When it comes to homemade fertilizers, gardening enthusiasts often think of eggshells first. This classic DIY fertilizer not only improves garden soil but also effectively utilizes household waste, making it a win-win situation. However, there are other waste materials at home that can also be repurposed. For example, the tea bags you have used can be excellent raw materials for homemade fertilizers with significant effects.
According to the household lifestyle website “House Digest,” when people brew tea with tea bags, although the first infusion may take away most of the nutrients and caffeine, the remaining tea leaves still contain essential nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus needed for plant growth, making them ideal fertilizers for certain plants. Mixing tea leaves into soil can also enhance soil quality and attract earthworms.
However, reusing waste tea bags in the garden requires patience and time. According to some gardening enthusiasts, it may take up to two weeks or even longer for tea bags to completely decompose and integrate into the soil. The key lies in consistent use.
Before pouring the leftover tea residue into your garden, there are a few things to consider. First, try to use organic green tea and avoid flavored teas. If you are using tea bags, make sure they are compostable. Those sealed with polypropylene (plastic) cannot degrade properly.
The UK consumer magazine “Which?” previously stated, “Tea bags are traditionally sealed with a plastic called polypropylene, which allows them to be heat-sealed at the edges and prevents them from breaking apart in hot water.”
Although the amount of polypropylene used is minimal, these tea bags cannot be used for composting. In situations where tea bags are used extensively, they can still generate a significant amount of plastic waste.
If you are unsure about the material of the tea bag, you can examine its appearance. If the tea bag is triangular, shiny, or has wavy edges, it is likely made of plastic. If it is plastic or you are unsure about the material, tear it open and remove the tea leaves inside.
If you are certain that the tea bag is made of paper and intend to use it along with the bag, make sure to cut off all non-paper parts such as tags, strings, staples, to ensure only paper tea bag and tea leaves remain.
Fertilizers made from green tea are most suitable for plants that prefer acidic soil, such as roses, tomatoes, blueberries, or ferns. Plants like lavender or peonies that thrive in alkaline or neutral soil may not appreciate this acidity and should switch to other fertilizers. Before using tea leaves as fertilizer, it’s recommended to measure the soil’s pH level to ensure plants are not adversely affected by acidity issues.
Using tea leaves as fertilizer is a straightforward process. After brewing, let the tea leaves cool to room temperature, then sprinkle them thinly on the soil surface of indoor or outdoor plants and mix them into the top half-inch (about 1.3 cm) of soil.
If you are using steeped paper tea bags, you can bury them directly in outdoor soil or add them to a compost pile. This will not only accelerate the decomposition process but also produce high-quality compost rich in nitrogen, which plants love.
Gardening experts from the UK floral design and retail company Saffron’s Decor previously shared a method using tea bags to help orchids bloom beautifully.
First, immerse a tea bag in moderately warm, not too hot water, then pour this solution into a bowl or container large enough to accommodate all the roots of the orchid plant. Let the roots soak in the solution for a whole day and remove them in the evening.
Repeat this process for 4 to 5 days, changing the solution daily. This way, you will notice the orchid becoming healthier day by day.