Make Compost Tea 

(for very happy plants)

When I first heard about compost tea years ago (I think it was on Victory Garden on PBS), I was really skeptical.  I mean, how big a difference could there be between compost and compost tea?

Well, sinch then I’ve had many pathetic, failing plants perk right up after using compost tea, even when I was sure they were about to die, so I am now an absolute believer.  There is something particular about the tea that works just that much better than simply top dressing with compost  (though it’s ideal to do both).

Basically, it’s made the same way you would make tea for you to drink, only your plants will be drinking it instead.

Why make it?  Plants not only take in nutrients through their roots, but through their leaves too.  One reason plants look so great after a good rain is that there’s nitrogen in rain water that soaks the leaves as well as the soil.

Compost tea is completely safe and clean (no toxins to breathe in or have to be careful touching).  The only “hazard” is that it stinks (sometimes a whole lot, depending on the ingredients; alfalfa meal smells horrid, fish meal surprisingly isn’t that bad).

And best of all, it’s a cheap way to get maximum impact!

All you need is

• Fresh Compost or organic fertilizer powder or pellets,
• a 5 gallon bucket
• clean water (rain water is ideal, but tap water is fine too as long as you let it sit for 24 hours to release any chlorine)
• Stir stick

Steps:

1) For compost tea, put in 3 or 4 double handfuls of good quality compost (it should be rich and black) in the bottom of the empty bucket.

For fertilizer tea, put about 1 cup of natural, organic fertilizer (such as Jobe’s Organic All Purpose fertilizer  – not chemical, manufactured fertilizer — you want stuff made with things like fish meal, alfalfa meal, seaweed, earthworm castings, etc.) into the bucket.

2) Fill the remainder of the bucket with water, leaving enough space to stir.

3) Lightly cover the bucket with a large plant pot saucer or piece of cardboard weighed down with a rock.

4) Leave the covered bucket in a shady spot outside (not in the house or you and your entire family will regret it).

This is going to stink so place it a decent distance from your back patio seating area!

5) Stir with a bamboo plant stake or long tree branch at least twice a day at morning and evening (add a mid-day stir if you can).

After 4 days, the tea will be ready.

How to Use

On the 4th day or later*,

1)  Let the solids settle at the bottom of the bucket.

2)  Use a smaller bucket to scoop some of the tea into a large watering can. 

You’ll use a ratio of 1 third tea with 2 thirds water.

3)  Slosh the watering can around a bit to mix, then pour this mixture onto your plants, making sure to get it all over the leaves.

4)  Once you use up almost all of the liquid and get to the sludge at the bottom, just dump it at the base of your favorite tree, it’ll love it.

*You don’t have to use all of the tea at once.  It can sit in the bucket for a few extra days without any problem.  Just continue to stir it and keep it covered.

When and Where to Use Compost Tea

♦ Compost tea is especially beneficial for food plants that are heavy feeders (like tomato plants or blackberry bushes while they’re fruiting).

♦ I always soak my new veggie seedlings with compost tea about 2 – 3 weeks after they emerge from seed; it gets them off to a great start.  Then I do it again every 2 – 3 weeks while they’re still growing and producing.

♦ Roses also love it…and basically every other plant too.

Because compost tea is so mild, you really can’t over-fertilize your plants this way.

Enjoy watching how your plants react to the tea treatment; I think you’ll be surprised at how much they love it!