AACT, Bloom Tea, Veg Tea, Fungal Tea, Myco Tea, recipes from the outdoor guys.

malignant

Well-Known Member
So there has been a bit of confusion about teas, teas are as unique as individuals brewing them. Each one unique to area, bacterial source, ratios, and needs. Different teas have different purposes.


The Outdoor guys that are using organic teas for their crops have a thread that is organic in the outdoor section, here are their tea recipes and hopefully they will join in and discuss any thoughts, questions, and offer any guidance needed. Thank you everyone for your contributions, time and love of the trade.


Looking for different teas and application rates for Outdoors. I will start with some teas that I have found while reading.
Guano Tea and Kelp:


Seedlings less than 1 month old nute tea mix-
5 tbs. Black Strap Molasses
1-cup earthworm castings/5 gallons of water every 3rd watering


Veg mix-
1/3 cup Peruvian Seabird Guano (PSG)
1/3 cup High N Bat Guano (Mexican)
1/3 cup Earth Worm Castings (EWC)
5 tsp. Maxicrop 1-0-4 powdered kelp extract
(That makes the "dry mix". You can make all you want and save it to use later.)
5 tbs. Liquid Karma
5 tbs. Black Strap Molasses
@ 1-cup dry mix/5 gallons of water every 3rd watering.


Flowering nute tea mix:
2/3 cup Peruvian Seabird Guano
2/3 cup Earth Worm Castings
2/3 cup High P Guano (Indonesian or Jamaican)
(That makes the "dry mix". You can make all you want and save it to use later.)
5 tbs. Maxicrop 1-0-4 powdered kelp extract
5 tbs. Black Strap Molasses
@ 2 cups dry mix/5 gallons of water EVERY watering.
You can use queen size knee high nylon stockings for tea bags. 3 pair for a dollar at the dollar store. Tell 'em you use them for paint strainers. Put the recommended tea in the stocking, tie a loop knot in it and hang it in your tea bucket. The tea should look like a mud puddle. Agitate the bag in the water vigorously. An aquarium pump and air stone will dissolve oxygen into the solution and keep the good bacteria (microherd) alive and thriving. Let it bubble a day or two before you use it. If you find you are making too much tea and having to throw it out, use 2 1/2 gallons of water and cut the nute amount by half.
I'm sure this will help someone I would suggest following the recipe if you want great results. keepem green dirrtyd





here is my recipe
1cup worm castings (blooming gardens)
1cup cricket poo ( cricket poo brand)
1 cup bat guano (whitney farms)
1 cup mushroom compost (whitney farms)
1/4 cup seaweed ( maxicrop)


put in a sock work vigorously in 4 gallons of water ph to 6.0
ppm comes out to 750ppm usually





Some excerpts from CT GUY I will add more articles to this as I read them I will add a different types of teas article he has written next. Enjoy
Recipes:


There are many recipes available for making AACT. All involve the use of high quality compost. I'll focus on the 5 gallon size, though recipes are available in larger quantities. However, ingredients do not increase in direct proportion to the size of the tank, so please contact me directly if interested in recipes for larger brewers. Recipes are directly related to the amounts of dissolved oxygen in your brewer. As you add more food sources for the microbes, you need to add more air to ensure the tea stays aerobic (above 6 mg/liter dissolved oxygen).


Here's a recipe from Dr. Ingham of Soil Food Web Labs (www.soilfoodweb.com):


5 gal brewer
1 lb. compost
½ cup of humic acid
1 to 3 T. of kelp
1 tsp. of non-sulfured, blackstrap molasses


In our brewer, we use:


1 heaping cup of compost (approx. 1 ¼ cups)


½ cup of our foods (proprietary blend comprised of sulfate of potashmagnesia, feather meal, soymeal, cottonseed meal, mycorrhizal, kelp, and alfalfa meal)


1 T. of Tera Vita SP-85 Humic acid (optional for increased fungal growth)


We use volume instead of weight as a measure for our compost, as weights will fluctuate based on moisture content of the compost. We also don't use molasses because it is difficult to package and ship and also creates bacterial blooms, rather than slow growth of organisms, which may rapidly lower the dissolved oxygen levels in your brewer. However, it is a perfectly acceptable food substrate that tends to feed the bacteria in your tea. With all these ingredients, it is much better to start using less foods rather than more. If not looking at your tea through a microscope, I would use a recipe that has been tested and err on the side of too little foods, rather than too much.


