Refresh Your Plants With This Easy DIY Compost Tea

Fill a bucket with water

Grab a large bucket that will allow you plenty of extra space to stir and mix the contents without making a mess. Fill it with three gallons of water.  You may use rainwater or, if using regular tap water, let it sit for at least 24 hours to allow the chlorine to leech off before mixing it into your compost. (Chlorine is not good for your plants.)

Add compost and stir well

Add a half gallon of compost to the three gallons of water.  You don’t want to make mud; you want the compost to float freely in your water. Think of it like a big tea mug with loose tea leaves. Use a stick to stir your compost tea mix vigorously to aerate the tea. Allow it to steep for 12 to 24 hours.

Strain the compost particles

In a second large bucket, strain the compost particles from the water with a strainer or mesh screen, leaving the brown “compost tea” water free of compost debris.

Leaving behind large chunks of leaves or compost may promote mold growth in the plants you apply compost tea to. The key is to apply the nutrient-rich tea without any particles.

Apply the compost tea to your plants

Water your plants generously with compost tea, just like you would with regular water. Make sure they have good drainage to prevent them from floating when they are overwatered. Good drainage allows excess water to escape and prevents root rot.

Compost tea is good to use on both indoor and outdoor plants.

FAQ

How long will my compost last?

Be sure to use your compost tea within 24 hours before it starts to spoil. Store it in a refrigerator to help it last longer. As with all tea, it is best when freshly made.

How often should I water my plants with compost tea?

Alternate regular waterings with compost tea about every two to four weeks, and you will be amazed at the difference this way of giving your plants nutrients will make in their flourishing.

Can I overdo it with compost tea on my plants?

There is a delicate balance between healthy microbes that benefit your soil and unhealthy pathogens that can be harmful to your plants.  By spreading out the compost tea waterings, with regular water, you are flushing out the soil and allowing it to keep the good and get rid of the bad. Soil has an incredible way of being its own filtration system for healthy plants. Too much of a good thing is never good.

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