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dkf85281
06-02-2012, 05:36 AM
anyone have any thoughts on or uses compost leachate?

here's according to urban garden center:

In the early stages of composting you may have a dark colored solution that leaches out of the mix and can be drained out of the bottom your composter. However, this is not compost tea. It is compost leachate and may contain unwanted pathogens. Compost leachate usually needs further bioremediation and is not suitable or recommended as a foliar spray. It can still be used as a fertilizer, but with care.

thanks!

Scot Nelson
06-02-2012, 12:20 PM
Compost tea is made by steeping compost in water. The tea serves as a foliar fertilizer or as a soil nutrient and microbial drench. Producing compost tea is an art as much as a science. Types of compost tea include:

1. FRESH. Steep healthy compost in water for a brief time and apply the liquid to plant leaves or soil. It may have viable plant pathogens, but the heat of composting kills most of them.

2. FERMENTED, WITH AERATION. Compost is fermented in water infused with a constant stream of air bubbles to promote oxygen-loving aerobic bacteria and fungi. This type of compost tea smells good (not stinky like anaerobic tea), and is very beneficial for soil organisms and as a foliar spray.

3. FERMENTED, WITHOUT AERATION (do not use). When left in a container for several days without aeration, anaerobic bacteria and fungi chemically alter the mixture into a stinky brew. Some microorganisms in the smelly tea may produce alcohol as a byproduct, which can be highly damaging to plant tissues even in small quantities. Therefore, tea fermented without aeration (or that smells bad) probably should never be used or applied to plants.

Richard
06-02-2012, 03:49 PM
Here in coastal San Diego county (CA), we find that using compost tea as a foliar provides an excellent substrate for sooty mold and powdery mildew.

dkf85281
06-02-2012, 04:19 PM
i've provided more info from urban garden center regarding the UCT-9 tea catcher... why would anyone use the leachate in the first place? and what does "leachate can certainly be used as a good fertilizer but with more care than compost tea" mean? anyone know what "more care" means?

taken from urbangardencenter.com:
"Compost Tea, also known as liquid gold by many horticulturists, is used in place of commercial liquid fertilizers for your flowers, herb, vegetables, and practically anything else that grows. Compost tea is used to feed plants, restore plants, enhance soil microflora and can be sprayed onto the foliage to control foliar diseases. Besides giving your outdoor Flower & Garden plants a real boost in Organic nutrient... it is also used for many exotic indoor plants as well.For many gardeners, compost tea is even more valuable than the actual compost.

Using an oil waste container rated to contain hazardous waste, this perfect little 6-quart tea catcher captures the leachent in the early stages of composting and compost tea in the later brewing stage. The 6-quart container comes with a fitting that screws into the drain plug at the bottom of the UCT-9, a butterfly value to start and stop flow, and a 20 inch tube with fitting to drain from the barrel into the container.

Note the WARNING to the right. We considered calling our tea-catcher a leachate-catcher but figured few people would recognize the name and our tea-catcher will do both. Leachate certainly can be used as a good fertilizer but with more care than compost tea. At minimum our tea-catcher is very good a handling leachate.

To make compost tea in the UCT-9, leave about an inch of finished compost in the bottom of the barrel, add 3 gallons of water and let it sit for 7 to 10 days. Drain the tea out for use.

thanks!

sunfish
06-02-2012, 07:52 PM
i've provided more info from urban garden center regarding the UCT-9 tea catcher... why would anyone use the leachate in the first place? and what does "leachate can certainly be used as a good fertilizer but with more care than compost tea" mean? anyone know what "more care" means?

taken from urbangardencenter.com:
"Compost Tea, also known as liquid gold by many horticulturists, is used in place of commercial liquid fertilizers for your flowers, herb, vegetables, and practically anything else that grows. Compost tea is used to feed plants, restore plants, enhance soil microflora and can be sprayed onto the foliage to control foliar diseases. Besides giving your outdoor Flower & Garden plants a real boost in Organic nutrient... it is also used for many exotic indoor plants as well.For many gardeners, compost tea is even more valuable than the actual compost.

Using an oil waste container rated to contain hazardous waste, this perfect little 6-quart tea catcher captures the leachent in the early stages of composting and compost tea in the later brewing stage. The 6-quart container comes with a fitting that screws into the drain plug at the bottom of the UCT-9, a butterfly value to start and stop flow, and a 20 inch tube with fitting to drain from the barrel into the container.

Note the WARNING to the right. We considered calling our tea-catcher a leachate-catcher but figured few people would recognize the name and our tea-catcher will do both. Leachate certainly can be used as a good fertilizer but with more care than compost tea. At minimum our tea-catcher is very good a handling leachate.

To make compost tea in the UCT-9, leave about an inch of finished compost in the bottom of the barrel, add 3 gallons of water and let it sit for 7 to 10 days. Drain the tea out for use.

thanks!

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