Tea is a common topic. You think of a range of different types of tea, from green tea to black tea. It is not often that you think of compost tea.

Because it is brewed, compost tea gets its name. Although it is not a tea for humans technically, compost tea is a good way to promote the growth of plants. Although you cannot drink compost tea, you can make sure your plants, including tea plants, are happy and healthy.

What’s Compost Tea?

Compost Tea is a liquid organic fertilizer that plants can use. It is used as a foliar spray during stress conditions such as temperature fluctuations, root damage and temperature fluctuations.

Like herbal teas and true teas, compost tea is rich in nutrients and full of vitamins and antioxidants. It’s also rich in beneficial microorganisms, organic materials and other substances that encourage growth. It’s not only what is in the tea bag that matters, but also how it tastes. The compost tea quality is affected by the location and composition of the compost.

Compost tea is made of organic matter that has been removed from the compost pile. You can make it at home or buy it at one of the many garden centres. Leachate, which is a natural compost product, makes compost tea. This is a byproduct of traditional composting at the bottom of the compost container.

Many compost bins don’t allow for the easy removal of leachate. Many gardeners prefer to make their compost tea at home. Please continue reading to learn more about compost tea and how to make it at home.

The Benefits of Compost Tea

Adds Nutrients

Your plants will grow quickly and healthy with compost tea. Compost tea makes plants more resilient and can withstand stress better than other plants.

Encourages Plant Growth

This liquid fertilizer helps plants grow larger leaves, which results in brighter flowers and healthier harvests. Compost tea is also known to increase yields for vegetables and fruits.

Prevents Disease

The beneficial bacteria in compost tea helps protect plants against disease. These beneficial microbes are applied to the leaves of plants and prevent them from being infected by pathogens. The use of compost tea prevents fungi and blight from causing damage to plants.

Alternative To Toxic Chemicals

The best thing about compost tea is that it can be used without toxic or chemical-laden fertilizers. Toxic fertilizers can cause harm to beneficial gardening creatures like ladybugs, worms, and other insects.

These fertilizers can also cause harm to animals and humans who eat harvested fruits and vegetables. Traditional fertilizers can also cause damage to the plant’s root systems and leaves. Compost tea has the same growth powers as toxic fertilizers but without adverse effects.

Tips For Brewing Good Compost Tea

Quality

High-quality ingredients make compost tea more effective than regular teas. When making compost tea, use only well-aged compost.

Compost materials that have been left behind may not contain enough nutrients. However, compost that hasn’t been broken down can contain harmful pathogens that could cause damage to plants.

Aerate

The compost tea should be aerated to ensure that it contains as many beneficial microbes as possible. Stirring the compost tea while steeping is the easiest way to aerate it.

You can also make aerated compost tea using an aquarium pump or air stones.

Add Powerful Ingredients

You can improve its effectiveness by adding fish emulsions, coffee grounds, powdered seaweed, and worm castings to compost tea. This increases the nutrient content of compost tea and stimulates plant growth.

Take Your Time

It is easy to make compost tea and takes very little time. Depending on how strong your fertilizer is, the brewing process could take up to 24 hours.

Many compost tea brewers recommend brewing for at least 48 hours. The stronger the tea will be, the longer it brews.

Compost Tea Recipe

What you’ll need:

• 2 5-gallon buckets
• 1 watering can
• High-quality compost
• Water (ponds, rain, or well water).
• Strainer (cheesecloth, t-shirt, burlap sack)
• Organic additives (OPTIONAL)

Instructions:

1. A 5-gallon bucket should be filled 1/3 with compost material. For best results, make sure you use high-quality compost. Composted materials should be fine and rich in black or dark brown.

2. Fill the bucket with non-chlorinated, unfiltered water using a watering can. Water from the rain, well, or pond is best. Avoid tap water.

3. The tea concentrate should be kept in the refrigerator for at least 3-4 days. Mix the tea mixture every day in the morning, evening and between the two.

4. Use a fine mesh strainer, cheesecloth or large fine-mesh strainer to strain the tea mixture into another five-gallon bucket. Another porous material, such as a t-shirt or pillowcase, can be used. You can also take the organic material and return it to your garden.

5. To dilute the tea concentrate before applying it to your garden plants, make sure to add water. Use a 10 to 1 ratio of water to the tea.

6. Spray directly on the leaves or use as a soil drench. To get the best results, add 1/4 teaspoon plant-based oil like vegetable oil or coconut oil when using the compost tea as a foliar spray.

Using Compost Tea

You can make compost tea at home with organic materials from your compost bin or worm bin. This liquid fertilizer makes organic gardening easy. It promotes plant growth and increases harvest yields without using harmful chemicals or other environmentally damaging fertilizers.

Tea making is fun, whether you are making a cup of tea before bed or preparing a concentrate for your garden. For the best results, make sure to use high-quality materials.

To increase the nutrient density of sandy, clay, or rocky soils, add compost tea to them. This will make them more suitable for healthy plant growth. You will see a greater yield from the soil because of the additional nutrients. To prevent infection and fend off pathogens, you can spray compost tea directly on the leaves. You’re certain to get great results no matter how you use your compost tea.