Another thing to consider is that you want to maximize your biological diversity in your finished compost tea. We use 3 types of compost in our food kits:


Alaska Humus (brought down from Alaska, contains excellent biological activity and diversity, see www.alaskahumus.com or www.alaskamagic.com for more information)


Vermicompost (Woody materials, vegetable food scraps, cardboard, and newspaper that has been composted by worms.) I recommend this material over thermal compost for people who like to make their own compost, as vermicompost tends to be the most consistent material since the worms take care of the composting process for you)


Fungal compost that is mostly comprised of woody materials. We add food resources for the fungi and strive for the highest active and total fungal content we can achieve.


Brewing Temperatures:


There are a couple of schools of thought regarding brewing temperatures. One is that since the microbes in the tea will grow and reproduce most efficiently at 68-70˚F., this is the temperature at which you should brew your tea, regardless of the current soil or air temperature where you’ll be applying the tea. The theory is that since you are using the shotgun approach to growing microbes, whatever microbes are unable to adapt to the conditions will either die or go dormant, becoming food resources for the other microbes in the soil. Since soil and air temperatures will change throughout the seasons and even from day to night, these organisms are highly adaptable and you will get your best results with this approach.


Another theory, and one that Dr. Ingham subscribes to, is that you want to brew at the ambient temperature you will be applying the tea. Therefore, if you are applying your tea as a soil drench on 60 degree soil, you’ll want to brew at 60 degrees. You may need to extend your brewing cycle a bit for the colder temperatures, but this method will select for the organisms that will be most successful at the current temperatures in your soil and you won’t suffer as much organism loss.


I believe we need much more research to determine the most effective brewing temperatures for AACT. However, since I haven’t seen conclusive data either way, I tend to lean towards brewing at ambient temperatures, though this requires a bit more knowledge about your brewer and brewing cycle, as you will need to adjust your brewing time based on the temperature.


Application:


AACT can be applied in a variety of ways. One benefit of AACT is that it can't be over-applied, as it is comprised of beneficial biology and any biology that cannot survive will just go dormant or die and become food for other microbes.


Typical application rates are 20 gallons/acre for soil drenches and 5 gallons/acre for foliar applications up to 5 feet in height. Water is merely a carrier, so the tea can be mixed at ratios up to 5:1, water to tea, in order to get an even application across your property.


Depending on the size of the area you're spraying, you can use anything from a watering can to a backpack sprayer or larger. Make sure to avoid any pumps with an impellor or pump where the tea is being sent through something that could shred the fungi. Many people use the handheld pump sprayers or a pump backpack sprayer. These have been tested to not damage the biology, provided you don't over pump and hold the nozzle too close to the surface of the plant.


Make sure there is not a 90 degree angle in your nozzle tip. You can only use a hose-end sprayer if you don’t have chlorine in your water supply. Think about the passage that the organisms will take from the brewer to the leaf surface of your plant and be as gentle as possible.


keepem green dirrtyd





Fungi Tea's are another form of Compost tea which is rarely explored. Different forms of fungi live EVERYWHERE, some are good and some are bad. Fungal Teas use Naturaly ocuring good forms of fungi to inoculate the soil and form a symbiotic Bond with the roots of your plants. With a balance of Fungi, Bacteria and Enzymes an organic grower will be MUCH happier with the results the final product has to offer.


Fungal-Dominated Compost Tea Recipe


2 pounds of fungal-dominated compost (see Tips at bottom of page)
2 ounces humic acids
2 teaspoons of yucca extract*
1 ounce of liquid kelp
2 tablespoons of ground oatmeal
5 Gallons Water
We like to add yucca extract near the end of the brewing process, since it has a tendency to create a lot of foam. Also, you'll want to make sure your yucca doesn't have any preservatives, but does have a high saponin content.
A Few Fungi Tips from the Experts


Tip #1
If you want to increase the diversity of your compost tea, we suggest adding a cup or two of garden soil. Better yet, if your compost tea recipe calls for fungal compost, include a cup or two of soil from a nearby forest. By adding these additional soils, you're ensuring your tea is inoculated with a wide range of soil microbes. These soils are like a biological catalyst, or compost tea activator.
Tip #2
When we want to ensure we've got fungi in our tea, we will brew it, and then add spores of mycorrhizal fungi. Mycorrhizal fungi act as a wonderful inoculum to any fungal compost tea recipe. These fungi naturally form beneficial relationships with approximately 95% of all plant species. They aid in nutrient transfer to plants, and help to create better soil conditions. Here is a great site if you'd like more information on mycorrhizal fungi.
Tip #3
We can't claim this last tip to be our own. It comes from the incredible book, Teaming with Microbes, by authors, Jeff Lowenfels and Wayne Lewis. In it, Lowenfels and Lewis suggest you "give fungi a head start." Since it can be difficult to get fungi to multiple (they do grow in size, just rarely in number) during the compost tea brewing process, the authors recommend growing them prior to the brewing process.To do this, you'll want to moisten a couple cups of compost (just damp, not dripping wet), and then put it in a light-resistant container. Then grind up some simple proteins (fungal foods), such as oatmeal, and mix them in with the moist compost. Cover partially with a lid, and then place in a warm, dark area. We typically put ours under our sink, or above our fridge in a cupboard. After about 3 days, you'll remove the lid, and find a bunch of fungal mycelia throughout the compost. You can now use this compost to brew your fungal tea.
Tip #4
Don't accidentally filter out your fungi (and nematodes) when straining your tea. When filtering your tea, be sure your screen is as close to 400 micrometers as possible. Paint strainers, from your local hardware store, work quite well for this function. Avoid using socks or pillowcases, since their fibers are too tight.







