WORM CASTINGS Tea

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Healthy soil grows healthy plants, and worm castings tea is one of my favorite ways to naturally support both. 

Worm castings tea is a gentle, microbe-rich liquid fertilizer made by brewing worm castings (yes, that's worm poop) in water with aeration. It helps introduce beneficial biology into your soil while providing plants with trace nutrients they can easily use.

Unlike many synthetic fertilizers, worm castings tea is a natural option that is safe for people, pets and pollinators! Also unlike many synthetic fertilizers, worm castings tea is naturally mild and far less likely to burn plants when used properly.

Step 1: Dechlorinate Water

Fill your 5 gallon bucket with water. To remove chlorine, either:

• Run the water through a hose filter, OR
• Let tap water sit uncovered for 24 hours before brewing (Note : Some municipal water systems use chloramine instead of chlorine as a disinfectant. Unlike chlorine, chloramine does not off-gas on its own, so letting water sit overnight won't remove it. If you're unsure which your city uses, check your local water utility's annual water quality report. If your water contains chloramine, use a hose filter with a carbon/charcoal block rated for chloramine removal, or dissolve a campden tablet (potassium metabisulfite) in the water before brewing.)

This is important because chlorine can harm beneficial microbes.

Step 2: Add Worm Castings & Molasses

Now that you have a bucket of dechlorinated water, add:

• 2 cups worm castings. Worm castings are easily available online or at your local nursery. (Or you can keep your own worms if you are so inclined!) Put the worm castings in a porous bag so as to prevent clogging your watering can or sprayer when you apply the tea later. 
• 2 tablespoons unsulfured molasses. You may already have this in your kitchen. The molasses helps feed and multiply beneficial microbes during the brewing process.

Stir well. 

Step 3: Aerate the Tea

Place the aerator in the bucket. Aerate continuously for 24 hours. Oxygen is essential for growing beneficial aerobic microbes.

Step 4: Apply!

Use the tea within the first day after brewing for best microbial activity and plant benefit. 

• Soil Drench: Pour around the base of plants to feed roots and soil microbes.
• Foliar Spray: Spray directly onto leaves during the cooler parts of the day. I love a backpack sprayer, but a spray bottle could work for smaller areas.

Frequency: Use every 2–4 weeks during the growing season. Your plants will love it!

These are the supplies I use.  Please note that this post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means I may receive a small commission if you click on a link and make a purchase, at no extra cost to you