Compost Tea Time for My Plants
It’s time to feed my plants a refreshing drink of tea.
Feeding plants compost tea is a wonderful way to provide wholesome and organic nourishment. Every couple of weeks, my head gardener, Ryan McCallister, mixes up a batch and feeds the plants in the greenhouses. Compost tea is made by steeping aged compost in water. It improves soil structure, reduces water stress, and is an ideal alternative to toxic chemical pesticides and fertilizers. I have two brewing systems from Growing Solutions, Inc. in Eugene, Oregon, and both work very well - just combine a few ingredients to create the appropriate "brewing" atmosphere and leave it overnight. The process is so easy, and so good for a wide variety of crops, including fruit trees and indoor plants.
Here are some photos - enjoy.
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- This is called the System10 by Growing Solutions. It’s a 10-gallon compost tea model that’s great for home gardens. It needs a sheltered location with a level surface and access to power and water, so we keep it in a small greenhouse next to the head house. Pete from my outdoor grounds crew made the special wood base which keeps the unit secure on the shelf. http://www.growingsolutions.com
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- At the bottom of the tank is the fine bubble diffusion aeration disc. This releases bubbles from the base up and ensures enough air is surrounding the filtration area.
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- Ryan fills the brewing tank with potable water up to the fill line.
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- Once the unit is filled, it can be turned on. The bubble action helps to release damaging chlorine from the water and incorporate beneficial oxygen. Ryan lets the tank bubble on its own for about 30-minutes to allow the chlorine to escape.
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- This is the compost tea catalyst, which stimulates important microbial growth in the tea.
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- Ryan adds about a cup to the activating water.
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- The custom engineered compost filter basket tray sits on top of the tank and holds the filter for the compost.
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- Ryan fills half the filter basket with nutrient rich compost that we make right here at the farm. These brewing systems need several generous scoops of compost for each batch of tea.
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- Ryan puts the lid back on the system and lets it complete the compost tea making cycle overnight.
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- After a full-24-hours, Ryan checks the compost tea system.
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- It has completed the tea making process. The basket filter is almost empty after the brewing cycle.
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- Next, Ryan adds booster supplements to the tea mixture – 2-4-1 fish fertilizer and 0-0-1 seaweed plant food.
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- Ryan pours about a half-cup of each into the brewing tank. In one of my larger hoop houses, we keep this System25, a 25-gallon brewing unit also from Growing Solutions.
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- And then lets it bubble for 15-minutes.
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- And that’s it – now it is ready to dispense into watering cans. Ryan fills two cans using the industrial grade valve at the bottom of the system.
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- Ryan will use many cans of tea to feed all the plants in the greenhouses.
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- Ryan gives the roots a good drink. Compost tea helps alleviate diseases of the soil. I’ve been giving my plants compost tea for years.
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- It also increases plant growth, and provides them with so many nutrients.
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- Compost tea can be applied to the roots or sprayed on the leaves.
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- Every citrus plant will be treated. My collection has grown quite a bit over the years. In addition to proper feeding, dwarf citrus trees require at least eight to 12 hours of full sunshine and good air circulation to thrive.
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- Ryan pours a liberal amount of compost tea into each potted specimen and schedules this process when the plants are already due for watering.
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- It makes me so happy to be able to fortify my citrus plants with good, rich food. In return, they provide me with a bounty of delicious fruits every season. Have you ever tried compost tea for your plants? Share your comments in the section below.
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