How to Make Organic Compost for Plants: A Step-by-Step Guide

In a world increasingly conscious of sustainability, composting is a simple yet effective way to reduce waste and enrich the soil in your terrace garden. Composting may seem like a messy, smelly chore for urban dwellers with limited space—but it doesn’t have to be. With the correct method, you can make organic compost efficiently, even in a small apartment or balcony, without dealing with unpleasant odours or constant maintenance.

Why composting is important

Composting transforms your kitchen waste into a nutrient-rich supplement for your plants. Additionally, it reduces the amount of garbage sent to landfills, cuts down methane emissions, and lowers your dependence on synthetic fertilizers. Compost improves soil structure, retains moisture, and provides essential natural nutrients. For plant lovers, making compost at home is a win-win for your garden and the environment.

Choosing the right method for urban composting

Traditional composting methods don’t work well in urban settings as they require outdoor space and frequent turning. Fortunately, compact and odour-free options, like vermicomposting (worm composting) and bokashi composting, offer perfect solutions for city homes.

While Bokashi composting is simple and odour-free, it requires further curing and mixing, which might not be suitable for small apartments.

On the other hand, vermicomposting is easy to set up, low-maintenance, and effective. It uses special worms (red wigglers) to break down organic matter quickly and without foul smells. You can do it indoors or on a small balcony with minimal effort. However, vermicomposting limits the types of food waste you can add to the bin. For instance, spicy food, dairy products, oily or salty food, and meat cannot be added to the vermicomposting bin.

So, what is the solution? We recommend a hybrid method that combines both Bokashi and vermicomposting processes.

A step-by-step guide to combining bokashi and vermicomposting

This two-stage process is perfect for city dwellers. Bokashi composting ferments kitchen waste in an airtight bin, reducing smell and pests, while vermicomposting completes the process by turning that fermented waste into nutrient-rich compost with the help of worms.

1: Set up your bokashi bin

Get an airtight bokashi bin with a spigot at the bottom to drain liquid (bokashi leachate).
Sprinkle bokashi bran (containing beneficial microbes) at the bottom.
Add your kitchen waste daily—fruit peels, vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, bread, dairy, and even small amounts of meat.
After each layer, sprinkle more bokashi bran to promote fermentation and prevent odour.
Press down the waste to remove air pockets and close the lid tightly.

Tip: Drain bokashi liquid every 2–3 days and dilute it (1:100) to use as a liquid fertilizer for non-edible plants.

2: Ferment for 10–14 days

Once the bin is full, let it sit closed for 10–14 days to ferment.
The contents will look pickled and may smell sour (not rotten), which is normal.
This stage doesn’t produce compost yet, but it pre-digests the waste, making it easier and faster for worms to process.

3: Transfer to a worm bin

Prepare your vermicompost bin with moist bedding (shredded cardboard or newspaper) and a handful of garden soil.
Add red wigglers (Eisenia fetida) and let them settle in for a day or two.
Gradually add small amounts of the fermented bokashi waste, mixing it into one corner of the bin.
Let the worms adjust before adding more. Over time, they’ll turn the pre-fermented scraps into rich, odour-free compost.

4: Maintain your worm bin

Keep the bin moist but not soggy—like a wrung-out sponge.
Ensure good airflow and avoid overfeeding.
If there’s any odour, pause feeding and add more dry bedding.
Store the bin indoors or on a balcony in a cool, shaded place.

5: Harvest the compost

In 4–6 weeks, the worms will convert the fermented material into dark, crumbly compost.
Move the finished compost to one side and add fresh bedding and bokashi waste to the other. The worms will migrate, making it easy to harvest the compost.
Use this nutrient-rich material in potted plants or raised beds, or mix it with soil for a natural fertilizer boost.

Urban composting doesn’t have to be complicated or messy. With this hybrid composting method, even the tiniest apartment can host a mini compost factory. It’s a rewarding way to reduce waste, care for the environment, and keep your plants thriving with homemade organic nutrients. So go ahead—start composting today!