Gifford Garden Notes
Making Compost Tea at Home
by Lisa McGuire, Gardening Certificate Program student in the I.E.S. Adult Continuing Education Program

Compost tea is easily made by soaking or steeping compost in water. The resulting compost tea is used for either foliar application or applied to soil.

We all know that compost is a wonderful addition to soil and helps our gardens grow better. You and your garden plants can benefit even more by using compost tea.

By using compost tea to replace chemical based fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides, you can garden safer and be more protective of the environment.

Compost Tea:

  • Increases plant growth
  • Provides nutrients to plants and soil
  • Provides beneficial organisms
  • Helps to suppress diseases
  • Replaces toxic garden chemicals

Supplies Needed:

  • 1- 5 gallon bucket
  • 1 gallon mature compost (10 Lbs. dry compost)* (Use 2 cups dry compost per brew)
  • 1 aquarium aeration pump
  • 1 air stone
  • 4.7 gallons of water (allow some room in bucket)
  • 3 feet of aquarium hose
  • 2 oz. molasses
  • 1 aquarium filter bag, 5x7in. (180 micron)** (cheesecloth, stocking material)

Attach hose to air stone with aquarium hose. (aeration needed to bolster populations)

Place the air stone into the bucket and make sure the hose reaches the bottom of bucket.

Fill your filter bag with compost and make sure the bag is connected to bucket with a spring clip.

Add water, filling the bucket to within 6 inches of the top. Make sure the filter bag is immersed in the water. (Chlorine can kill beneficial organisms in the tea. If you have to use chlorinated water, let stand overnight.)

Add 2 once of molasses to provide a food source for beneficial microorganisms.

Turn on the aquarium pump and let the mixture brew for 2-3 days. Stir the brew occasionally to help mix the compost and separate the microorganisms from the solid compost particles.

After brewing mixture, empty the filter bag back onto your pile of compost. Rinse out bag and air stone for reuse. (Keep air stone in a container of water so tea does not dry and block holes)

Apply the compost tea to your flower and vegetable plants immediately. The beneficial microbes will begin to die shortly after the air source is removed. (Use within 8 hours of brewing)

Using a watering can sprinkle the compost tea onto the foliage and the soil around each plant. The tea will provide nutrients and an energy boost to your garden plants. You can apply compost tea every two weeks to your garden.

Application Rates:

  • Lawns: Full strength spray once a month (1 gallon per 1000 sq feet)
  • All flowering plants: full strength spray or drench once a week to every 2 weeks
  • Trees: full strength drench or spray once a month
  • Vegetables: ½ strength every 1-2 weeks
  • Containers: Full strength every 2 weeks
  • Roses: 4 roses per gallon, full strength spray or drench
  • House plants: full strength with watering can, every 2 weeks
    (When using on plants make sure foliage is completely covered and when drenching make sure tea soaks soil to root level)

Web sites with more information on brewing compost tea:

Lisa McGuire is a student in the I.E.S. Adult Continuing Education Program. She is currently completing the Gardening Certificate Program with an internship in the Organics/Compost Tea program, under the supervision of Susan M. Williams, Rosarian. Inquires, please e-mail williamss@ecostudies.org or phone (845) 677-7600 x301


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