Hello all-
I was asked by Dirtyd to donate my tea recipe's to this very helpful thread.
The tea was used with great success last season. I'm always adjusting things, but this has worked for me. This is from my thread....


Tea ingredients are...per 5 gallon bucket
2-double handfuls of earthworm castings
1 double handful of forest humus
1 double handful of mushroom compost
2 tbs molasses
2 cups of Alaska Fish Emulsion 5-1-1
1 cup of Bat Guano 8-2-1
1 cup liquid kelp (Maxi-grow)
1 cup of soft phosphate
half cup Cotton seed meal
1 cup of Dr. Earths organic 7 which has....
Fish bone meal
Feather meal
alfalfa meal
mined potassium sulfate
phosphate
seaweed extract
and PRO-BIOTIC seven champion strains of beneficial soil microbes plus Ecto and Mycorrhizae.


All the above was put into a 5 gallon bucket and air was pumped into the tea while brewing. Each plant was given 1.5 gallons of tea and another 5 gallons of water was added on top. All the solids that were at the bottom the 5 gallon tea buckets was thrown on top of the soil equally. This will act as top dressing when watered in the future.
Enjoy your tea!
TMB-


I'll post my "flowering tea" later





More knowledge from CTGUY:


It's Tea Time!


Compost tea has become increasingly popular in the last few years as part of a grower's program. In fact, current world record holder was grown using this technology. I'd like to take this opportunity to discuss different types of compost teas and share some of the knowledge we've gained in the industry over the past 5 years.
Let's start by looking at some of the different types of teas you can make for your plants:


Plant Tea - This is where plants are soaked directly in water for an extended period of time. Compost is not involved, and any bacteria or fungi on the surface of the plant will be extracted. May contain some soluble nutrients.


Manure Tea - Typically manure is placed in a permeable bag (burlap) into a bucket or barrel and left to soak for an (# of days) extended period of time. Compost is not involved, and will be dominated by anaerobic organisms (bacteria and ciliates). Pathogens will be present in most instances, and may burn the leaf surfaces of plants. These teas will contain some soluble nutrients, but may also contain antibiotics and growth hormones such as tetracycline, that are not broken down during the composting process.


"Put To Sleep" Tea - These teas are typically advertised as "instant" compost teas. Specific organisms are cultured or extracted from compost and then put into a dormant state. Even with hundreds of different species, it won't contain even 1% of the diversity or quantities you would find in properly made aerated compost tea. These teas may be helpful in certain instances when you wish to combat certain diseases and know the proper microbe that has been documented to prevent or suppress it (eg. trichoderma).


Compost Leachate - These teas is sometimes referred as "worm tea" as it is the liquid that leaches out of the base of worm bins or compost piles during the composting process. Leachates will consist primarily of soluble nutrients, but will contain some small amount of biology. This can serve as a good food substrate for the biology in your soil.


Compost Extract - Compost extract is where the microorganisms are stripped from the soil aggregates using water and extracted into a liquid form. This process will contain good biology for soil drenches, and can be made very quickly, as it does not require a brewing process. It does however require a large amount of compost relative to the final liquid product, and is primarily used in large commercial productions.


Non-Aerated Compost Tea - This is where compost is put into a container with water and foods are added for the microbes. The tea is then stirred occasionally or left to sit for a period of time. These teas may or may not produce beneficial results and could potentially harm your plants depending on the anaerobic organisms in your starting compost.


Aerated Compost Tea (AACT or ACT) - Similar to the tea above, this process involves adding oxygen to the tea and a food source for the biology in the compost. By creating optimal conditions for aerobic microbes, AACT allows you to multiply the biology in the starting compost by over 10,000 times. Many plant pathogens are anaerobic and prefer low to no oxygen conditions. By making sure the tea and the compost itself are well oxygenated and highly aerobic, you can potentially eliminate 75 percent of the potential plant-disease-causing bacteria and plant-toxic products.
For the past 5 years, AACT has become the standard within the organic industry in regards to compost teas. It's currently being used by golf courses, vineyards, farmers, and homeowners as a means of growing healthier plants. Here's a list of some of the benefits:


Compost tea has been shown to help in disease-suppression (pythium, phytopthera, powdery mildew, fusarium, etc.) when applied as a foliar spray and soil drench.


