Embarking on a gardening journey in India? The secret to lush flowering plants, bountiful vegetables, and a vibrant lawn lies in choosing the right compost. Compost, often called ‘gardener’s gold,’ is a natural way to enrich soil with essential nutrients. But with so many options available, where do you begin? In this beginner-friendly guide, we’ll explore the top 8 composts tailored to the Indian climate. Whether you’re nurturing colorful blooms, homegrown veggies, or a green carpet of grass, our expert recommendations will help you make the best choice for your garden’s success.
What is Compost and its Benefits
Compost is a remarkable natural product that results from decomposing organic matter, such as kitchen scraps, yard waste, and plant materials. This process, called composting, occurs when microorganisms like bacteria and fungi break down these materials into a rich, dark, and crumbly soil-like substance. Compost is often called “black gold” for gardeners due to its numerous benefits.
One of the primary benefits of compost is its ability to enhance soil quality. It improves soil structure, making it easier for plant roots to penetrate and access nutrients and water. Compost also acts as a slow-release fertilizer, supplying plants with essential nutrients over time reducing the need for synthetic chemicals.
Compost aids in retaining moisture in the soil, reducing water requirements for your garden. It also supports beneficial microorganisms that suppress harmful plant diseases and pests. Furthermore, compost reduces the need for landfill disposal of organic waste, contributing to environmental sustainability. By recycling kitchen scraps and yard waste through composting, beginners can positively impact their gardens and the planet.
Factors to Consider in Buying Composts in India
- Organic Content: Ensure the compost is rich in organic matter, as it provides essential nutrients for plant growth.
- Nutrient Composition: Check the nutrient levels (NPK) to match your plant’s specific requirements.
- pH Level: Verify that the compost’s pH suits your plants; most prefer a slightly acidic to neutral pH.
- Texture: Opt for compost with a crumbly texture, which improves soil structure and aeration.
- Odor: A good compost should have an earthy smell, not a foul odor.
- Certification: Look for certifications like organic or ISI, ensuring quality and safety.
- Packaging: Choose compost packaged in sealed bags to maintain freshness.
- Brand Reputation: Consider reputable brands with positive customer reviews.
- Price: Compare prices but prioritize quality over cost to ensure healthy plant growth.
- Compatibility: Select compost tailored to your specific gardening needs, whether for flowers, vegetables, or lawns.
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How Compost Works for Flowering Plants, Vegetables, and Lawns
Major Effects and Benefits
- Nutrient Enrichment: Compost provides a steady supply of essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK), fostering robust plant growth and blooming.
- Improved Soil Structure: It enhances soil structure, promoting better root penetration, water retention, and aeration.
- Microbial Activity: Compost introduces beneficial microorganisms that break down organic matter, suppressing harmful pathogens and diseases.
- pH Regulation: Compost helps maintain an optimal pH level, ensuring an environment conducive to plant health.
Time of Application of Compost
- Pre-Planting: Mix compost into the soil before planting to prepare a nutrient-rich bed for your plants.
- Top-Dressing: Apply a layer of compost on the soil surface during the growing season to provide a slow-release nutrient source.
- Mulching: Use compost as mulch to regulate soil temperature and moisture, particularly in summer heat.
Frequency of Compost Application
- Annual Amendment: Incorporate compost into your garden beds annually, preferably during the spring or fall.
- Continuous Mulching: Continue mulching with compost throughout the year to suppress weeds and maintain soil quality.
- As Needed: Monitor your garden’s specific needs and apply compost as required, especially for nutrients needed by crops.
8 Best Composts to Buy in India
Ugaoo Organic Potting Garden Soil Mix
The Ugaoo Organic Potting Garden Soil Mix is a fantastic choice for indoor and outdoor gardening enthusiasts. This 5 kg bag of organic potting soil blend is designed to nurture various plants, including flowering plants, cactus, succulents, and more. Here’s a concise summary of its key features and benefits:
Product Uses
- This organic mixture combines nutrient-rich Red Soil and Cow Manure, providing your plants with essential nutrients for healthy growth.
- It’s a ready-to-use blend, meaning you can use it straight out of the bag without further mixing.
- Ugaoo’s Garden Soil Mix is an excellent all-purpose soil for various plants, including vegetables, herbs, and flowers.
