Free Compost Tea

So you've invested $$$ in your Mel's Mix, and now you are looking to supplement certain squares or plants to cheer'em on to victory right? Well, if you are a table top SFGer, I noticed something interesting about the water coming out of the bottom of the table...

You guessed it, compost tea. Guess where that's going? Right back into the garden.

I'm pretty sure I cannot be the first to think of it, but it sure seemed like a waste to just dump it, or let it drain off into the soil on the ground.

If you have 16 drain holes, and 16 small funnels, some air tube (aquarium kind maybe?), and a reservoir (milk jug, bucket, or something), you could attach the funnels to the bottom of the table where the drain holes are, run the tubing into the reservoir, and VIOLA! Collect your compost tea made fresh from your existing MM and rain water, compliments of the Creator.

Thoughts, ideas, comments?

Makes sense to me.

Gwynn

Is there any way to test the liquid to determine how nutrient rich it is? Just curious.

Great idea. And, yet another "pro" for TTs.

buttaflie143 wrote:Is there any way to test the liquid to determine how nutrient rich it is? Just curious.

Well, I would imagine that an initial drain would be pretty potent, considering you just put it in their. The range/duration of potency would depend upon how heavily plants are feeding, type of compost you used initially, and what kind of compost you sidedress/redress with.

You could test the Acidity/PH with test strips bought at your local pool supply or plumbing department at the box stores...but not sure you could test specifics....

Either way, if it's a different color than water, its bound to have more nutrients in it than plain ol' water!

It sounds a great idea to me.

I thpught you going to talk about tea-bags. lol, which reminds me I have some teabags to process and some coffee grounds. Been so busy lately that I had to put them aside. Now my three beds are full, I can get down to other things.

Maybe that's why the "pond' beds are doing so well. Everytime it rains the compost tea is put into the water in the pond and wicked back up. Nothing wasted.


Picture is 3 weeks old and the beds are still growing.

Kay

walshevak wrote:Maybe that's why the "pond' beds are doing so well. Everytime it rains the compost tea is put into the water in the pond and wicked back up. Nothing wasted.


Picture is 3 weeks old and the beds are still growing.

Kay

I just read the pond bed thread. Excellent idea, excellent implementation, and excellent improvising. I am thoroughly impressed.

Reusing the compost tea is probably very powerful, especially for nitrogen needy plants. Regardless of the composts used in your Mel's Mix, if 5 or more are part of the recipe, your tea will have a good range on it.

Keep up the good work!

A quick browse and I could dnot find the pond thread which looks interesting.

Another free compost tea is the cooled water left from boiling/steaming vegetables. Don't waste it, pour it on your garden, they'll love the nutrients (best if somewhat diluted).

Thanks for the thread direction, walshavek, about the pond thread. No wonder I could not find it.

Very, very interesting. The foliage is certainly lush.

Kelejan