Helps extend root systems


Increases water and nutrient retention


Is 100% safe and natural


Creates healthier plants


Helps breakdown of toxins in the soil and on the plants


Enhances the taste of fruits and vegetables


Reduces or eliminates the need for chemical pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers


Occupies the space around the infection sites so disease-causing organisms cannot penetrate into the tissues of the plant


Cannot be over-applied because it is completely natural and organic


These benefits are all attributed to well-made AACT. If the tea is not made properly, you will not see all of the benefits listed above. Let's take a closer look at what goes into making quality aerated compost tea.


1. Good compost is very important! Without good biology in the compost, you really have no chance of getting high-quality tea. You can only multiply what you put into your brewer, therefore good compost that has been tested to have high numbers and a diversity of beneficial organisms is essential. A lot of science goes into making good compost, and unless you test your compost you really have no idea if what you are putting into your brewer is truly beneficial. By adjusting the type of compost you put in the brewer you can control whether your tea is going to be bacterial or fungal dominated. We use a mix of 3 different composts (Alaska humus, vermicompost, and a fungal compost comprised of woody materials) to increase the biological diversity in our teas.


2. Food is critical for the microorganisms so that they can reproduce and grow in numbers. The goal is to maximize your output of beneficial biology without giving the bacteria and fungi too much food that they over-replicate and cause the tea to go anaerobic. It's important that dissolved oxygen levels stay above 6 mg/l during the entire brewing cycle. There are many different recipes out there, each of which will give you different biology in the end and some are much better than others. It is important to see the lab results of the recipe you use to make sure that you are indeed maximizing your final product.


3. Oxygen! If you're not getting enough oxygen in your brew, then your tea will go anaerobic and you will start brewing the "bad" organisms (pathogens such as e.coli or root feeding nematodes) that may have existed in your original compost. If your tea has enough oxygen and stays aerobic for the entire brew cycle, what you'll have at the end will be the good biology that you want for your plants.


In addition to these variables, other things to consider are elevation, temperature, brewing time, and water quality. All of these variables can have a significant impact on your final tea. With significant elevation, you may need to increase the brewing time, due to the lower oxygen content in the air. With high temperatures, where the water temps are 90 degrees or above, you'll want to shorten the brewing cycle and possibly cut back on the foods you're using. In cold temps., you'll want to increase the brewing cycle to give the organisms time to reproduce. In regards to water quality, different sources will have different mineral or chemical content, which will affect your final tea. In the case of chlorine or chloramines, these chemicals will need to be removed prior to adding the compost to the brewer.


I hope folks are learning from the posts in this thread. I love going over this stuff to keep it fresh in my growing style. keepem green dirrtyd





hmmmm let's see...:
5 scoops of compost
3 scoops of chicken manure compost (veg-only)
2 scoops of Dr. earths bud and bloom booster 4-7-5
1 scoop Bat Guano 10-3-1 (veg-only)
1 scoop Bat Guano 0-12-1 ( bloom-only)
5 scoops worm castings
5 scoops Denali Gold Humus
4 glubs of Fish Emulsion 2-4-0.5
4 glubs of Kelp
4 glubs of Molasses
2 cups Bio-Link 0-5-5 (bloom-only)
2 cups Bio-Link 3-3-3 ( veg-only)
2 cups Bio-Link Micro Nutrients
2 cups Earth Juice catalyst
I mix this in a 55 gal drum and aerate it for 24 hours before use. I use it 2-3 times per week, and that 55 gal covers my 6 legal plants, but you could feed 5-10 plants with it.
BTW...A scoop is just a 2 cup measuring cup, but full of dry material it holds almost 2 1/2 cups. A glub is the sound a 5 gallon bucket with a spout makes when pouring...haha...it's about 2-3 cups. You can leave the Bio-link stuff out if you want, it depends on what you got in your soil.







Another article that will get you to thinking. keepem green enjoy


The Benefits of Worm Castings, Compost and “Tea”


A nice cup of good, hot tea has for years been enjoyed as a restorative to the mind and body. Centuries ago human kind learned that the flavor and beneficial essence of certain plants could be drawn from their leaves, bark and roots by steeping them in water, sometimes fortifying the brew with a bit of milk and honey. How well we understand that a nip of soothing mint tea will settle the stomach, a cup of fragrant chamomile tea will soothe frayed nerves, and a heavy mug of vitamin rich alfalfa tea can stimulate a weak appetite. By steeping these plant materials in water we can partake of what is best about them when eating the plant is not an option.


