mesmos nutrientes que são encontrados em fertilizantes comerciais, como nitrogênio, fósforo e potássio. Ela também contém muitas bactérias benéficas. Para obter os benefícios, simplesmente regue suas plantas como de costume usando a água usada do aquário de peixes.

Sal Epsom

Ao contrário do sal de mesa comum, que definitivamente não é bom para as plantas, o sal Epsom é na verdade composto de dois nutrientes importantes que as plantas precisam: magnésio e sulfato. Rosas, pepinos, pimentões e tomates são plantas que se beneficiam da abundância de magnésio no solo. Dissolva uma colher de sopa de sal Epsom em um galão de água e use a mistura como um spray foliar ou para regar as plantas.

Cascas de Banana

As bananas são uma grande fonte de potássio para os seres humanos, e o potássio é também um dos nutrientes vitais necessários para as plantas. Para fazer um fertilizante a partir de cascas de banana, coloque-as de molho em uma tigela de água. Coloque a água em um regador ou outro recipiente, e depois use-a para regar suas plantas. Você também pode misturar as cascas de banana diretamente no solo do jardim, mas o cheiro pode atrair animais para desenterrar as cascas e comê-las.

Best Household Items to Use as Plant Fertilizer

Mejores elementos domésticos que puedes usar con fertilizante para plantas

Añadir fertilizante puede proporcionar a las plantas los nutrientes necesarios para que crezcan más rápido y se mantengan sanas. ¿Por qué no utilizar residuos domésticos en lugar de comprar fertilizante en una tienda? Se trata de una opción sostenible y asequible.

Cáscaras de huevo

Después de hacerte el desayuno por la mañana, utiliza las cáscaras de huevo que hayas usado en la tierra y no las tires a la basura. Se pueden moler y esparcir en una capa fina por la superficie de la tierra para añadir una fuente lenta pero efectiva de calcio y potasio en la misma. Los trozos grandes ayudan a airear la tierra y los trozos pequeños se descomponen más fácilmente.

Agua de cocción

Cuando hierves alimentos como verduras o pasta, algunos de los nutrientes de esos ingredientes se liberan en el agua. En lugar de desecharla, utiliza el agua de cocción (fría) para darles un empujón a las plantas.

Agua de pecera

Si tú o algún amigo tuyo tiene un acuario de agua dulce, guarda el agua después de limpiarlo. El agua de acuario contiene residuos de los peces y estos tienen grandes cantidades de los mismos nutrientes que encontramos en los fertilizantes comerciales, como nitrógeno, fósforo y potasio. También contiene un montón de bacterias beneficiosas. Para beneficiarte de todo esto, simplemente riega tus plantas normalmente utilizando el agua usada del acuario.

Sales de Epsom

Al contrario que la sal de mesa, la cual no es nada buena para las plantas, las sales de Epsom están compuestas de dos nutrientes importantes; el magnesio y el sulfato. Las rosas, los pepinos, los pimientos y los tomates se benefician de una gran cantidad de magnesio en el suelo. Disuelve una cuchara sopera de sales de Epsom en cuatro litros de agua y utiliza la mezcla para pulverizar las hojas o para regar las plantas.

Cáscaras de plátano

Los plátanos son una gran fuente de potasio para los humanos y este es también uno de los nutrientes fundamentales que necesitan las plantas. Para hacer fertilizante con cáscaras de plátano, empápalos en un recipiente con agua de dos a tres días. Filtra el agua en otro recipiente y utilízala para regar tus plantas. También puedes mezclar cáscaras de plátano directamente en la tierra del jardín, pero el olor puede atraer animales que se coman las cáscaras y las plantas.

Best Household Items to Use as Plant Fertilizer

家庭で出る、植物の肥料として使用できるもの

植物に肥料を与えると、必要な栄養素が行き渡り、成長を促進したり健康な状態を保ったりできるようになります。肥料はお店で買うこともできますが、代わりに家庭で出る生ゴミを活用してみるのはいかがでしょうか？持続可能かつ、費用節約可能な方法です。

卵の殻

朝食を作った際に出る卵の殻は、土壌に投与すればゴミにならずに済みます。殻を砕いてから、土壌の表面に薄く撒いてください。一定量のカルシウムとカリウムを、ゆっくりと土壌に行き渡らせることができます。大き目のかけらは土に空気を含ませる効果も期待でき、小さ目のかけらはより早く分解されます。

調理に使用した水

野菜やパスタを茹でた水には、食材の栄養素が流れ出ています。そのまま捨ててしまうより、冷ましてから植物にかけて、栄養を分け与えてあげましょう。

水槽の水

あなたや周りの方が淡水魚を飼っている場合は、掃除した後の水槽水を保管しておきましょう。水槽の水には魚の排泄物が含まれているため、窒素やリン、カリウムなどの市販肥料に含まれる栄養素と同様の成分が入っています。また、有益な細菌もたくさん含まれています。通常通り水やりをする際に、使用済みの水槽水を使うだけで、恩恵を受けることができます。

エプソム塩

エプソム塩は、植物に被害を与える普通の食卓塩とは異なり、植物に必要不可欠な2つの栄養素（マグネシウムと硫酸塩）で構成されています。土壌にたくさんのマグネシウムが含まれていると、バラ、キュウリ、ピーマン、トマトなどの植物は健康に育つことができます。大さじ1のエプソム塩を4リットルほどの水に溶かし、葉面に塗布するか水やりの際に使用してください。

バナナの皮

バナナはカリウムが豊富なため人間にとっても有益な果物ですが、植物にとってもカリウムは必要不可欠な栄養素の1つです。バナナの皮を使って肥料を作るには、皮を2-3日間水の中に漬けておきます。その後ろ過してバナナの皮を取り除き、じょうろなどに入れて水やりに使用してください。バナナの皮を土壌に直接混ぜることも可能ですが、においにつられて動物が皮を掘り起こし、食べてしまう恐れがあります。