How to Compost Indoors

Overview

Composting is a tried-and-true method of getting nutrient-enriched soil for use in your garden or potted plants. If you're an apartment dweller who doesn't have a backyard, try composting indoors--right under your kitchen sink or in any out-of-the-way, warm area of your home. It doesn't take a lot of space to make a few gallons of super-nutritious organic matter for your indoor plants. Vermicomposting, which uses worms to do the work, can be used indoors using a sealed container. If you don't want worms in your home, try a material called bokashi to to start the composting process.

Preparing a Homemade Bin

Step 1

Drill several 1/4-in. holes in the lid of a large plastic storage bin. The bin should be a solid color---not translucent--to keep as much light out as possible.

Step 2

Fill the bin halfway with shredded newspaper, coffee filters or other plain paper. Do not use newspaper that has been coated, such as full-color sections or magazines.

Step 3

Shred or break apart kitchen scraps such as vegetable or fruit scraps, egg shells, discarded coffee grinds or tea bags with the staples removed.

Step 4

Add water to your mixture to lightly dampen all of the paper.

Step 5

Add worms or bokashi, depending on the method you have chosen. Bokashi is sold in a mixture of bran and molasses and introduces a helpful bacteria (anaerobes) to help break down the composting elements and begin to turn them to soil. Worms, which you can buy online, will break down the contents naturally and will thrive on the contents contents of your composting box as long as the environment is kept moist, dark and at temperatures between 40 and 80 degrees F.