This concept of using water to draw beneficial extracts from solid materials for the purpose of making a liquid solution has applications beyond making we humans feel better, however. Our plants and even our soils can benefit greatly from a nice cup of tea when that tea is derived from a plant nutrition source like compost or worm castings.


Understanding the value of castings and compost


Good compost, worm castings or vermicompost added to the soil carry to the root zone a rich compliment of soluble plant nutrients and growth enhancing compounds, a diverse and populous consortium of microbial life and a substrate of organic matter harboring a storehouse of nutrients that are not lost to rain and irrigation. The plant is delivered an ongoing, reliable food source when bacteria and microscopic fungi feed on the organic matter, releasing some of the nutrients to the soil and storing others for their own energy and reproduction. When nematodes and protozoa in turn feed upon them the nutrients stored in the bacterial and fungal bodies are released to the soil in a plant available form. According to Dr. Elaine Ingham, when soil, compost or castings support protozoa numbers on the order of 20,000 per gram of solid matter, 400 pounds of nitrogen per acre are released through their predation of bacteria. When we feed organic matter to the soil, the soil life feeds nutrients to the plant.


Further, unlike soluble plant fertilizers, the nutrients stored in organic matter and the bodies of the microbial life are not lost through irrigation to contaminate ground water. Hair-thin fungal tentacles, called hyphae, wrap about soil and organic matter particles in their search for food, forming aggregates that are the basis for good soil structure. Thus, both the fungi and the organic matter are held in the soil. Bacteria exude sticky glues that enable them to cling to solid particles of mineral and organic matter, ensuring they too remain in the soil and, like the fungi, aid in the formation of aggregates.


Nutrient retention and cycling are not the only benefit to castings and compost use, however. By inoculating the soil with the rich, diverse, microbial life present in good these materials the plant root is protected from disease and attack by root feeding organisms. Because the diversity of organisms aids in ensuring everyone present has a predator no one organism in the root zone is easily able to reach populations sufficient to cause significant damage. Plant roots exude foods that encourage colonization by microbial life beneficial to the plant, reducing the number of possible infection points. Many microorganisms exude compounds inhibitory to pathogenic organisms, further reducing the chance for pathogen blooms sufficient to cause plant damage


When we add castings, vermicompost or compost and the rich consortium of microbial life they support to the soil, we aid in increasing the complexity and diversity of organisms in the root zone, thus aiding in disease and pest suppression.


It may not be in the root zone alone where worm castings demonstrate the ability to suppress pest attack, however. There is a growing body of research suggesting that castings derived from a feedstock of plant materials are rich in a compound called chitinase. Chitin, a component of the exoskeleton of many insects, is damaged by chitinase, leading some researchers to believe its presence in the castings may be inhibitory to some insects. Research being conducted in California is demonstrating suppression of white fly and ambrosia beetle in some tree species when castings containing chitinase are applied at the root zone.


From castings to tea


So, “why tea?” one may wonder. With compost and worm products demonstrating such tremendous benefit to soil and plant life why take the extra steps to generate a liquid from this already understood and easily applied solid material?


Leaf surfaces, like plant roots, harbor a rich microbial population that protects the leaf, and thus the plant, from infection and attack by pathogenic organisms. When the microbial consortium present on the leaf surface is reduced by pesticide use or environmental damage it exposes leaf surface, opening infection points. We can reinoculate the leaf with the diverse communities of microbial life found in compost and worm castings by applying a tea made from these materials. Further, teas can be applied as soil drenches and root washes after pesticide use, to reintroduce to the soil microbial communities that may have been damaged by the pesticide. The microbes can then continue to provide protection from pathogens to the plant as well as aiding in breakdown of any pesticide residues in the soil, thereby preventing ground water contamination.


Teas also carry the soluble nutrients and beneficial growth regulators contained in the solid matter used to make the tea. Many of these compounds can be absorbed through the leaf surface, feeding and enriching the plant.


Tea or leachate?


The microorganisms present in an aerobic compost or vermiprocessing system require significant amounts of moisture in order to break down the organic materials present. They use the water in both their life processes and as avenues for moving through the material. These organisms are swimmers. Thus, when we build a system for the remediation of organic wastes, whether or not worms are involved, we moisten the organic materials to ensure efficient breakdown. As the bacteria and fungi reduce the organic material the water held within the feedstock is released to the system. Further, as organic materials are broken down by microbial decay moisture is generated as a by-product of aerobic activity. What this means is that these systems often generate fluids generally referred to as leachates.


