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Compost tea is a biological fertilizer for the garden. Gardeners worldwide are screaming about the top benefits of compost tea. So, what is compost tea? Compost tea is a liquid fertilizer known as liquid gold or black gold.
The basic form of compost tea
In its basic form, tea steeps biologically rich and aged compost with water. Most importantly, over the years, gardeners have further enhanced this with various additions, including worm castings and known for their biological activity. And replacing a percentage of the water with other forms of tea. Such as nettle tea or comfrey tea.
This adds further nutrients to the compost tea. As humans are alive, they need a food source, so most people use molasses.
There are two methods for brewing compost tea. Both methods have scientific research behind them, and each has its merits. Furthermore, the two processes of brewing compost tea are aerobic and anaerobic. Let’s talk about the latter first. Anaerobic is a compost tea that you can see in the above photo.
By brewing the tea and placing a lid on the bucket, you will omit all air, and the resulting liquid will turn anaerobic. By far, the most used method and the one I use is the aerobic method. This is where you add a mechanical air pump designed for the aquatic industry to pump air into the compost tea.
The Principle Of Compost tea
The principle behind composting tea is to increase the amount of biological life within the soil. Because we all know about the soil web life helps plants grow and fend off disease. That’s the benefit of compost tea. I will do another blog on that at a later date.
Step into the World of Compost Tea Gardening – Simplify Gardening we need to increase fertility. This will help us to get a better-looking garden. We need to look after the soil web life. Furthermore, compost tea increases the bacteria and microbes we would be adding when mulching with compost.
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So many people struggle to make compost. It either takes an eternity to break down or becomes a smelly mess. I wrote this book so that you can learn what happens in your compost pile at the microscopic level, as well as the fundamentals. Knowing this will allow you to understand at what stage your compost is and allow you to problem-solve and find solutions when making compost. Check out what others say about the book!
The most comprehensive book on composting I have ever read!
I thought I knew something about composting organic materials to use back in my garden as “black gold.” Still, Tony’s breaking down (pun intended) composting principles and methods has given me a better understanding of the whole process.
If you want to know everything about composting and becoming a Compost Master – read this book!
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Soil food web
It is important to understand the soil food web. Because of the way we are trying to increase that very nature, by adding compost tea. What does all this have to do with better plants? By introducing a highly beneficial group of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes, we are increasing the good life within the soil.
This, in turn, breaks down within the cycle, which provides natural nutrients that the plants can readily take up. Because this is what compost tea is all about, We are just giving the microbes everything they need to reproduce their numbers by the billions. furthermore, this, in turn, will feed your soil. Ever heard of the saying ‘feed your soil not your plants’‘? This is exactly what is meant by that saying.
How Long Should You Brew?
How Long should you leave the brew? This depends on the amount you are brewing and the quantity of molasses you use. However, three or four days should be an ideal amount of time. Once the compost tea is ready, it should be used immediately as it doesn’t store.
The microbes start to die without the oxygen and food that are required. It is possible to add additional water, compost, and molasses to continue the brewing process.
Compost tea can be used to water your plants. You can not overuse the compost tea, so there is no danger of using too much. Use as much fluid as the plant needs. It can also be used as a drench, aiding plants in fending off fungal and blight attacks.
Benefits of using compost tea
Size
- Improvement in plant size and quality. Compost teas are jam-packed with nutrients and trace minerals which aid in plant growth and strengthen the plant’s immune system.
Soil Web Life
- Increases the soil food web life. The larger the community building the structure of the soil, the better, This adds fertilizers which are also available to the plants and can change a soils makeup.
Organic
- Is organic. Making your compost tea allows you to control your garden’s soil and plant life. Instead of killing your soil life with chemicals. You are creating a thriving environment that is self-sustaining.
Suppresses weeds
- It helps to suppress disease and pest damage. Compost tea helps to build the plant’s immune system. This, in turn, allows the plant to fend off attacks from pests or diseases like blight.
No Chemicals
- Breaks gardener’s reliance on toxic chemicals. Returning your garden to a more natural balance where mother nature shows you how it’s done.
Warm inside
- It makes you feel warm inside :). You know you’re doing your little bit to look after the earth. The animals that use your garden and your family. By providing nutrient-dense organic great, tasting food.
These products are available to make this process easier for you. If you want to brew your compost tea, you can purchase these and start your journey into improving your soil for high-quality plants.
I hope you will give your garden some help. Increase that soil life and feed the soil by making your very own compost tea. Once you do this, you will see the benefits of composting tea in your garden.
To learn how to make compost, The full guide Click Here
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