Cultivate Workshop: How do I fertilise my plants? (Part 3/5)

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Now that your Indian borage or other plant of choice has been planted, the next question is – how do I fertilise it?

Instead of using chemical fertilisers compost is a fantastic alternative, and you can make some in your backyard or balcony. Here’s a picture of the very first compost pile which my husband and I first started in January. That rich earth used to be grass clippings, dried leaves, coffee grinds and chicken manure!

DIY Organic Fertiliser

1. Use compost! You can make your very own compost through a range of urban-friendly methods. Click here to read how to compost on your balcony.
2. Use nitrogen-rich used coffee grinds from your local coffee franchise to nourish the soil. I’ve been using coffee grinds from Starbucks, and they make my plants sing!
3. Instead of throwing away egg-shells, crush them, lightly roast them on your stove, then sprinkle them on your soil. Eggshells provide a double-whammy of nourishing calcium for your plants, as well as deter slugs and snails.

DIY Fish Amino Acid

Fish amino acid is a natural growth promoter for plants. All you need is 1 kg of chopped fish waste and 1 kg of brown sugar. Mix the ingredients and seal the container. Here is a recipe and method for Fish Amino Acid. You can also check out this 5-minute video on how to make your own fish amino acid, proudly presented by CAP. (In Malay.)

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