The reason many gardening friends turn their noses up at composting is:the smell is just too overpowering.

Aha, that's because you don't know that besides kitchen scraps, there are also some materials that help fermentation, absorb liquid and odors, and increase aeration.

In this article, the head gardener is going to talk about these great materials for optimizing compost. Gardening friends can apply them according to their own needs.

Absorb liquid and odors

One - Potting soil, garden soil, coir

Used as a medium for burying kitchen scraps, mainly to absorb moisture when placed as the base layer.

Two - Coffee grounds

Coffee grounds have a strong ability to absorb odors, and can also absorb the liquid from kitchen scraps.

Increase aeration

One - Rice hulls

Fluffy rice hulls can increase the aeration of compost. If you only need a small amount of rice hulls, you can ask for them from traditional shops that sell eggs; for a larger amount, you can buy them from rice shops or rice mills.

Two - Fallen leaves, straw

Make the kitchen scrap pile fluffier and at the same time provide organic matter, but they still need to be cut shorter to an appropriate length.

Promote fermentation, decompose faster

One - Microbial cultures

Sold on the market in liquid, soil-like or block form, all of which contain microorganisms that help decomposition.

Two - Soybean meal, rice bran, soybean powder, a small amount of yogurt

This combination helps the reproduction of active bacteria.

Three - Compost

Didn't expect that the material that makes it decompose faster is compost itself, right? This can be considered fighting poison with poison. Adding fully matured compost will help kitchen scraps decompose faster.

Head gardener's tip:Don't confuse rice hulls with rice bran!

After rice grain is hulled, it becomes brown rice, and the removed rice hulls are rice hulls; brown rice has a thin tea-colored outer layer, and if this layer is removed, it is rice bran.

In the composting process, the two have different roles. Fluffy rice hulls can increase aeration, while rice bran is rich in vitamins and amino acids, and can promote the activity and reproduction of microorganisms.

Alright, this article ends here. If gardening friends still have any questions, check in at the comment section below.

I also don't know whether the head gardener explained it clearly and in detail. For gardening friends who didn't understand, the head gardener has specially written an acrostic poem for you. It may not be well written, but it can help you find the head gardener.

More wonderful articles are all in an acrostic poem:

A gentle breeze lightly brushes, flowers stay forever

Strolling in spirit, roaming the sunny south mountain

Seeking wonders and finding clever things at Bronze Bird Terrace

Planting reds and greens, rising above the blue clouds

- Come take the challenge: a four-line acrostic-and-tail poem; connect the first characters plus connect the last characters, and you can get an eight-character motto to summon the head gardener's true self! When you come, remember to say: "Head gardener, your secret has been cracked by me!"