 Compost tea is a highly concentrated microbial solution produced by extracting beneficial microbes from Vermicompost and/or compost. Starting with a high quality, microbial-rich compost is the first key in making quality compost tea. After that, there are four essentials in creating the best possible growing situation for the microbes: water, air, food and comfort. The water should be clean, de-chlorinated, potable water. Compost tea brewers are available from many companies and feature aeration systems that insure the microbes have adequate oxygen. These companies also provide pre-mixed and packaged nutrient mixes to feed the diverse populations of both bacteria and fungi. Finished compost tea can be used as a soil application or foliar spray.
Our customers have demonstrated that the addition of one pound SEA-90 sea mineral solids per 100 gallons microbial solution prior to brewing doubles the microbial populations thereby improving the finished compost tea.
Compost Tea (Two-Step Process):
- Mix one pound SEA-90 per 100 gallons (one teaspoon per gallon) at start of brewing/aeration.
- Prior to application, mix additional two pounds SEA-90 per 100 gallons (two teaspoons per gallon).
Soil Application:
The application ratio is one pound SEA-90 per 10 gallons compost tea per acre, dependant on the soil and plant needs. Soil applications of compost tea put the microbes to work where they are needed most, plus the additional SEA-90 provides the minerals and trace elements required for a good start. Applications of SEA-90 compost tea have shown to suppress plant and soil disease, increase earthworm populations, improve soil structure, retain nutrients, and increase soil-water retention ability.
Foliar Application:
The application ratio is one pound of SEA-90 in 10 gallons of compost tea. The objective is to cover at least 70 percent of leaf surface (top and bottom). SEA-90 acts as a natural surfactant on the leaf surface and also provides additional minerals and trace elements necessary for plant growth and development. When foliar applied, the beneficial microbes in compost tea occupy the plant tissue surface and converts minerals and trace elements in SEA-90 to plant available nutrients. This in turn increases the Brix readings, and pests and diseases are suppressed.
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