Benefits of Compost Tea

Compost Tea Photo:  Debbie Roland

By Debbie Roland, Master Gardener

Compost tea is a liquid concentrate made by steeping compost in water which infuses water with microorganisms and nutrients.  Compost is a wonder for your garden and yard, and compost tea offers the same benefits but in a smaller package.  It’s like giving your plants a vitamin boost full of microbes, trace minerals and organic nutrients that improve soil.  Compost tea is a good addition to West Texas soil where our native soil can be dry and depleted.

In addition to feeding the soil this tea can boost plant immunity, improve nutrient uptake and it is chemical free which is safe for kids, pets and pollinators.

Compost tea can be purchased from nurseries or can be easily made at home.  There are several “recipes” to use but here is the basic non-aerated version: 

Non-Aerated Tea:  Use non-chlorinated water in your choice of bucket size.  Rainwater is preferable of course but city water can be used if allowed to sit 24 hours before using it which will remove the chlorine.  Fill the bucket with water and add a shovel scoop to the water.  Mix vigorously and then stir twice daily for 10 days.  After ten days strain out the large particles.  Cheesecloth or an old t-shirt are both fine for this.  The full-strength liquid can be applied to the soil around the base of the plant or can be diluted and used as a foliar spray.

Aerated Tea:  This method promotes the growth of aerobic microorganisms.  Again, always begin with non-chlorinated water.  Add finished compost, composted manure, plant material or worm castings.  These can be put into a mesh bag or nylon stocking before adding to the water or the water can be strained when the tea is ready to use.  If you are using the bag method, simply sink the filled bag into the water.  Some gardeners add one ounce of molasses to the mix.  Insert an aerator and let it circulate for forty-eight hours.  When the aerator is turned off, remove the bag and add contents of bag to your compost pile or discard.  Use the tea within four hours for best results.  This can be used as a soil drench or diluted and used as a foliar spray.

In the photo below the tea has been mixed and stirred daily for ten days.  It is ready to be strained and used at the base of plants or diluted and used as a foliar spray.

The tea should smell earthy and sweet.  If the finished tea is slimy or has a foul smell it has likely spoiled and should not be used on your plants since it may contain harmful microbes.

Use a watering can if you are doing a soil drench and water close to the base of each plant.  If you spray on the plant itself, be sure to strain the tea again before use so you don’t clog up your sprayer. Use one part tea to 10 parts water and apply every two weeks. 

If you have questions, call the AgriLife office in Odessa at 498-4071 or in Midland at 686-4700.   Additional information, and our blog for access to past articles, is available at westtexasgardening.org.  Click on “Resources.”