Compost tea problems

[rick d PADGETT]

1. First time making compost tea and had problems. Recipe from Healthy Vegetable Gardening, as follows; compost ,worm castings, 1/2 gal., molasses 5 table., sea minerals 2 oz., fish and kelp 1 cup, humic acid 1/2 cup. Bubble for 3 days @ 70 dg. Problem is no activation, no bubbles. Any ideas or help appreciated.

 

[Beth_B]

Welcome!
You got me curious - I've never made my own compost tea from scratch but I buy a premade organic mix that you add water to and wait at least 24 hours. I've never seen it bubble or foam, but it does smell pretty nasty after sitting for a while!
Anyway I googled compost tea not bubbling and came up with lots of hits.

Bottom line from what I read: Not a big deal. It doesn't need to bubble. Or maybe it did for a while, then stopped, and you missed it. Also, on analysis, bubble or foam does not correlate with an effective, bacterially-active compost tea.

 

[headfullofbees]

Probably ran out of molasses, at 70deg. and the bacteria starved.
If you're going to culture bacteria for three days at that temp, and it is a good idea to, add some more molasses halfway.
As Beth B says though, it doesn't HAVE to be foamy.
The only way to really judge it is by the results.

 

[Chuck]

If I aerate my tea for 3 days it will stop foaming too but it doesn't mean anything. If you tea begins to smell like ammonia or sewage that is when it has lost its microbial life and isn't as good. Like Bees said just add a little more molasses and it will start foaming again after a little while. But why are you aerating or brewing for 3 days? At 70F 48 hours is sufficient

 

[rick d PADGETT]

Welcome!
You got me curious - I've never made my own compost tea from scratch but I buy a premade organic mix that you add water to and wait at least 24 hours. I've never seen it bubble or foam, but it does smell pretty nasty after sitting for a while!
Anyway I googled compost tea not bubbling and came up with lots of hits.

Bottom line from what I read: Not a big deal. It doesn't need to bubble. Or maybe it did for a while, then stopped, and you missed it. Also, on analysis, bubble or foam does not correlate with an effective, bacterially-active compost tea.

Thanks for the info., it did not smell bad so I applied it. Big rain afterwards so not sure what it did. Glad to be in the dialogue.

 

[rick d PADGETT]

If I aerate my tea for 3 days it will stop foaming too but it doesn't mean anything. If you tea begins to smell like ammonia or sewage that is when it has lost its microbial life and isn't as good. Like Bees said just add a little more molasses and it will start foaming again after a little while. But why are you aerating or brewing for 3 days? At 70F 48 hours is sufficient

Thanks for the info.

 

[rick d PADGETT]

1. First time making compost tea and had problems. Recipe from Healthy Vegetable Gardening, as follows; compost ,worm castings, 1/2 gal., molasses 5 table., sea minerals 2 oz., fish and kelp 1 cup, humic acid 1/2 cup. Bubble for 3 days @ 70 dg. Problem is no activation, no bubbles. Any ideas or help appreciated.

Really enjoy the exchange of ideas. Have not done much with forums.

 

[headfullofbees]

Really enjoy the exchange of ideas. Have not done much with forums.

Well you'll be made most welcome here.

 

[Becky]

Hello! Just wanted to wish you a warm welcome to the forum

 

[rrellihan]

Thank you