Can compost tea 'keep'?

I made a compost tea for my plants and have some left over. I kept the air flowing into it, but will it stay good? I hate to waste it.

Thanks!

can be stored in the fridge for a few days if I remember right.Would be a good question for heisenberg. personally if I have any left over I take it outside and find a use for it.

and if you don't like the mess of mixing up your own bag you should take a look at xtreme gardening tea brews, awesome stuff and a breeze to brew.

that's what i've always heard. that it will stay good in the fridge for 3-5 days. wonder how you tell if it's bad? i'm getting into the alaska humisoil teas. that whole bountea line. really easy to make and not all that expensive at all.

I used the Extreme Tea Brew!

I read that if it smells sweet, it is still good. But if it smells sour, it is bad and can harm the plants. I also read to keep air in it to keep the microbes alive.

everbgreen said:

I used the Extreme Tea Brew!

I read that if it smells sweet, it is still good. But if it smells sour, it is bad and can harm the plants. I also read to keep air in it to keep the microbes alive.

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I don't remember any details but may have asked this very question myself a long time ago on heisenbergs sticky.
possibly the cool of the fridge makes the bacteria go dormant instead of just killing it off , I don't really know . this is why voodoo juice and most all those other bacteria products cost so much, they have to do something to keep the stuff alive/dormant for a 2 year shelf life.

nuglets said:

that's what i've always heard. that it will stay good in the fridge for 3-5 days. wonder how you tell if it's bad? i'm getting into the alaska humisoil teas. that whole bountea line. really easy to make and not all that expensive at all.

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I use the humisoil when I mix my own up. can't wait to get back to chemicals and hydro!

if you keep it bubbling and add more molasses/sugar, you can brew forever.

everbgreen said:

I used the Extreme Tea Brew!

I read that if it smells sweet, it is still good. But if it smells sour, it is bad and can harm the plants. I also read to keep air in it to keep the microbes alive.

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do you mean just keep the airstone and pump going?

yes, I mean the airstone and pump running.

scroglodyte said:

if you keep it bubbling and add more molasses/sugar, you can brew forever.

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yes if the bennies have food molasses/sugar and are they will keep multiplying till their food is all consumed

keefbox420 said:

yes if the bennies have food molasses/sugar and are they will keep multiplying till their food is all consumed

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so these bacteria have no set lifespan? they can live forever if they have food?

The quicker you use the better but cooler temps will let it keep for few days but each day the benifitial bacteria die and it weakens.

I'm just not believing you can just keep a brew going forever . not even for an extended time before things get nasty . I've never tried it(and probably never will) but I sure would like to see some documented evidence you can do this.

Any brew going past 48 hours will start to lose biological diversity. Some organisms will become dominate while others die off. After 3-4 days we are left with mostly protozoa and not much else. This may or may not be a bad thing depending on your application. Generally, diversity is the key to fighting/preventing root disease.

Good tea smells like mushrooms, earth, moss or even slightly swampy, bad tea smells like gym socks, feces, or rotting death.

Tea will keep in the fridge for about 10 days. Chilling also preserves diversity by slowing things to a near halt.