Compost Tea, how refreshing!

When was the last time you gave your plants a refreshing drink of compost tea?  It may sound like a strange notion but feeding your plants with compost tea is a wonderful way of providing wholesome and organic nourishment.  Once a month, using our own compost, my gardeners mix up a batch and feed all the plants in the greenhouse.  However, if they feel the plants are particularly stressed, they will administer the tea every two weeks.  We purchased this wonderful little 10-gallon compost brewer from Growing Solutions, Inc.  http://www.growingsolutions.com

Here’s Jodi filling the tank with tap water

This is the Compost Tea Catalyst, which stimulates important microbial growth in the tea.

The bubble action helps to release damaging chlorine from the water and incorporates beneficial oxygen.

Jodi filling the screen bucket with dark, rich compost

Submerging the screened bucket into the water where it will bubble and brew for 24 hours

Here’s Jodi the next day, filtering the compost tea into a pump sprayer

Jodi sprays the foliage with the tea for quick absorption.  It also helps the plant fend off diseases.

Jodi also gives the roots a good drink, which nourishes and helps alleviate diseases of the soil.

Comments

[Amanda]

Jodi has the best job, I love it.

[Sues]

Oooh this is very cool. And it really looks similar to a coffee maker! Pretty greenhouses :)

Sues

[Kathy]

Martha,
Thanks for the description of the compost tea brewing system that you have from Growing Solutions. I have been brewing my own compost tea solution for years. This equipment would make it easier for me. I'm glad to hear about it.
Kathy

[Emmy]

True to the "learn something new everyday" motto - I had never heard of treating plants with this before! What a great idea. Thanks for this informational blog.

[Trish]

You find the neatest things! I sometimes wonder how much I would know about gardening if it wasn't for you. As a matter of fact, I was just watching one of your old shows and you were sharpening garden tools with an attachment you had found for your portable drill. I bought a similar one for my drill. Thanks for showing us your new compost brewer. I probably won't be getting one but it's nice to know they're available. Trish

[PAULINE MUCCIACCIO]

Hi Martha,
I use a large 55 gal. container that I picked up at a yard sale for this very process of making compost tea. Plan on making a few modifications to the container to make the process of retrieving the compost tea a bit easier.
Thanks for the information.
Best,
Pauline Mucciaccio

[Jay]

Anyone living near farm animals can make "manure tea" using the same process.

[Ginger]

My rolling compost bin stores compost tea in its base - it's called the Envirocycle

[bill]

Now that is a good thing! Anyone with a garden should have one of these. I wonder, where do you find your planters?

[PamperingBeki]

I can't tell you how excited I was to see your etsy segment on the show today! I've been a seller on etsy for over a year and can only rave about the site and it's founder(s).

Thank you so much for shedding more light on it!

[Jan Erickson]

Hi Martha, Oh, how I wish I had Jodi's job! Then I could have easy access to all of the new tools, equipment and processes that can be used to improve any gardening project. This blog about compost tea is fascinating and very useful. The photos are really great. I tried to go to the growingsolutions.com website but was unsuccessful. I guess I'll try again later and see if it works. Thanks for sharing. Jan

[Tarah]

This is quite similar to a biodynamic preparation spray. For info on an even more holistic approach to gardening check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodynamic_agriculture

[maurdel]

that growingsolutions.com link has a typo in it. I added the "t" to the URL in the address bar and it worked then.

[Julie Hasson]

Martha, what a great thing to have. Thanks for sharing the info and photos on the compost tea.

Julie

[Jan Erickson]

Maurdel, Thank you for your help in finding the website growing solutions.com. I followed your directions and was successful in finding the site! Jan

[Liz Ness]

What an awesome (and green) idea!

[Corey Doherty]

I love this idea and was actually thinking that I would start composting the tea we use today. I have been using our coffee grinds and egg shells for years and have seen the benefits. Good stuff!

[Pam]

What a great idea. I was wondering if that is for all plants? Vegetable and house plants? Indoor and outdoor plants?

[chronic chick]

Hi martha
Organic seems to be the way to go. Its wonderful what we can get from good old fashion natural. Enjoy your tea.

[Linda Gail]

Martha:)
What a wonderful blog. My grandmother used compost tea for her roses and plants. She used manure tea and compost tea on her vegetable garden. She always had enough food to eat fresh all the summer and then we would do canning for the fall and winter. She made the best vegetable soup and tomato soup. Thanks for helping to bring back some great memories.
Linda Gail

[Korie B.]

Thanks for the idea! I'm ready for Spring!

[Melissa Hunt]

I bet that would be good for Plants. Martha have you ever heard about using Coffee Ground's? I just wonder,if that would be good,too? I may try the Tea,too. Thanks for alway's,showing Picture's.

[Charlotte]

I just love the article on compost tea! More years ago than I can remember my Grandmother taught me how she did her compost tea. It was not nearly so sophisticated, but was the same principle. When I had a garden I used this and it made all the difference in the world. My Grandmothers (both of them)we the wisest women. I was so lucky to have them in my life. Keep passing on these good things! Charlotte Goedken

[pam]

what a great ideal. Hey I would like to know where you got your jars (displayed in your kitchen; flour) I have been wanting them for a very long time.

[rozie]

hi martha, i am one of your fan from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I love to watched your programs which is so insteresting. Wish to meet you here in Malaysia one day....regards.