How to Make Compost Tea
For those gardeners who use it, Compost Tea is liquid gold in the flower,
herb, and vegetable gardens. If you are not currently making and using Compost
Tea, chances are you are spending money for a liquid fertilizer. Don't you
think it's time to stop spending hard earned cash, and turn to easy to make,
organic, and free compost tea? Sure, you do!
Yes, compost tea is easy to make. All you have to do is soak compost in water
for a few days. The compost will give off nutrients and minerals to the water,
which is then drained off for use in feeding all of your garden plants.
When is the best tea time for your plants? ..........Anytime! There isn't
a plant in the plant world that will not respond to compost tea. In liquid
form, nutrients and minerals are readily absorbed by your plants. It reaps
fast rewards with greener leaves, bigger, brighter blooms, and large, more
prolific fruit and vegetables. From the minute your seedlings emerge,
to the final days of fall, your plants will benefit from the nutrient rich
ingredients of compost tea.
Organic gardeners, compost tea is for you. It is completely organic!
Tip: Your houseplants will enjoy compost tea, too.
How to make Compost Tea:
Any large container will do, from a 5 gallon bucket to a 55 gallon drum.
Fill the container loosely with a variety of compost material. Fill the container
with water. Stir mixture every day. After a week, your tea is ready to use.
Drain off the liquid tea. Use a strainer if possible to keep solid particles
out of the tea. If you are going to use the tea in a sprayer you need to
strain the tea through a cheesecloth to remove small particles that can clog
the sprayer.
Pure compost tea is often too strong for your plants. The nitrogen content
can be so high, that it burns the plants. Before applying the tea to your
plants, mix 10 parts water with one part compost tea. This 10:1 ratio dilutes
the nutrient levels, so the tea can be safely applied.
Left over solid material can be spread on your garden, put back into a composter,
or onto the compost pile for later use.
Tip: Try foliar feeding by sprinkling the diluted compost tea on the
plant leaves.
Important Note: The liquid nutrients in compost tea is used immediately
by your plants. But, because it is in liquid form, it can wash out of your
soil quickly. Frequent applications are recommended.
More Information:
Compost and Mulch
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The Envirocycle Compost/ Compost Tea maker is the perfect solution for people
who want to make compost and collect compost tea. It does both!
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