For many of us, a cup of tea is one of life’s most appreciated simple pleasures. It can also be for the plants in your house. But we are not talking about black tea, green tea or infusions… we are talking about tea and compost.
Compost Tea is a moderate strength organic fertilizer that is incredibly nutritious for all types of plants. Anyone with a garden, orchard, or a bit of space to compost can do it. Think of this tea as an energy drink for the greenery.
It’s even more effective than composting alone, since the distillation process employs beneficial bacteria in the compost, says Suki Janssen, a waste reduction manager in Athens, Georgia.
“Microbes like bacteria can go dormant in the compost because they lack nitrogen to eat,” he says. “By making compost tea, you feed the bacteria, which brings them back to life. Active microbes have fertilizing benefits for plants.” In some cases. The tea distillation process can cause nutrients, beneficial bacteria and fungi to multiply. They stay suspended in the water in a way that makes them immediately accessible to plants.
The key is to use this tea within 24 hours of the distillation process. Compost tea is short-lived when the re-energized bacteria are active.
This is an easy manual, in 6 steps, in which all you need are two buckets, a shovel, fresh compost, water and a filter cloth (it can be an old t-shirt).
Step 1. Fill a bucket ¾ full with compost.
Step 2. Add water to fill the bucket. Here you can add a little sugar to wake up the bacteria.
Step 3. Let the mixture rest for four days, stirring it occasionally.
Step 4. Filter the mixture through a porous cloth into another bucket. Spread compost waste in your yard or return it to the compost bin.
Step 5. Dilute the compost liquid with water until it is the color of weak tea.
Step 6. Use the tea immediately as an irrigation or place it in a sprinkler. When using as a spray, add a small amount of vegetable oil or organic dishwashing liquid (1/8 tablespoon per gallon is sufficient) to the mixture to help it adhere to the leaves.
Helpful Hint:
The compost: it must be well finished. That is, it must have a biscuit texture and fragrant soil, like forest soil. If you’re not sure if your compost is ready, look at the bottom… that’s where it’s best.
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