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Brew simple compost tea safely
This guide covers making a small batch of aerobic compost tea: use mature compost, aerate with a pump, brew 12-24 hours, and apply to soil, not leaves, to avoid pathogens.
- compost tea
- aeration
- gardening
- microbes
- soil
Start with mature compost
Use finished compost; avoid manure-heavy inputs to reduce pathogen risk.
Aerate continuously
Use an aquarium pump and clean tubing to keep the brew aerobic.
Brew briefly
Steep 12-24 hours, then stop to avoid anaerobic conditions.
Apply to soil
Drench soil near roots; avoid foliar spray to reduce contamination risk.