A Basic Compost Tea Guide

[vonforne]

Half full of filtered water
~2 tsp unsulphured blackstrap
handfull black compost
airstone always on

Hey deft, sometimes it does not foam up. I currently have one going with just a little of my amended soil in it and there was very little foam. The soil mix had High N and P., castings, mushroom compost and peat moss. Plus molasses.

It does not mean there is no nutrients or it isn't any good.

And dan is right. If you want a good foam just add molasses and castings straight to the water. It will foam like hell without the being in the sock.

V

 

[Deft]

I added more compost and a little more molasses, still not foaming at all after a week or so, its murky though and there is brown gunk growing on the sides and the air line. Would worm poo make it foam you think?

I'm going to try a test batch out on my lawn to see if there is any differnce positive or negative in the uniform grass.

 

[Suby]

Don't sweat it Deft, most of my teas are on the less foamy side.
I brew in a cool garage or basement with varied results sometimes but often only a little foam.

Peace
S

 

[Dignan]

My teas rarely foam much, either. Which is a bummer because the foam looks wicked!

 

[vonforne]

I get mine to foam like that because my garage is 80* in there and I used worm poo and molasses with fulvic and humic acids. Usually within the first 36 hours it will foam the best.

The slime in your bucket is the fungi attaching itself to the objects in the bucket. I like to put things in the bottom of the bucket for the fungi to grab onto.

Sounds like you are doing the right thing Deft.

Next time use castings and molasses only and see how it works for you.

V

 

[Deft]

Will do, so should I even bother doing a test? It smells fine, not bad at all.

 

[vonforne]

YES, USE IT. Don't waste it. I use the left over teas on my herbs and yard all the time. I'm just that way. I do not like to waste anything even if it starts to smell bad. The soil micro-organisms in the outdoor soil will take care of it. There is lots of nutrients in there.

V

 

[Suby]

Hello Boys,

just to update I have been brewing a batch of tea for about 2 days in the garage, yesterday I had very little foam nbut I left the bucket oudoors in the shade and I stirred it a bit because I don't use s tea bag.
Well this morning everything frothed up like a mofo, it seems heat can get things foaming up nicely.

:
Suby

 

[vonforne]

Suby, are you still brewing in the kiddie pool? I would like to see that one.

When my plant #'s start to grow I will go to the 35 gallon Rubbermaid trash can again. I always brew more than I need. I have a section of my yard that I have been working on covering with Thyme. It is a great ground cover and very beautiful in the fall. It also smells very nice.

I just pour the extra on the ground to build up the soil micro-organisms and add nutrients to the ground in that spot.

V

 

[vonforne]

Hows the kiddie pool brewing going Suby?

V

 

[southpaw]

Loved the Black N' Decker paint stirring swizzle idea. That would raise less ire than pulling out my roomates cake mixer.

 

[Suby]

Hows the kiddie pool brewing going Suby?

V

It worked like a mofo Vman, I had foam all over the garage floor .
It made about 25 gallons of tea which I sprayed my outdoor perrenials with as well as my lawn.
I can tell where I did get coverage but it wasn't as drastic as I though, the soil needs alot of conditioning as the previous owners didn't care for the lawn or gardens.
The old filter housing was awesome, it was very tough and lightproof, I'm sure a filter housing can be found in a dumpster or a junk shop, what else could they be good for.
I'll snap a pick next time for sure.

S

Suby

 

[vonforne]

Sounds good Suby. Can't wait to see it in action. I have this old Little giant pump I would like to use for something like that. I used to water my plants with it right out of a 50 gallon trash can that I used to make passive teas with. On the end of the hose I put one of them garden wands. LOL All of this was inside my spare bedroom. LOL what a mess that thing made. I did have a catch tray though.

V

 

[vonforne]

Loved the Black N' Decker paint stirring swizzle idea. That would raise less ire than pulling out my roomates cake mixer.

It always comes in handy when you are cought without a tea brewed up or you need a low nutrient feeding for some seedlings.

V

 

[Guest]

Vonforne, I was sitting here reading and a thought made it through the cobwebs. How about using urine in a tea? I've been reading threads and saw no mention of it. Have you or any others tried this? Would the smell, potential, be eliminated by the bubbling? Would the ammonia be broken down? Would it be better to use pea in the tea or to cut the tea with diluted pea water?

ps...yeah I know...get peeing and find out for myself!

 

[vonforne]

High OF, One of our respected members, Muddy Waters is currently working on something along those lines in the OFC. He is working out the fermentation and dilution rates now.

Check out his posts there and follow along. I'm not working on that now, I;m working on the fungus inoculates. It is also posted in the OFC.

V

 

[vinivici]

Hey guys,

i had a tea question, do you guys add bennifical microbes? or do they just grow out of the castings and guano?

 

[vonforne]

They are provided by the amendments you add such as the ones you listed. Some promote bacterial growth and some promote fungal growth.

You must provide them with something to eat in order to thrive. Air and molasses works best. You can supply the sir with a simple air pump and stone from Walmart for 10.00.

The best molasses to get would be from the Health food store or dried molasses from the feed store or you can order it online.

V

 

[Deft]

I tried adding an epsoma enoculant, realy sped things up.

 

[vonforne]

yo Do. Whats up?