How to Make Compost Tea Fertilizer

Every evening as part of my post dinner cleanup,  I try to dump our kitchen compost collector into the big tumbling compost bin outside to keep the little guy from stinking up the joint.

This particular evening I gave the compost bin a crank like I have done so many evenings before only for the half full bin to suddenly become much easier to turn, like it was practically empty – because it was.

The hinges and latch on the door to the compost bin failed and dumped compost all over the yard.
For the third time.

I didn’t have enough finished compost to fertilize my garden but instead of singing the Condo Blues, I used it to make compost tea. Compost tea is an excellent plant food and fertilizer and well earns its nickname – Black Gold.

How to Brew Compost Tea Concentrate the Easy Way

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Making compost tea is super simple! If you can brew a cup of household tea, then you have most of the skills necessary to brew compost tea. Although I wouldn’t drink it. Compost tea probably tastes like dirt. 

There are many ways to make compost tea but the things they always have in common are room temperature non chlorinated water, compost,  aeration, and time – from two to 5 days depending upon the method you use.

Let’s do this!

You will need:

Finished compost. If you do not have a compost bin you can buy Compost Tea Bags to use.

Non chlorinated water 

Paint-strainer bag or  Compost Tea Brewing Bag (Optional but highly recommended!)

Submersible fountain pump and tubing (for the two day method)

Buckets

Watering can

Colander or window screen

2 tablespoons of or molasses and/or liquid seaweed (Optional) – Some folks add it. I didn’t have any so I leave it out.

(Disclosure: I’m always thinking about caring friends  like you - that's why I share ideas like these, even if I don't partner with this company right now. When you get this goodie, I might get a kick back that keeps me supplied with enough coffee and potting soil o keep bringing YOU free DIY ideas every week!)

Step by Step How to Make It:

You don’t need a mesh bag to brew compost tea. You can brew compost tea with loose compost in the bucket but it could clog the aeration pump and be a hot mess to clean and strain when it is finished. That’s why I recommend using some sort of porous bag to hold your compost while the tea is brewing.

1. Fill a bucket with non chlorinated water. The chlorine in tap water that kills the germs that could make you sick will also kill the beneficial microbes your plants will thrive on in the compost. No worries! Stick a bucket of tap water in the sun for 24 hours before you make your compost tea. The sun will burn off the chlorine in the tap water and you’ll be good to go! 

I’m using water from my rain barrel rock.

2. Fill the mesh compost tea bag with finished compost. You want one part of compost to the 3 parts water in your brew bucket.

3. Optional: Add the molasses and/or liquid seaweed to the compost and water mixture to encourage happy microbes.

4. Allow the water and compost mixture to steep while you aerate (mix) it by either: 

• Use a fountain or aquarium pump in the bucket to aerate the compost mixture for 2 to 3 days (the quick two day method)

• Periodically stir the compost and water mixture in the bucket with a stir stick or dunk the compost bag up and down for 5 to 7 days to aerate it. (the long five day method)

Both methods work well as long as you keep the compost tea in a shaded area. Direct sunlight might kill all of the beneficial microbes you want in you’re your plants to take advantage of in the compost tea.

The foam on the top of your compost tea concentrate is a good thing! It is sign that the nutrients, bacteria, fungi, nematodes and protozoans in your compost is ready to to work their beneficial magic on your plants. 

5. Pour the compost tea mixture into a bucket through a dedicated colander or piece of screen to strain out any possible floaties that could clog up your watering can.

 6. Pour 5 parts water to one part compost tea concentrate in a water can. Make sure you dilute your compost tea before you use it!  Full strength compost tea can burn your plants and do more harm than good.

7. Use the watering can to apply the compost tea to your plants.

8. Tea is served!

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