- It’s custom-blended to suit the needs of potted plants and garden beddings.
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Price and Value
Priced at just ₹289 for a 5 kg bag, it offers excellent value for money, allowing you to nourish your plants without breaking the bank. In addition to the Garden Soil Mix, Ugaoo offers related products like Cocopeat Block and Cow Dung Manure Fertilizers, which can complement your gardening efforts. These products can be purchased together for a holistic approach to plant care.
IFFCO Urban Gardens
IFFCO Urban Gardens Nutri Rich is a top-quality vermicompost designed to enhance the growth of your plants maintaining an eco-friendly approach to gardening.
Product Uses
- Nutri Rich is made from pure cow dung transformed into compost through a patented process.
- It’s a rich source of essential plant nutrients such as concentrated nitrates, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, and calcium.
- Fortified with seaweed further improves soil and plant health, making it a valuable gardening supplement.
- This organic fertilizer enriches the soil with beneficial microorganisms, enhances soil aeration and structure, and increases water retention capacity.
- Nutri Rich is coated with Neem and treated with bio-pesticides, protecting against pests and diseases.
Price and Value
Priced at just ₹350 for a 5 kg pack, it offers great value for those investing in organic, nutrient-rich gardening solutions.
How to Use
- Mix 200 grams of Nutri Rich per 1 kg of soil and water lightly for potting plants.
- Apply Nutri Rich to the topsoil for existing plants, mix well, and lightly water.
- Repeat this process every 2-3 weeks for improved nourishment and soil quality.
Bombay Greens Organic Fertilizer
Bombay Greens Organic Fertilizer is a fantastic choice for all your vegetable and herb plants. Here’s a brief overview of this organic fertilizer.
Product Uses
- This 100% organic fertilizer contains a balanced 3-4-4 NPK ratio, essential micronutrients, and many beneficial microbes.
- It is ideal for nourishing all vegetables and herbs, ensuring safe, continuous, and complete nutrition.
- Unlike traditional compost or manure, it contains all 15 essential nutrients for healthy plant growth.
- The fertilizer gently releases nutrients into the soil without causing burns, making it safe for plants and humans.
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Price and Value
With a discounted price of ₹275 for a 900-gram pack, it offers cost-effective and sustainable plant nutrition.
How to Use
- For regular maintenance, apply a handful of fertilizer to the top layer of the soil once every 15 days.
- When transplanting, mix two handfuls thoroughly with the potting mix for pots under 12 inches and three handfuls for larger pots.
TrustBasket Enriched Organic Earth Magic
TrustBasket Enriched Organic Earth Magic Potting Fertilizer is a highly-rated choice for nurturing plants.
Product Uses
- This 5 Kg pack of organic potting soil is enriched with beneficial microbes that enhance soil properties, promoting plant health.
- It’s entirely organic free from harmful chemicals, making safe for plants and the environment.
- The soil is rich in micro and macronutrients, ensuring your plants receive essential nutrition.
- It boasts excellent water-holding capacity, helping maintain consistent moisture levels for your plants.
- The antifungal properties of this soil aid in the healthy growth of your plants.
Price and Value
The discounted price of ₹289 (originally ₹599) offers great value for an organic potting soil of this quality.
How to Use
- Use this potting soil for planting and repotting your indoor and outdoor plants.
- It’s soft, lightweight, and easy to work with, making it an excellent choice for all gardening.
HOMEDECOR Magic Enriched Organic
The HOMEDECOR Magic Enriched Organic Calcium Magnesium Sulphur Rich Potting Soil Mix is an excellent choice for plant enthusiasts.
Product Uses
- This 5 Kg package of enriched organic potting soil is packed with vermicompost and cow manure organic fertilizer, making it a nutrient-rich choice for your plants and vegetables.
- It attracts deep-burrowing earthworms, enhancing soil quality naturally.
- The fine-textured moist vermicompost contains beneficial soil organisms that enrich the soil and improve microbial activity.
- The worm castings in this mix have 10 to 20 times higher microbial activity levels than in regular soil, promoting plant growth.
Price and Value
With a discounted price of ₹499 (originally ₹899), it offers great value for an organic soil mix with vermicompost and cow manure.
