Promote Root Growth With Compost Tea and No Chemical Fertilizers
Fertilizing trees with a root feeder system will encourage
root growth and foliage. As we become more aware of the environmental impact chemical
fertilizers have we look for organic alternatives. Compost tea is a good
alternative.
Compost tea is made by steeping compost in pure water. The
tea is a liquid so it works really well with root feeders providing nutrients,
reducing foliar diseases, and breaking down the toxins. Compost tea is safe and
natural.
Why is Compost Tea a Good Solution?
Oxygen is the secret ingredient in compost tea. While you
culture the tea it needs to be constantly circulated. The oxygen in the compost
tea keeps microbes alive while encouraging them to reproduce.
Compost tea is the perfect fertilizer solution when used
with a root system, encouraging the roots to expand and go deeper. When
correctly cultured and applied the tea is far better for your trees. Mycorrhizal
organisms grow in the solution, promoting a complete soil food web benefiting
your trees way more than chemical fertilizers.
Why You Should Use Compost Tea Rather Than Chemical Fertilizers
Organics are renewable, sustainable, biodegradable, and
environmentally friendly. Compost tea releases nutrients and improve the soil. The
downfall to using organic products is that they have a short shelf life and the
nutrient ratio released isn’t consistent, although with a liquid like the tea, it’s
not a real problem, but with other types of organic fertilizers the nutrients
might be released slowly.
On the other hand, chemical fertilizers can upset the
ecosystem and they increase greenhouse gases.
How to Brew Compost Tea
In addition to the compost, you will need some unsulfured
molasses, cheesecloth, an old tea towel, aquarium supplies and “safe”
water that has been aerated to remove the chlorine.
Your compost can include grass clippings, manure, legumes,
kitchen scraps, green material, coffee grounds, paper, etc. As the materials in
your compost decompose, moisten the pile and maintain the temperature between
135-155°. Turn the pile to mix the compost. After 6-8 weeks, you have the basic
compost tea ingredient.
To make the tea:
- Put a gang valve on the lip of a five gallon bucket.
- Fill the bucket half way with compost.
- Use plastic tubing to connect three ports on the value to an air pump.
- Burry in the bottom of your bucket.
- Fill the bucket with your water to 3-4” from the top.
- Add 1 oz. of molasses to feed the bacteria.
- Mix vigorously.
- After 3 days of steeping and regularly stirring, the compost tea will be ready.