Homemade Bokashi: What it is and How to Make it

Many people are applying organic fertilizers and composts in their gardens because, in addition to being an ecological measure, it also helps enrich our soils without having to apply harsh chemicals and additives.

One of the most popular organic composts is bokashi, a mixture of organic substances that will provide different benefits to both your plants and the soil they inhabit. If you want to know how to prepare this natural fertilizer at home, in the following lines we will give you some steps to make homemade bokashi.

What is homemade bokashi?

Bokashi (which means fermented organic matter) is an organic compost originated by Japanese rice farmers due to the need to find a compound that would allow them, on the one hand, to enhance soil nutrients and, on the other, to dispose of their own waste without creating unnecessary garbage.

But why should we choose bokashi over any other type of compost? Here are some of its benefits:

• It's quick to prepare: while common compost takes about 3 months to be ready, bokashi can be ready in two weeks.

• Enriches the soil: due to the organic matter used to prepare it, compost can provide a large amount of nutrients.

• Repels some insects: due to the use of organic substances, homemade bokashi helps strengthen the microorganisms that live in the soil, which provides our plants with more protection against insects.

How to make homemade bokashi – step by step

Now that we know its benefits, we will explain how to prepare bokashi at home. Before you start, make sure you have these ingredients:

• 1 compost container with a capacity of approximately 5 liters

• 4 liters of mineral water

• 6 kilos of rice hulls (or straw if the former is not available)

• 6 kilos of manure

• 6 kilos of soil

• 600 grams of agricultural lime (or ash if the former is not available)

• 600 grams of molasses

• 600 grams of bran

• 1 kilo of charcoal

• Yeast

Step by step:

1. First, we will have to prepare the inoculum, that is, the implantation of microorganisms we want in our natural composting.

2. To do this, we will have to add the indicated liters of water to the container, the grams of molasses, and a little yeast. Although it is convenient to use a specific container for making compost, we recommend that if you do not have one, use two of our carrier trays or one of our low sand containers.

3. Once the ingredients are added, you will have to stir them until a homogeneous mixture is obtained. Then cover the container and let the mixture rest for 24 hours.

4. While the inoculum is resting, you must form the base of the compost: to do this, add the soil along with the charcoal where you are going to make the homemade bokashi. Then you will have to add a layer of manure along with the rice hulls (or wheat), bran, and agricultural lime.

5. After 24 hours, you will have to add the inoculum to the base we have created and stir everything again. Let the mixture rest for another 24 hours.

6. After the indicated time, you will have to stir the mixture twice a day: once in the morning and once in the late afternoon. You will have to repeat this process for 2 weeks.

After those weeks of work, your homemade bokashi will be ready, which you can use for approximately 3 months.

How to use this natural compost

In outdoor gardens and crops, you can mix bokashi with the substrate you are going to use for your plants.
In pots and seedbeds, you will have to add 20% of the natural compost and the remaining 80% of soil or substrate.
You can also apply it every 3 weeks to the soil of already planted crops to enhance the protection of your plants against insects and deficiencies.

Where can I buy universal substrate to mix with my homemade bokashi?

In our online store, you can find 70-liter bags of universal substrate at a good price. In addition to this product, if you browse the website, you will see that we have a wide variety of gardening products such as bamboo canes, pots, pine bark, and weed control fabrics, among others.