To grow a strong, healthy plant—like your upside-down tomato—you need more than just water and sunlight. You need healthy soil that’s full of the right food for your plant!

Soil isn’t just “dirt.” It’s full of tiny bits of minerals and nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These are like vitamins for your plant. But over time, plants can use them all up. That’s why we need to feed the soil—so it can keep feeding your plant.

Composting – Nature’s Way of Recycling

One of the best ways to feed your soil is with compost. Compost is made when things like food scraps and dry leaves break down. The result is a dark, crumbly mixture that’s packed with nutrients—superfood for your soil.

How to Start a Compost Pile:

• Collect food scraps like veggie peels, fruit cores, coffee grounds, eggshells, and garden clippings.

• Leave out meat, dairy, oil, salty or spicy food—they can smell bad and attract pests.

• Mix “greens” (fresh scraps) and “browns” (dry stuff like leaves or cardboard) to help it break down properly.

• Turn the pile every so often and wait. Over time, it turns into rich compost you can mix into your plant’s soil.

Worm Farms – Your Underground Helpers

Worms are little soil superheroes. They eat food scraps and turn them into worm castings (worm poop), which are full of nutrients that plants love.

How to Build Your Worm Farm:

• Use a bin or container with small air holes.

• Add bedding like shredded newspaper or coconut fibre.

• Add red wriggler worms—they’re the best for worm farms.

• Feed them small bits of food like veggie peels, fruit scraps, eggshells, and tea bags.

What Worms Love (and What They Don’t)

Worms love:

• Veggie and fruit scraps (like apple cores and banana peels)

• Coffee grounds and tea leaves

• Crushed eggshells

• Shredded paper or cardboard

Worms don’t like:

• Meat, dairy, or fish

• Oily or greasy food

• Spicy or salty food

• Citrus fruits (like oranges or lemons—they’re too sour for worms)

Caring for Your Worm Farm

Keep it moist, but not soggy—worms need dampness to breathe, but too much water can drown them. Every few weeks, take out the worm castings and add them to your plant’s soil, especially near the roots. These castings give your upside-down tomato plant a strong boost of nutrients.

By using compost and worm castings, you’re not just helping your plant—you’re also recycling, reducing waste, and learning how to care for the environment. Great work, young soil scientist!