You may not know this , but Art of Tea ’s biodegradable filter bags and eco - well-disposed teabag sachets can be used to help your plants stay hydrated , grow , and get solid food . Learn how to make your garden thrive with Art of Tea !
Camellia sinensis is beloved around the world for its novel savor and excite caffein boost . But did you acknowledge that used tea grounds also have benefits for your garden and houseplant ?
teatime grounds are chock - full of nutrient and compounds that can improve soil health , stimulate industrial plant growth , and even help repel pests . contribute spend tea leaves and primer to your garden is an easy , natural way to recycle this kitchen “ waste ” into plant food for thought .
In this clause , we ’ll explore the top reasons you should be using tea grounds in your garden , along with tips on how to utilise them safely and in effect . get ’s dive in !
Why Tea Grounds Are Great for Plants
teatime leaves and grounds provide a diversity of nutrient and beneficial substances for plants and territory , Here are some of the top benefits
Nutrients
Used tea leaves contain nitrogen , Lucifer , and potassium , which are macronutrients essential for sizeable plant increase The tannins and lignin in tea leaf also break dance down into beneficial soil compound
Composting tea bags or mixing grounds into your garden grunge gives plants a easy nutritious boost without risking burn from synthetic fertilizer . Over - brew afternoon tea can supply higher concentration for supererogatory plant food .
Organic Matter
Like other compost ingredients , spend afternoon tea leave add valuable organic textile to nourish soil life and structure . The extra constitutional affair aid keep wet and better drainage in stiff grease .
As tea grounds break down , they support good kingdom Fungi and bacterium in the soil . This microbiome is decisive for releasing nutrients that plant roots can absorb .
Acidification
Tea take tannin , which lower pH when unloose into the soil . Many flora , including azalea , blueberry , and roses , choose slightly acid stain in the 5.5 to 6.5 pH kitchen range .
disperse used primer coat around these acid - loving plants bring home the bacon a lifelike pH adaptation . It ’s gentler than applying sulfur or chemical amendment .
Pest Deterrent
There ’s some grounds that spraying plants with cooled tea may aid deter certain soft - bodied insects and fungal diseases . The tannins and other plant compounds in tea may make leaves less appetizing to pests .
sprinkle teetotal Camellia sinensis basis around plant bases may also help oneself repulse cats , shiner , and other digging critters . The tea perfume mask attractive plant odors and feel unpleasant on paws .
How to Use Tea in Your Garden
Used tea leaf bags and grounds can be applied in many different style to harness their works - nourishing good . Here are some simple , effective techniques :
Mix Into Soil
For Modern garden beds or container flora , merge a smattering of afternoon tea grounds into the soil before planting . This provides a nutrient boost as the priming decompose . you could also dig used old bag or earth into soil around established flora .
mix in them into compost is idealistic , as the grounds will break down to the full before being give . Do n’t overload your compost pile with afternoon tea , though , as it can throw off the carbon - to - nitrogen ratio .
Top Dressing
Sprinkling dry tea grounds like a shot on the dirt around plant is called top salad dressing . This method provides a slow - spillage plant food as rainfall water dissolves the nutrients . Focus on pane - love plant and annul piling on thick layer .
Liquid Plant Food
Using brewed afternoon tea as a foliar spray or soil drench gives plants an quick nutritive hike . set aside tea to chill amply before utilise . Dilute strong brew with water to invalidate burning leaves .
inebriate old afternoon tea bag in H2O to make “ compost tea ” full of good microbe and soluble nutrients from the grounds . Use this teatime within a day or two to avoid it going anaerobic .
Mulch
desegregate tea grounds into mulch helps bulge it up and infuse it with food . you’re able to also spread a fragile bed of ironic earth between mulch and soil to create a nutritious - copious roadblock . coffee berry grounds forge great for this too .
For container plants , a sprinkle of tea terra firma in the drip tray can allow for a dull feed . Rinse the tray regularly to avoid mould .
Choosing the Right Tea for Plants
Not all teas are produce adequate when it comes to plant aliment . Here are some character that make excellent plant food :
Black afternoon tea : Provides more nutrients since leaf are to the full oxidized . English Breakfast , Earl Grey , and chai mould well .
Green tea : Lower in nutrients than disgraceful tea but still good . corking for acid soils .
Herbal tea leaf : Contain lot of flora - come compounds . Chamomile , mint , and rooibos are dependable choice .
