Compost Tea Question

kiwirose 6/25/2011, 12:57 pm

So, I am having trouble keeping up with my compost tea. I don't want to waste it - liquid gold - but how often can I apply it? When I use it I water it down ~1:10 with rain water so it goes a long way.

It is already anaerobic because of how it collects below my compost bins, but I am sure it probably isn't THAT good to store it for long periods?

Any thoughts either on how long I can store it or how often I should apply it??

Thanks bunches

littlejo 6/25/2011, 1:57 pm

Well I'd cover the compost bin. a little water is ok, but if you are getting a lot, the compost pile is too wet and will leach all the nutrients out of the compost and into your tea water. Of course, that may be your intention?
You should be able to put the water in a gallon jug and it should keep frorever.

Jo

westie42 6/25/2011, 2:00 pm

I bubble brew mine so that needs to be used in a short time. I do the house plants, gardens, flowers, , rhubarb patches, two neighbors flowers and start on the lawn and can always get rid of a batch. I don't really have an investment in it so why not liberally spread it around while it's fresh.

BackyardBirdGardner 6/25/2011, 2:05 pm

Does it stink? That would be anaerobic.

I don't think it matters how often you apply it. Most people recommend weekly, or even less often, because of the steps to make it. If you just steep it from a sock like I would, you can make it as often as you like with little trouble.

Personally, I would water with it as often as I felt like it. I would store it for as long as I liked, too, provided it didn't run me out of the house/garage/neighborhood. It's not poison, and it doesn't become poison. I wouldn't worry that much about it.

Denese 6/25/2011, 2:33 pm

When I have it, I put mine in gallon milk jugs and apply it weekly. My tomato plants have always loved it! If I have left over, I just put the lid on the jugs and store them in my garage, out of direct sun. I've found if I leave them in the sun, they start bulging, and look like they're going to explode! Laughing

BackyardBirdGardner 6/25/2011, 9:55 pm

Denese wrote:When I have it, I put mine in gallon milk jugs and apply it weekly. My tomato plants have always loved it! If I have left over, I just put the lid on the jugs and store them in my garage, out of direct sun. I've found if I leave them in the sun, they start bulging, and look like they're going to explode!

Probably the fermentation process and all the gases building up. If you leave the lid slightly less than tight, you will allow that air to ever so slowly seep out. I have the same thing happen to my gas cans in my trailer on sunny days. The gas vapors accumulate and can't escape. I open the lid slightly, and when I wake up the next morning, my cans are all caved in...lol.

Ooops, it's Saturday night, isn't it? I just revealed what I used to tease so many smart people about. That they would rather stay in on Saturday night being nerds rather than going out and finding the parties....and women/men. I swear that's how Ben Franklin did so much and Einstein and lots of other inventors. They were such nerds they didn't care to go out on Saturday nights like the rest of us. And, now I'm apparently one of them........discussing physics on a weekend night. I'm so ashamed. Embarassed

FarmerValerie 6/26/2011, 8:23 am

Jeepers BBG, I feel older than you now, hubby and I love to go to Cracker Barrel on Sunday morning for our breakfast, that has become our date night.

BackyardBirdGardner 6/26/2011, 12:14 pm

..........errrr, date MORNING!

westie42 6/26/2011, 12:50 pm

You know for sure you are getting old when your beverage of choice becomes metamucil.

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