Sunday 2 March 2014

Make Manure At Home

One of the many potted plant in soil with home made manure
When I moved to city apartment from government bungalow with open space around it I was appalled by the sight of flowers used during prayers by city dwellers strewn all over road side telling the tale of apathy towards the  sacredness of those flowers as well as toward the cleanliness of the surroundings. During rainy season these flowers would rot and leave a decaying stench all around. It made me think how will I dispose of the flowers I use for worshipping the deities.  I did not want these sacred flowers to become nuisance for others nor did I want them to be trampled by passerby’s feet.  Thus I got this Idea of making good use of these flowers without causing any trouble to anybody. Just imagine how would you feel if you see the bouquet so fondly presented to friends lying by the roadside after a day or two. Want to save your friend and family of the same trouble? This easy method can be used in small flats also. No stench, No hassle all flowers and leafs used to make manure for the potted plants.

Ingredients for Manure:
  • All flowers and leafs used at Home
Directions For Making Manure from the Flowers and Leafs:
  • Instead of throwing the flowers and leafs in dustbin/roadside to decay and cause stench or trampled upon, Allow them to dry in the Sun/Shade whatever is possible in your apartment.
Flowers and Leafs drying
  • Separate the petals to break the flowers to small parts and it easy to dry.
Flower Petals Separated during Drying
  • It is better if the flowers and leafs are kept for drying in the wooden basket as it allows aeration.
  • When the flowers/leafs are dry grind them in domestic mixer/grinder to make coarse powder.
Powdered Dry Flower and Leafs added to Soil
  • Mix the soil of pots with this dry coarse powder of the dry flowers/leafs and mix nicely.
Mixing Powdered Flowers and Leafs with Soil
  • Sprinkle little water daily in the morning for three four days and allow the mixture to dry in open. After three four days the soil with home made manure is ready for pots and potted plants.
Soil with Home Made Manure Ready for pots and Potted Plants
  • Fill this soil and dry flower/leaf mixture in the pots and water the soil in the pot to make it wet. Do not water so much that water starts draining from the pot.
  • Let the flower/leaf powder and the soil mix and this will make excellent compost from the flowers which you use to decorate the house/pray.
  • When the soil with manure dries in a week or so plant the plant of your choice and water according to need of the plant.
  • You have just saved your city from some extra garbage, yourself expenditure of purchasing manure and citizens from the ugly sight of strewn, decaying flowers and bouquets.
  • Make use of the home generated wet garbage and save your city.
Tips:
  • Holes can be made to big/small cartons and can be used to dry the flowers/leafs.
  • Flowers can be split to smaller pieces and leafs removed from their stalks. This enhances the rate of drying.
Alternate Suggestion(s):
  • The flowers and leafs can be ground to paste and mixed with little amount of soil and filled in the big pot. Repeat it till the pot is full. Cover it with dry soil and allow to rest for 10-15 days. The wet material will change to fantastic compost.
  • The pot with soil and compost is ready for plant to be potted.
  • Those who have open area around house can always dig a 2ft x 2ft hole and put the flowers and leafs for decaying so that it can automatically gets mixed with soil and manure is formed in 10-5 days.