How to Make Compost Tea

Compost in any form is a plant's idea of gourmet health food. Made into tea, it's the ideal liquid fertilizer, especially for young plants. Compost tea helps plants grow stronger and more productive and, evidence suggests, can protect against disease.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Mild Dish Soap
• Spray Bottles
• 2 Metal Buckets
• Cheesecloth
• Garden Trowels
• Watering Cans
• Vegetable Oils

1. 

   Fill a metal bucket one-third full of finished compost.

2. 

   Add water to the top of the bucket.

3. Let the mixture steep for three to four days.

4. 

   Strain the mixture through cheesecloth or other porous fabric into another container. Add any remaining solids to the garden or return them to the compost bin.

5. 

   Dilute the remaining liquid with water so it's the color of weak tea.

6. 

   Apply compost tea according to each plant's requirements (check seed packets and gardening books for details). For best results, work early in the morning or on cloudy days.

Tips & Warnings

• Some plants respond well to foliar feeding (having their foliage sprayed). Before you spray compost tea, add 1/8 tsp. vegetable oil or mild dish-washing liquid per gallon to help it adhere to leaves.

[tepetongo]

on 8/19/2009 I really enoy this Idea. How frequent can I do this type of fertilizer? Can I do it on a weekly basis? bi weekly?
Thanks

[tadhussey]

on 7/27/2009 A plastic bucket is fine, I manufacture commercial compost tea brewing systems and we use plastic containers that we've tested the microbiology with, not a problem at all.

I would disagree with the other comment though, all current research is pointing towards adding aeration to select for aerobic microbes. Letting the mixture above steep for a few days would select for anaerobes, such as e. coli or salmonella.

[LisaSolution]

on 2/17/2009 First off I would like to say that research is pointing to this simple less-aerobic method of making compost tea as being the best. Also, people use plastic buckets to make compost tea in all the time. And I would stir my compost tea once or twice a day to add a little oxygen while steeping it for up to 5 days, that is the traditional way. In addition, the greatest benefit comes from using this as a soil drench, putting the microbes into the soil where they are going to work on feeding your plants. And lastly, compost tea is never a substitute for regularly top dressing with organic matter for really healthy soil and by extension healthy successful plants.

[AllieMae]

on 8/8/2008 Why can't you use a plastic bucket when making compost tea?