If you are concerned about sustainability and want to make the most of the waste generated in your home, you are interested in knowing how to reuse the tea bags to make compost. Because it turns out that this waste that is so common in homes is a great ally to take care of our plants.
Green tea is one of the best natural fertilizers for plants. We can add a few leaves of this herb to the substrate, or water them with an infusion (once it has cooled) but, in addition, we can use the bags left over from making this healthy drink to create compost.
Benefits that green tea brings to plants
Tea contains nutritional and antifungal properties that are especially beneficial for our plants:
- Natural fertilizer. It contains compounds beneficial for plant growth such as nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.
- Growth stimulant. The antioxidants present in green tea promote healthier growth.
- Improves moisture retention. Green tea leaves can be used as mulch as they help retain moisture in the soil and reduce the need for watering.
- Pest control. Its antimicrobial and antifungal properties help prevent plant infections and diseases.
- Improved soil health. This tea encourages the proliferation of beneficial microorganisms in the soil, improving both its structure and health.
- Soil conditioner. Helps slightly adjust the soil pH, making it more suitable for acidophilic plants.
- Seed germination stimulator. The bioactive compounds in green tea stimulate germination and early seed growth. To enjoy this benefit, simply soak them in a green tea infusion before planting them.
- Sustainable recycling. Reusing already used green tea leaves is a good way to reduce waste at home, thus taking care of both your plants and the environment.
Steps to use tea bags to make compost
Green tea, or rather any tea that does not contain artificial additives, is a good option to enrich homemade compost with additional nutrients that will be very useful for our plants.
If you want to achieve the best possible results, follow these tips:
Collect tea bags
First, make sure the tea bags are compostable. Most of them are because they are made from paper or cotton, but those that include some plastic component do not decompose and are not valid.
If you're not sure if the bag is compostable, test it. Cut one out and see if you can see any type of plastic component. If you don't notice anything plastic, you can add the bag to your composter.
Prepare the bags
It is not recommended that you put the wet bags directly into the compost, because the humidity could encourage the appearance of harmful microorganisms.
It is important that you let the used tea bags dry completely. If you want to speed up the process, use scissors to open the bag and spread the contents. This makes drying easier and also makes the tea disperses more easily in compost.
Incorporate into compost
In the next step you have to Mix the dry bags with the rest of the compostable materials. What you are doing by adding this product is incorporating organic matter rich in nitrogen, which will significantly improve the quality of the final product.
Of course, make sure that green materials such as kitchen scraps and brown materials such as dry leaves or cardboard are balanced. The most common ratio is two parts brown material to one part green material. This is important for get a compost that is really useful for our plants and contributes to their growth and improve your health.
Compost maintenance
It is good for the compost to be somewhat moist, but never soggy. The good thing about using tea bags to make compost is that they help retain some moisture, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't. Review it periodically and adjust levels if necessary.
Also, be sure to stir the mixture from time to time to aerate it and speed up the decomposition process. This simple task is also one of the best solutions to prevent unpleasant odors from occurring.
You already know that making compost is not an overnight thing, it requires time and patience. Normally, it will take a few months until both the tea bags and the rest of the materials decompose to the appropriate level.
Check and use the compost
You will know that your compost is ready to be used when it has a dark color and a texture similar to soil. In addition, it will have stopped smelling bad and will have a fresh earthy smell.
Once prepared, you can use it on indoor plants, outdoors, or in the garden, to improve soil fertility and promote healthy growth of all the species you have planted.
The amount you have to apply depends on factors such as the type of plants, the condition of the soil and the application method.
For example, in gardens, you can add 15 to 30 centimeters to prepare the soil before planting. Then, for annual maintenance, it is enough to add 2,5 to 7,5 centimeters as a surface layer.
In the case of orchards, it is recommended to add 15 to 30 centimeters to prepare the soil before planting, and then add between 2,5 and 7,5 centimeters for annual maintenance. (preferably during the spring months).
What you want to avoid is applying too much compost, because excess nutrients are not good for plants. You also have to make sure that the mixture is ready to be used because, if you use compost that is not mature, you can end up burning the plants.
Compost tea bags help you add high-quality organic matter to your mixture, so don't hesitate to reuse them.. You have already seen that it is very simple and that you just have to be careful. wait until the tea leaves are dry.