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To make compost tea, steep finished compost in potable water, then strain it. For a simple aerated batch, put about two cups of compost in a mesh bag in a five-gallon bucket, aerate the water with an aquarium pump for 24–36 hours, and use the tea promptly. A passive method needs no pump but uses a different recipe and steeping time.
Choose a brewing method
| Method | Equipment and work | Example brew time | Recipe source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerated | Five-gallon bucket, mesh bag, aquarium pump, tubing and air stone; requires continuous aeration | 24–36 hours | NC State Plants for Human Health Institute |
| Passive | Bucket, compost and water; steep, then strain | 1–3 days | University of Maryland Extension |
These are examples, not standardized ratios or interchangeable instructions. Choose one complete recipe and follow its amounts and timing rather than combining methods.
Make an aerated batch: NC State’s recipe
Gather the supplies
- A five-gallon bucket
- Potable water
- A small aquarium pump, tubing and air stone
- A fine mesh bag
- About two cups of mature compost
- One tablespoon of unsulfured blackstrap molasses, optional in this recipe
Brew and apply
- Fill the bucket with water and let it stand for 24 hours.
- Put about two cups of compost into the mesh bag and place it in the bucket.
- If following the NC State recipe, add one tablespoon of unsulfured blackstrap molasses.
- Set up the pump, tubing and air stone to aerate the water. Brew for 24–36 hours.
- Remove the bag and use the strained tea promptly. Apply it to soil, or dilute it for foliar use at four cups of tea per gallon of water. NC State specifies using water left to stand for 24 hours for dilution as well.
NC State also lists liquid fish fertilizer as an optional ingredient; it is not necessary to the basic recipe. See its full instructions for details.
Make a passive batch: University of Maryland’s recipe
- Use yard-waste compost or vermicompost and potable water. The University of Maryland Extension recipe says not to use farm animal manure compost.
- Mix five parts water with one part compost by volume.
- Steep for 1–3 days.
- Strain the mixture and apply it.
This is a separate method from the aerated recipe above. Follow the University of Maryland Extension’s instructions for passive compost tea rather than borrowing amounts or timings from another recipe.
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- Brew compost tea and worm casting tea for organic gardening
- Designed to be used with a standard 5-gallon bucket
- Aerates evenly, preventing dead spots and providing plenty of oxygen for optimum microbial growth
- Includes aerator, heavy-duty air pump, 4’ of vinyl tubing, bungee cord and 2 mesh brew bags
- Aerator Made in the USA
Use safe ingredients and clean handling
- Start with mature, finished compost and potable water. Raw manure or improperly prepared compost may contain microbes harmful to people.
- Wash your hands after handling compost tea. Sanitize food-contact tools and surfaces that may have touched it, following UF/IFAS safety guidance.
- Molasses is optional, not essential. Although it appears in some recipes, UF/IFAS discourages sugar additives because they can increase pathogen numbers.
- Strain the tea, use it promptly and clean the bucket, bag and brewing equipment after use. UMass Amherst recommends prompt equipment cleaning.
What compost tea can—and cannot—do
Do not count on compost tea to cure plant disease or replace fertilizer. UF/IFAS says it does not provide measurable nutrition to plants, and study results on disease suppression are inconsistent. UC ANR reports that aerated tea has sometimes increased disease severity; overapplication may also contribute nutrients to water pollution. The University of Maine Cooperative Extension says disease-control claims are largely anecdotal and unsupported by peer-reviewed research. Apply it as a compost extract, not as a proven treatment or fertilizer: UF/IFAS, UC ANR, and University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
NC State’s gardener handbook describes another passive recipe—one part compost to ten parts water, held in fine mesh, stirred 12 times over 48 hours or aerated—and says to use it within four hours and not on edible plant portions. Because its ratio and handling directions differ from the University of Maryland method, do not mix their instructions; consult the NC State handbook if choosing that recipe.
Quick Recap
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- Easy to clean, easier to use! Made by a gardener for gardeners.
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Rank #4
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Rank #3
- Compost Tea Kit Complete with everything you need to brew a high biology compost tea
- Big Bubbles Cause Mixing Currents, keeping your Dissolved Oxygen levels high throughout the brew.
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- Kit comes with a TeaLAB Brew Bag, BubbleSnake Aerator, Bucket, Air Pump, all hoses and fittings, LifeCube Compost, FishBall Activators, Insect Frass, 5:2-Humic Acid & Kelp Extract, and a Chlorine Test Kit
- Excellent Customer Service. Call TeaLAB and talk to a human. We pride ourselves in helping others succeed. Call anytime with your compost tea questions. Built to Last in Humboldt County California. Made by a gardener for gardeners.
Rank #2
- Basic Set Up Get Brewing Special~ BubbleSnake, Bag, Air Pump & Tubing
- Easy to Use, Easy to Clean
- The Smaller, Quiter 715 GPH 20watts Commercial Grade Air Pump keeps dissolved oxygen levels within desired range.
- Kit comes with Brew Bag, BubbleSnake, Air Pump, all hoses and fittings.
- Built to Last in Humboldt County California
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