Leachate from an actively decomposing pile of organic debris will often carry many of the soluble nutrients that had been present in the solid matter, producing a beneficial growth response when used to water plants. It will also carry small numbers of the microorganisms present on that solid matter, as well as small bits of undecomposed organic material. This becomes a matter of some concern when materials like manure or post consumer food residuals make up even a portion of the feedstock in the system. There is the possibility that fecal coliforms and other pathogenic organisms can be present in the leachate, potentially contaminating plant and fruit or vegetable surfaces with which it comes into contact.


Further, the bits of undecomposed organic debris in the leachate will continue to be broken down in the liquid where oxygen levels are very low, through the action of anaerobic microorganisms. As they slowly decompose these bits of material anaerobes produce alcohol and phenols toxic to plant roots.


It is not always possible to tell when leachate will produce a beneficial growth response and when it will cause damage. Without a lab test it is not possible to tell when leachate will harbor potentially pathogenic organisms. As such, it is generally recommended that leachate from compost or worm bins not be used on plants, but rather used to moisten the system if it dries out or to moisten new feed stocks before they are included in the system.


Steeping the finished, stable end product of a composting or vermicomposting system in agitated, aerated water, then adding a nutrient mix for microbial growth makes a true tea. The water is agitated to extract as many of the organisms clinging to the solid matter as possible and the nutrient mix provides those microbes dislodged into the liquid with a food source on which to grow and reproduce. Aerating the water ensures that it is aerobic organisms being supported in the liquid. This blend of food and oxygen in the tea enables the microorganisms to grow to numbers rivaling those found in the solid matter from which the tea is derived. Teas must then be used within a few hours of being generated in order to ensure aerobicity and high microbial populations. Once the oxygen and food are consumed, anaerobic organisms will begin to populate the system, producing alcohols and phenols toxic to plants.


Good tea begins with good, quality compost, worm castings or vermicompost, or a blend of these materials. Provided the solid material is stable and supports sufficient beneficial microbial life there is nothing in these liquids to cause plant damage.


Using the tea


Compost and castings teas are a relatively new product in today's agriculture and gardening industries. Researchers are still identifying uses, though there is considerable research demonstrating that teas can suppress fungal disease in a variety of plant species and aid in disease prevention on plants where disease pressure is great.


Application rates for tea will vary considerably with the type of plant being treated, climate, and whether or not the plant is already battling a pest or infection. Dr. Elaine Ingham suggests that in agricultural fields the application rate begin at 5 gallons of undiluted tea per acre per week and adjusted as needed based on performance. For home owner use, teas can be applied to flowers, perennials, turf, roses, shrubs, trees and vegetables from a hand sprayer at a dilution ratio of one part fresh, undiluted tea to five parts water, applied once per week. The tea can be applied more or less frequently or at a lower dilution ratio, as needed based on performance.






What we do not know about teas still far outweighs what we do know, though research demonstrates an exciting future for tea use. The possibility of finding a means of controlling certain plant diseases with a truly effective yet benign material that simply capitalizes on nature's own means of control is a basic precept of sustainability. And while we may not know everything there is to know about tea, we know that using it harms nothing.


All rights reserved, Kelly Slocum, 2001
veganics are another topic on their own:
https://www.rollitup.org/organics/518248-veganics-cheat-sheet.html
:joint:
 

Corbat420

Well-Known Member
Very nice to see. Subbed just to let everyone know.

im usualy on daily, if not every other day. i can answer alot of the questions people need answered :D
 

NightbirdX

Well-Known Member
Good read, lots of good info. I've been considering more "traditional" teas of late because I am switching to an amended organic soil as my base rather than a soilless. I am pretty interested in making up some teas for them. Thanks for the compilation.
 

malignant

Well-Known Member
for heavy teas i just use plain water with a little molasses in between, and ill feed 1x weekly until 2nd stage of bloom kicks in then i feed 2x weekly.
 
Good read, lots of good info. I've been considering more "traditional" teas of late because I am switching to an amended organic soil as my base rather than a soilless. I am pretty interested in making up some teas for them. Thanks for the compilation.
i use a heavily amended soil mix. i use beneficial teas that don't necessarily have any many added nutrients. they feed the micro heard in the soil so i only have to feed once a month in veg using this method, in flower i feed every watering because organics is the shit and you dont get burn just expolding plants. if interested in my recipe let me know.
 

Dank Raptor

Active Member
Just mixed up a Fungal dominant brew.

I use the method of cultivating fungi in a 50/50 mix of soil and compost. Add 2 tblspoons/cup of oat bran. Innoculate the mix with spores and put in 80 degree temp for 3-5 days to grow mycellium. Stuff the fungi compost in some pantyhose and brew for 18-24 hours. Try to avoid longer times because this can make your brew go bacterial. (not necessarily bad)

Fulvic Acid 2 ml/gl
Soft Rock Phosphate
Liquid Kelp 4ml/gl
Molasses .5ml/gl (very little dont want bacteria)
Humic Acid 1 ml/gl
Liquid Fish Hydrolysate 4ml/gl

This is great for flowering to increase your phosphorus solubulizing fungi. These microbes mineralize phosphorus for your plant. Guaranteed chunkier girls if you brew this!
 