Oolong afternoon tea : Partially oxidized leave-taking offer balanced nutriment . Gives colly a moderate acidity boost .
Avoid using teas with lend flavors , which may contain oils and substances heavily for soil germ to break down . Stick to plain , organic teas when potential .
Best Plants for Fertilizing with Tea
While all plant can gain from the constituent thing in tea grounds , some are especially well suited for this natural fertilizer . Good choice include :
dose - lover : Blueberries , azaleas , rhododendrons , camellias , hydrangeas .
Vegetable crops : Tomatoes , carrots , lettuce , onions , brassicas .
Herbs : Rosemary , lavender , mints , sage , thyme .
Flowers : Roses , marigold , zinnias , daisy , dianthus .
Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and shrub : Citrus trees , magnolias , gardenias , hibiscus , jasmine .
Go light on tea grounds with industrial plant that prefer indifferent or alkalic land , like petunias , impatiens , and noggin . Monitor soil pH if uncertain .
Troubleshooting Tea as a Fertilizer
Using tea sustainably comes with a small scholarship bender . Here are some possible issues and how to avoid them :
yellow leave-taking may designate too much N from supererogatory tea . moneyed soil with water to dilute .
Burnt leafage tips or chocolate-brown slur could stand for high tannin level . sheer back on tea or change to herbals .
Clumpy , mucky soil or stunted root can result from over - program . Let soil dry out before resuming fertilizing .
White mold on dirt aerofoil signalize anaerobiotic shape . Loosen and oxygenate soil , make out back on fresh priming .
Bugs congregating in tea mulch in all probability betoken extra nitrogen . Remove mulch and spread out out brisk earth thinly .
Start little when trying tea as a plant food , and determine flora health closely for a few weeks when applying to new species . Proper dosage may take some adjustment .
Make the Most of Your Cuppa
As you could see , there are so many ways to make those discarded Camellia sinensis bags and easy lay of grounds into industrial plant superfood instead of waste . Camellia sinensis fertilizing helps your garden and houseplant thrive while keeping kitchen scraps out of crowded landfill .
Next time you brew a slew of therapeutic teatime , intermission before chuck those leaf in the trash . Your plants will thank you for redirecting that organic issue their direction .
So brew up another cupful , then go out front and douse your daisies with the dregs . Your garden will positively bloom with this eco - well-disposed fertilizer flowing .
Tea Can Be Used As A Weed-Killer
Teabags have been known to bottle up the growth of weeds , specially those full of steeped black afternoon tea . Simply rank brew black teabags on weeds and witness the thaumaturgy for yourself ! .
Teabags In Your Garden May Deter Pests
Teabags have been know to keep cuss from damage and destroying your plant . Simply inter the teabags in your garden and the spirit will keep pest and rodents at bay . you could make your own natural pestilence repellant with steeped teabags instead of buy sprayer . It ’s cheaper and work just as well .
Wait! Don’t throw out your old Tea Bags! How to Use Tea Bags for Fertilizer in Your Garden!
FAQ
Are sure-enough tea bags good for plants ?
Is it OK to water plant with afternoon tea ?
Is tea a good plant life fertilizer ?
Are tea leaf ground good for plants ?
Tea grounds act as an organic thing that can meliorate stain structure and drain : Nitrogen Content : Tea leave are an excellent source of nitrogen , a fundamental building block for plant ontogenesis . Mulching : distribute around plant , tea grounds can serve as mulch , retaining moisture and suppress sens .
Is green tea leaf good for humans ?
Green teatime hold back bioactive compounds that have antioxidant action and aid shorten oxidative focus . Green teatime is also indicated for weight loss and as a stimulant .
Why are tea solid ground significant ?
Also , the tea grounds serve well as a mulch , conserve moisture and protect roots . The subtle scent of tea can pull in beneficial insects such as bees , which are crucial for pollenation . Moreover , red worm are drawn to the nutrients within the grounds , aiding in soil aeration and alimental distribution .
Do Camellia sinensis grounds help plants grow well in acidic soil ?
Many plant flourish in an acid soil surround , and tea grounds can lower the pH of grunge to provide such weather . Here ’s how I ’ve successfully used tea to do good these plants : azalea : They grow more vibrant when mulched with Camellia sinensis undercoat due to their preference for acidulous dirt .
