Vermicompost Tea It's easy to make nutrient-rich, liquid fertilizer from your worms' castings
Worm tea may be used as a liquid fertilizer (poured onto the soil), applied by spraying the leaves of the plant, or both. If you choose to spray the leaves, do so in the morning when plants are most receptive to this form of feeding. If you apply worm tea when you water, the nutrients filter down into the soil to the roots of your plants where they are readily absorbed.
Do not store the tea in a closed container—it will build up pressure, and may blow the lid off.
Do not store the tea in a closed container—it will build up pressure, and may blow the lid off.
Making Simple Vermicompost Tea
|
Step 1. Take approximately one pound of castings and place in a sock or bag. Place in a 5-gallon bucket of water and swish it around for a few minutes.
|
Step 2. Let it sit for a day or two and swish it around when you think of it. Dilute 2:1 (5 gallons makes 10) and use to water your plants.
|
|
|
Brewing Vermicompost Tea
These instructions provide you with step by step instructions to make worm compost tea. The photos and instructions are for brewing 5 gallons of tea (final volume will be 10 gallons), but you can scale it up as needed. To make your tea, you’ll need the following:
1. Clean 5 gallon bucket with lid
2. 10 gallons of rain water (or tap water that has sat out overnight)
3. Mesh or cloth bag with string to close
4. Aquarium bubbler
5. Worm compost/castings (1 pound for 5 gallons)
6. Molasses (or other simple sugar)
1. Clean 5 gallon bucket with lid
2. 10 gallons of rain water (or tap water that has sat out overnight)
3. Mesh or cloth bag with string to close
4. Aquarium bubbler
5. Worm compost/castings (1 pound for 5 gallons)
6. Molasses (or other simple sugar)
|
Step 1. Fill the 5 gallon bucket with soft water. Fill mesh or cloth bag with castings (see Harvesting/Sorting your bin for instructions to make worm compost). Tie bag closed with string.
|
Step 2. Place aquarium bubbler in bucket and turn on. Tie bag to side of bucket and sink to the bottom. Both bag and bubbler should be underwater and the water should be bubbling vigorously.
|
|
|
|
|
Step 3. Cover and let sit for 24 hours. If you want to really boost the number of microorganisms in the tea, add a tablespoon of molasses after 12-16 hours.
|
Step 4. You’ve made worm tea! Remove the bubbler and bag. Dilute 2:1 with rainwater and feed your plants and soil. After bubbler stops, you must use the tea within a few hours.
|