Corbat420

Well-Known Member
ever since i started to use teas i been able to feed really heavy with organics without burning at all. :-P
:hump: dam rights man. one of the things people don't understand about Organics is the amount of nutrients marijuana can uptake. The salts in Synthetic fertilizers (Such as potassium Sulfide and Sodium Nitrate, both common ingredient for synthesizing hydro nutes.......) cause such harm to the soil and plants in larger doses that its almost inhumane :( some of the things i see people putting into their reservoirs is just sad....

Organics don't have any salts, any harmful acids or bases, any Harmful ingredients and most of all... Organics don't have to degrade the planet to grow plants (such a stupid thing...). Organics is sustainable which puts it FAR above any other methods ;)
 

Futurama89

Active Member
So in theory by adding teas or only feeding with teas(nutes in tea) i allow my plant to be able to uptake more nutrients because the microbes will digest the nutrients and make them more readily avalible for my plants. and at the same time i will reduce the risk of burning my plants because im increasing my microbial and fungal life?

so basically a Great Tea Mix=Being able to feed more and metabolize the plant more AKA larger greater yields?
 

Rising Moon

Well-Known Member
I have posted this before but, it needs to be mentioned in this thread, otherwise Ill feel like I didn't contribute to my favorite subject...

Great list, just a few things I would add...

A couple of major tea herbs have been left out of this list that should definitely be included.

Comfrey - Major source of NPK as well as other micro nutrients and minerals mined from the Earth's subsoil.

Stinging Nettle - Another great balanced source of NPK, large amounts of Calcium and other minerals and vitamin C, used in Bio-Dynamic farming to give intelligence to the soil.

"Stinging nettle stimulates soil health, providing plants with the individual nutrition components needed. It enlivens the earth and helps to release iron into the soil. Helps to improve the potency of plants by increasing their sensitivity and individualizing them to their surroundings. Improves the nutritive qualities of plants. Mars forces are said to manifest in stinging nettle."

Chamomile - Full of minerals and other plant stimulating compounds, chamomile teas can boost the plants own immunity to disease or pests, and help balance and regulate plant growth.

Valerian - Source of minerals and phosphorus.

"Valerian helps to concentrate phosphorous in the plant and this in turn aids with the plants capacity to attract light in the photosynthesis process. It stimulates the phosphate activating bacteria in the soil. Valerian deals with the forces from Saturn."

Dandelion (flowers and leaves) - NPK, minerals, immune boosting properties, used in Bio-Dynamic farming to help plants "tune in" the the environment and draw nutrients or needed minerals where they are needed.

"Dandelion gives the soil a living, ethereal quality with the ability to supply the substances a plant needs. It increases a plants sensitivity and helps it to attract beneficial elements from a wider area. Dandelion works strongly with silica and potassium and, via silica, draws in forces from the outer planets, particularly Jupiter."

Yarrow - Contains potassium, selenium and sulfur, used in Bio-Dynamic farming to "bring light forces into the soil via its connection with sulfur, helping spirit to penetrate matter and enables it to attract trace elements. Important for reproduction and growth. Venus forces are said to manifest in yarrow."

White Oak Bark - Combats disease, used in Bio-Dynamic farming to "work very strongly with calcium and is an excellent remedy for plant diseases including fungus. It helps to restore balance with the ether body of the plant and control rampant growth. Moon forces become active in the plant in a healthy manner with oak bark. Extended use of the oak bark will help to raise the ph of the soil without the need to add lime."

All text in "quotes" was taken from http://cityfoodgrowers.com.au/biody_...eB7RCzlHYx-gCf

All of these herbal teas can be brewed a number of ways, and the Bio-Dynamic people have their own ways of doing each one, however, based on my experience and intuition, whether you simply throw the stuff in a bucket for 2 weeks, use a small air stone and molasses to brew up some microbes, or bio-ferment and bury them in the earth according to the celestial movements... Anyway you use them, they will help.

Personally, I brew the herbs up altogether, individually or in mixes, in cheese cloth, usually with a bit of home made worm castings, in PH neutral filtered water. I add a couple tablespoons of raw honey and bubble them with an air stone for 3 days.
(I have gone up to 5 days, but the thick head of bacterial foam seems to peak around 3 days)
I use it 8:1 10:1 12:1 or 15:1.