How to Use
- Use this organic potting soil mix for planting and repotting your plants and vegetables.
- It’s a natural and unadulterated choice, free from artificial chemicals, promoting plant health and increased yield.
- The presence of deep-burrowing earthworms helps maintain soil health and aeration, providing an ideal environment for plant roots.
Premium Bio Compost
The Premium Bio Compost (2 kg) offers an effective solution to nurture your plants and enhance soil quality.
Product Uses
- This 2 kg package of premium bio compost is rich in nutrients, providing essential nourishment to your plants, including flowers, herbs, vegetables, and indoor plants.
- Made from organic materials, it’s an eco-friendly choice for sustainable gardening.
- Its fast-acting formula accelerates the composting process, enriching the soil quickly.
- This compost can absorb and retain moisture up to 500%, serving as a soil rejuvenator and conditioner.
- It’s odor-free and easy to use, making it a hassle-free addition to your gardening routine.
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Price and Value
With a discounted price of ₹280 (originally ₹399), it offers great value for a nutrient-rich organic compost suitable for various types of plants.
How to Use
- Apply this bio compost to your garden, lawn, or flower beds to provide essential nutrients for healthy plant growth.
- It increases the organic content of the soil, promoting robust and rapid plant development.
- This sustainable and environmentally responsible compost is an excellent choice for eco-conscious gardeners.
Greenwood 100% Organic Vermicompost Fertilizer Manure
Greenwood 100% Organic Vermicompost Fertilizer Manure is a valuable organic supplement for your plants, enriched with neem extract to act as an insecticide.
Product Uses
- This 10 kg pack of organic vermicompost is derived from cow dung and bio waste, making it suitable for all plant types.
- It enhances soil aeration and structure, improving water retention and plant health.
- Including neem extracts in the vermicompost enhances immunity and resistance against plant stress and diseases.
- Ideal for home gardening, it promotes healthy and rapid plant growth.
Price and Value
- Priced at ₹390 with a 51% discount (originally ₹800), it offers great value for a nutrient-rich organic fertilizer and insecticide-enriched vermicompost.
How to Use
- Apply this vermicompost to your garden or potted plants to enrich the soil and stimulate plant growth.
- It’s an eco-friendly choice for gardening, contributing to plant health and vitality.
- This 100% organic vermicompost is an excellent addition to your gardening routine, providing essential nutrients for robust plant development.
Evergrow Enriched Quality Organic Vermi Compost
Evergrow Enriched Quality Organic Vermi Compost is a beneficial addition to your gardening routine.
Product Uses
- Evergrow organic vermicompost, available in a 20 kg pack, promotes plant growth.
- It encourages shoot and leaf growth, enhancing produce quality and shelf life.
- Suitable for fruit, flower, ornamental, crop, and vegetable plants.
- This vermicompost enriches the soil, increasing its water-holding capacity and supporting the activity of worms and microorganisms.
- It boosts plant immunity, making them less susceptible to diseases, and repels garden insects.
Price and Value
- Priced at ₹650 with a 35% discount (originally ₹999), it offers great value as a complete food for soil and a growth booster for plants.
How to Use
- Apply Evergrow Vermi Compost to your garden or potted plants to improve soil health and growth.
- This organic, nutrient-rich compost contributes to the vitality of your plants while repelling garden pests.
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Best Organic Composts to Buy in India with Prices
| Compost Name | Price (INR) |
| Ugaoo Organic Potting Garden Soil Mix | 290 |
| IFFCO Urban Gardens Nutri Rich Vermicompost | 350 |
| Bombay Greens Organic Fertilizer | 270 |
| TrustBasket Enriched Organic Earth Magic | 290 |
| HOMEDECOR Magic Enriched Organic Soil Mix | 500 |
| Premium Bio Compost | 280 |
| Greenwood 100% Organic Vermicompost Fertilizer | 390 |
| Evergrow Enriched Quality Organic Vermi Compost | 650 |
Conclusion
Nurturing your plants and ensuring their optimal growth, India offers a variety of compost options. From Ugaoo’s versatile potting mix to IFFCO’s nutrient-rich vermicompost and Greenwood’s organic fertilizer, there are choices for every gardener. These composts cater to different needs and budgets, making them essential for flourishing gardens in India.
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