What
is compost tea?
Compost tea is an aerobic water solution that has extracted
the microbe population from compost along with the
nutrients. In simple terms, it is a concentrated liquid
created by a process to increase the numbers of beneficial
organisms as an organic approach to plant/soil care.
Why use compost
tea?
Compost tea has many benefits. It
will make our environment healthier and safer and will put
the microbe biology back onto the plants and soil. It
recreates the natural environment that plants have evolved
through millions of years to thrive.
How long does it
take to make compost tea in the Keep It Simple® 5-gallon
brewer?
It takes 12 hours at 70 degrees or longer if the
temperatures are colder. The warmer the temperature (not to
exceed 95 degrees), the faster the brew (with a minimum of
12 hours).
How long does it
take to make compost tea in the Keep
It Simple®
28-gallon brewer?
It takes 24 hours at 70 degrees or longer if the
temperatures are colder.
When do I apply
compost tea?
The tea must be used within 4 hours after you have turned
the motor off and it has finished brewing. The best time to
apply in the day is early morning or early evening. Hot day
time temperatures are not as effective.
How often should I
apply it?
For foliar disease prevention, you can spray the plants just
before you would usually have the onset of disease
occurring. Then you would spray every 10 days to 2 weeks for
about a month. You should monitor what you are seeing on
your plants to determine if further spray is needed. For
soil application we recommend two times a year spring and
fall. For promoting growth, you could spray once a month
during the growing season. Frequency and scheduling of
applications will vary depending on individual environmental
conditions.
How do I know if I
have applied enough?
You can't apply too much, although normally you would try to
spray both sides of the leaf with the liquid dripping off
the leaf. Total coverage is very important. Whatever drips
off the leaves will actually help the soil.
How do I apply the
compost tea to plants\soil.
You can use a sprinkler can for applying to the soil or use
a backpack sprayer to do a foliar spray.
What happens if
the tea isn't used within 4 hours?
The population of microbes decreases and it becomes less
effective.
What happens if
the brewing process is interrupted?
It really depends on how long the process has been
interrupted. Generally, you would just start the process
again.
What happens if
temperatures are too cold?
The air temperature determines the water temperature because
the air is moving through the pump into the water. If the
temperatures are too cold (below 70 degrees), it will take
longer for the microbes to produce and you will need to run
your brewer for a minimum of 3 hours longer.
What equipment do
I use to apply the compost tea?
You may use a watering can or a backpack sprayer.
Why do I have to
use a backpack sprayer?
The backpack sprayers have a different type of nozzle that
will not clog when applying compost tea.
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Not
Recommended Nozzle
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Recommended
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Can I spray this
through a hose canister sprayer?
Generally, no. If you have untreated water then you can. It
has to do with the chlorine in the water that will kill all
the microbes.
What time of year
is best to use the compost tea?
During the growing season or anytime when night time
temperatures are above 40 degrees.
How long do the
microbes live after I apply them?
If the living conditions are right, the microbes will
continue to live and reproduce.
Can I apply too
much tea and do damage to my soil or plants?
No.
Can it hurt my
pets?
No.
What happens if I
put the teabag in and forgot to put the food in?
Then you need to add it and start your brewing process
again.
Does it make a
difference of what kind of water I use? (tap, bottled,
pond, etc.)
Yes, it needs to be water that doesn't have chemicals in it.
If you are using treated water, you need to follow the
instructions and run the brewer for 20 minutes before adding
the compost and food. This will degas (remove the chlorine
from) the water.
Does the machine
have other uses?
Yes. A friend of mine was trying to grow black bamboo in
containers was not successful. I recommended she find a
healthy stand of black bamboo, brew 2 pounds of this soil in
the brewer with microbe foods. This will put the biology
around the roots the plant needs.
Why should I buy
your machine over other models available in the marketplace?
Our machines are not only efficient in increasing microbe
populations [12 hours for the 5-gallon size] but also is a
minimum of parts, very easy to clean, the prices are
very competitive and we have good customer support.
How do I take care
of my machine?
Remove the coil from the bottom of the bucket and pull out
the rubber stopper prior to turning the air pump off. This
keeps the tea out of the pipes, so biofilm does not buildup.
With biofilm buildup, the next time a brew is made, it would
contaminate the integrity of the tea. Hose off the coil and
plastic pipes or put them in the dishwasher. Pour the tea
into a backpack sprayer or sprinkler can for application.
Rinse the inside of the bucket and the lid. Let dry.
Can I use my own
compost?
Yes, you can use your own compost, but because we
haven't test the quality of your compost, we don't know the
biology that you have. The machines replicate only the
biology they start with which can be beneficial or not.
What do I do with
all of the items contained in the bag for the food (for
5-gallon brewer size)?
The compost is in the mesh bag, while the other
ingredients are in plastic bags. Dro the mesh bag in the
water after dechlorination. Then open the plastic bags and
pour contents into the water solution.
Are you foods and
compost organic?
Yes, they have been tested (see our lab results) and are
completely natural.
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