How to Add Humic Acid to Aerobic Compost Tea
Humic acid adds several benefits to a standard compost tea. It may help plants become more resistant to disease, and will make it easier for plants to absorb the micronutrients present in the compost tea. It also increases seed germination rates, so it is a good additive to use just after planting. You can obtain humic acid from large garden centers in powdered form, or if you have a worm bin you can simply make a compost tea high in humic acid directly from the vermicompost. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- 5-gallon compost tea brewer
- Mature compost
- Water
- 1 oz.organic unsulfured molasses
- 5 cups humic acid
- Sprayer
Instructions
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Brew Compost Tea
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1
Set up your compost tea brewer according to the manufacturer's instructions.
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2
Add mature compost until the brewer is approximately half full. Cover with water to within 3 inches of the rim of the brewer.
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3
Turn on the brewer to begin aerating the compost and water mixture.
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4
Vigorously stir in 1 oz. of organic, unsulfured molasses.
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5
Allow the tea to brew for three days, stirring vigorously at least once per day.
Use the Compost Tea
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6
Add 1 cup of commercially available humic acid per gallon of water to the compost tea.
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7
Pour the compost tea into a watering can or canister sprayer.
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8
Apply the compost tea as a foliar spray or as a ground soak. Five gallons of compost tea is enough to treat 1 acre as a foliar spray, or 10,000 square feet as a ground soak.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Humic acid is available as a liquid or a powder. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for exact quantities to add, if your brewing system is larger or smaller than 5 gallons.
Keep humic acid away from children and pets. Once it is diluted in the compost tea it is completely safe, but could be harmful if consumed full strength.
