Compost "tea" Is The Best Natural Fertilizer

2023 Author: Ava Durham | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 07:50

Compost "tea" is the secret of many of the best gardeners. Almost all world records for growing giant vegetables have been achieved using this unique fertilizer. When watered with compost "tea", the plants begin to grow well, increasing the green mass up to 3 times. Compost "tea" is a super energy drink for plants.

The secret to healthy soil is the healthy microorganisms that abound in it. Organic compost tea is literally teeming with beneficial probiotic bacteria. There are two types of bacteria involved in soil biocenosis - aerobic and anaerobic. Aerobic bacteria thrive in oxygen-rich soils. Anaerobic predominates in air-depleted soil and water.

Aerobic bacteria are friends of your garden. They decompose toxic substances and create useful products in the soil.

Depleted soils lack aerobic bacteria and other beneficial microorganisms. The application of chemically synthesized fertilizers, environmental pollution and other unfavorable conditions deplete the soil and destroy beneficial bacteria. At the same time, optimal conditions are created for the growth of anaerobic bacteria, root rot and other plant diseases appear. Commercial fertilizers contain salts that build up in the soil and kill beneficial bacteria. Synthetic chemical fertilizers are more beneficial in the short term, but harmful in the long term. The use of organic fertilizers, and in particular compost "tea", will give the soil long-term health.

Compost tea can be prepared in several ways

Method number 1

Put the finished compost in a bag, tie the bag. Fill the bucket with water, put the bag in there. Insist "tea" for several days, stirring occasionally. When the solution becomes tea-colored, it is ready for use.

Method number 2

Fill the bucket with compost about a third, add water, stir. Let the compost sit for 3-4 days. Stir the compost solution while infusing. Strain the solution through a burlap, sieve, or cheesecloth into another container.

Method number 3

Obtaining aerated compost practically does not differ from the two previous methods, except that during infusion the solution is subjected to enhanced aeration. Aeration is carried out using a compressor and an aerator stone (sold in aquarium stores).

What is it for? As discussed above, aerobic bacteria are essential for the health of soil and plants. Without a constant flow of oxygen, these microorganisms will die, anaerobic harmful bacteria will replace them, and the compost "tea" may have an unpleasant odor. Thus, with the help of aeration, the quality of the resulting fertilizer is improved. Think why the smell of stagnant water in a pond is unpleasant, but river water smells fresh? The river is saturated with a large amount of oxygen, which prevents the reproduction of harmful putrefactive microbes.

Method number 4

For large farms, you can use industrial equipment for the production of compost "tea". Such equipment has long been produced and used in the United States. You can also make it yourself using a plastic barrel with a tap and a compressor.

For any method of making compost "tea" it is important to eliminate chlorine from the water (if you are using tap water), since it negatively affects the vital activity of beneficial bacteria. To do this, let it stand or aerate it for 2-3 hours.

If the resulting compost "tea" has an unpleasant putrefactive odor, this indicates that it is saturated with anaerobic bacteria. Such fertilizer cannot be used for watering plants, make a new portion of compost "tea", adhering to all the rules. When making the solution, you can use only fully "ripe" compost. Aeration will also help improve the quality of the "tea".

If you cannot use the compost "tea" right away, store it in a cool and aerated place.

Ready-made compost "tea" is used for watering and spraying plants. The advantage of this method of plant feeding is that you do not add extra soil as you would with dry compost. In this way, it is convenient to feed indoor potted plants. For spraying, compost tea is diluted with water at a concentration of 1:10. Do not spray foliage on a bright sunny day; plants can get burned. It is best to do this early in the morning or at sunset.

For watering, you can simply use ready-made concentrated "tea". At the same time, you will not harm the plant, as can happen with concentrated chemical fertilizers. The frequency of feeding plants with compost "tea" is from once a week to once a month.