Organic Compost Tea

Back Porch Composter, Go Green by Composting

About Compost Tea

Compost Tea is a liquid form of organic compost. It is a great fertilizer for both indoor and outdoor plants. Every gardener should use organic compost tea. Along with its cousin “manure tea”, they are the “liquid gold” of flower, herb, and vegetable gardening. Are your plants looking a little pale? Has their growth slowed down?  In liquid form, this fertilizer provides an almost instant energy boost, as it is readily taken up by the plant’s roots. If you are not currently making Compost Tea, you are likely spending money on liquid fertilizer. Don’t you think it’s time to stop spending hard-earned cash? Instead, use free and easy to make, organic compost tea.

Easy-to-make organic compost tea is a by-product of the composting process. It is made by soaking compost in water for a few days. The compost materials release nutrients and minerals into the water, which is then drained off for use in feeding your plants…. all of them.

All of your plants will respond positively, with new, greener growth. In liquid form, nutrients and minerals are readily absorbed by your plants. It reaps fast rewards with greener leaves, bigger, brighter blooms, and larger, more prolific fruits and vegetables.  From the minute your seedlings emerge, to the final days of fall, your plants benefit from the nutrient-rich ingredients.

Organic gardeners…… compost tea is for you. It is completely organic and natural!

Gardening Tip: Your indoor houseplants like compost tea, too.

How to Make Compost Tea

First, select a container. Use anywhere from a 5-gallon bucket to a 55-gallon drum. Then, fill the container loosely with a variety of plant waste. Or, fill a burlap bag with organic plant matter, and insert this “tea bag” into the container. Yes, you can toss in a little manure in, too. Next, fill the container with water. Stir the mixture every day. Aeration is important to the process of making compost tea. After a week, your tea is ready to use.

Drain off the liquid. Strain out solid particles. To use as a liquid fertilizer in a garden sprayer, strain the tea through a cheesecloth, to remove small particles that can clog the sprayer.

Tip: You do not have to use the tea all at once. If you only need a little, take what you need, leaving the rest to continue to steep, until you need it. 

The resulting pure tea is likely too strong for your plants. If you put a lot of “greens” into the tea, the nitrogen content can be so high, that it burns the plants. Before applying the tea to your plants, mix 10 parts of water with one part of compost tea. This 10:1 ratio dilutes the nutrient levels, so the tea can be safely applied and absorbed.

Spread or bury leftover solid material in your garden, put it back into your composter, or onto the compost pile for later use.

Tip: Apply this liquid fertilizer for foliar feeding, too. Sprinkle diluted compost tea on the plant leaves. Nutrients in the tea, are readily absorbed by the leaves.

Important Note: Plants immediately take up and use the liquid nutrients in the tea. However, because it is in liquid form, it washes out of your soil quickly. We recommend frequent applications.

Liquid Fertilizers versus Solid Granular Fertilizers

Because they are in a soluble form, liquid fertilizers like organic compost tea, have an almost immediate impact on your plants. The nutrients are quickly absorbed by the plant’s root system. The benefit of liquid fertilizers is short-lived. In liquid form, the nutrients do not remain in the soil long.

Solid, granular fertilizers and compost, release nutrients more slowly over a period of time. It takes longer to begin to benefit your plants. But, it lasts for weeks.

We believe the best fertilization program utilizes a combination of both liquid and solid fertilizers.

Related Articles

People who like this article will also like:

How to Make Manure Tea

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

    Please support our site. Shop for:

    Scroll to top