Also, if you do not grow your own herbs (very easy and beautiful to do in any yard, most being perennials) make sure you buy organically grown herbs, the microbes your trying to grow do not like chemicals (pesticides, fungicides and tap water) But when I run out of my own, I buy all these herbs for CHEAP in bulk at an organic tea shop.

Thanks for reading!
 

georgyboy

Active Member
A question about the amount of tea needed to apply to a given area. I commonly see the 20 gallons an acre suggestion. Cool, but I'm not growing anything near an acre. My outdoor veggie garden is only 132 sq feet, and Inside I would never have more than 20 gallons of soil in containers. An acre is 43,560 sq feet according to wikipedia. That means my garden is one third of one percent of an acre. One third of one percent of a gallon is .o6 gallons, or almost one cup. One cup will not water 132 sq feet. I saw that a tea could be diluted down to 5:1 water with tea, but that still only gives me six cups, not even a half gallon. Also, what does the term soil drench mean, is that soaking the soil heavily or just a typical watering of the soil.
 

Rising Moon

Well-Known Member
Dont get caught up in plot sizes and square feet etc...

Measure per plant.

For example...

If you are growing 6 plants, and you water 1 gallon per plant each watering, brew about 1 gallon of tea, and dilute 1:6. Simple

If you want to run teas, plan on brewing up a batch every 3-5 days throught the entire grow.

Soil drench to me means, fully saturate the soil, but not to the point of runoff.
 

Corbat420

Well-Known Member
If you are growing 6 plants, and you water 1 gallon per plant each watering, brew about 1 gallon of tea, and dilute 1:6. Simple

If you want to run teas, plan on brewing up a batch every 3-5 days throught the entire grow.
^ Good advice. alltho, i am a little confised on where you guys are getting these "ratios"......

i use teas every watering.... at 50/50 water/tea, and 100% tea once a month.... a ratio of 1:5 would be useless in terms of nutrients, and hardly worth it for bacteria.

Soil drench to me means, fully saturate the soil, but not to the point of runoff.
Its to the point where the entire pot is drenched with water. it takes a bit of run off to do this.... some run off is a good thing, it shows that the entire pot can be filled with roots. no run off = Dry spots in the soil.
 

georgyboy

Active Member
Thanks for the responses guys. Is it safe to fertilize with straight tea? I just did my first ever organic feeding, I fed with a gallon of water, 1Tbsp of liquid fish and 1Tbsp of molasses. I just put the stuff in the gallon, gave it a shake, and did a soil drench. Am I doing the right thing here?
 

Rising Moon

Well-Known Member
^ Good advice. alltho, i am a little confised on where you guys are getting these "ratios"......

i use teas every watering.... at 50/50 water/tea, and 100% tea once a month.... a ratio of 1:5 would be useless in terms of nutrients, and hardly worth it for bacteria.
Agreed, I just threw out the 1:5 to be on the safe side, not knowing how exactly the tea was made. I tend to brew my teas very concentrated, with lots of traditional tea herbs, castings, molasses, raw honey and canna bio flores. I am skeptical that I would be able to use my brews at 100%, but Ive tried 50/50 ratio with good results.

My avatar dont lie...
 

Corbat420

Well-Known Member
very concentrated, with lots of traditional tea herbs, castings, molasses, raw honey and canna bio flores. I am skeptical that I would be able to use my brews at 100%
per 5 gallons water:
15 Ml bat guano (N)
1/2 cup EWC
15 ML wood ash

30 ML Morbloom
15 ML Kelp
15 ML Mollasses
10 Ml Organic-B
7.5 ml Liquid karma
5 Ml Black storm

^ I use this @ 100% every 2 weeks.... organics is almost impossible to burn plants :D

View attachment 2128542View attachment 2128543

Theres a measuring stick in the back of the pick if you look.... you can see the 2 and 3 feet marks :D (Measured from the trunk.)
 

StickeeGreens

Well-Known Member
Great info guys i truly appreciate it! This is my first post in almost a year and damn it feels good to be back. Im new to this tea idea and im trying to develope my own brew for flowering and this truly helped!!!! thanks dudes
 

Rising Moon

Well-Known Member
per 5 gallons water:
15 Ml bat guano (N)
1/2 cup EWC
15 ML wood ash

30 ML Morbloom
15 ML Kelp
15 ML Mollasses
10 Ml Organic-B
7.5 ml Liquid karma
5 Ml Black storm

^ I use this @ 100% every 2 weeks.... organics is almost impossible to burn...
I can see using this at 100%

I follow a similar recipe, but I use way less water, 1 gallon.

I tried brewing up bigger batches, but couldn't use them all up (wasteful, especially during winter with no garden to dump on)

So I just experimented with less and less water, and the same ratios of raw materials, and diluted them a bit (1:3-1:6) so far so good!
 
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