How To Use Tea Bags As Fertilizer
Not only can you compost tea bags as fertilizer in the compost bin, but loose leaf teas and compostable tea bags may be dug in around plants. Using tea bags in compost adds that nitrogen-rich component to the compost, balancing the carbon-rich materials.
Items you will need when using tea bags in compost are:
- Tea leaves
- A compost bucket
- A three tined cultivator
After steeping each successive cup or pot of tea, add the cooled tea bags or leaves to the compost bucket where you keep food waste until ready to place in an outdoor composting area or bin. Then proceed to dump the bucket into the compost area, or if composting in a worm bin, dump the bucket in and cover lightly. Pretty simple.
You can also dig the tea bags or loose leaves in around plants to utilize the tea bags for plant growth directly around the root system. This use of tea bags for plant growth will not only nourish the plant as the tea bag decomposes, but aids in moisture retention and weed repression.
The beauty of using tea bags in compost is that many of us have a serious habit that requires daily doses of tea, providing ample contributions to the compost pile. The caffeine contained in tea bags used in compost does not seem to adversely affect the plant or raise the acidity of the soil appreciably.
What Kind Of Tea Should You Use For Plants
Tea comes in a wide variety of flavors, strengths, and additives. It can also include a variety of chemicals sourced from various locations across the globe. But they are pretty much all the same. You can use any kind of tea for your plants, but again test it on a small nonvisible leaf or with a small plant first.
Genius Things To Do With Your Used Tea Bags
For many people, tea bags are a one-use item. One bag equals one cup of tea. Then the used bag goes in the trash bin, right?
Well not quite. While you may not relish the idea of using the same bag to brew more than one cup of tea, there are still plenty of other uses for those little packets of damp tea leaves.
Read on and discover eighteen genius ways to reuse your old tea bags
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Adds Shine To Your Hair
Tea bags contain antioxidants that promote hair growth and scalp health. Antioxidants also help fight dandruff and add shine to your hair.
How to use:
Here Are Some Useful Tea Bag Usesfor The Garden That Will Surely Make You Save Them The Next Time Do Not Throw Them Away
Tea leaves contain around 4.15 percent nitrogen and other nutrition that nourish the soil. They also improve the soil structure and increase drainage. Also, the tannic acid in tea leaves can mildly change and lower your soil pH, just like coffee grounds.
Check out our article on the coffee ground uses in the garden here
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Restore Color To Black Clothing
My black tee shirt faded after several washes. To restore it, I tried the following steps:
I did not get a fully restored black tee, but if I do this on a regular basis, I might get a darker shade. You can use this on clothes that are completely black with no mixed colors. Otherwise, the colored portion will be affected by the tea color. Use it on washable clothing only and not on apparel meant for dry cleaning.
Keep your black tees from fading by laying them out in the shade, not directly under the sun.
Experiment with different teas to make old clothing items come to life.
Do Tea Bags Naturally Decompose In Soil
If the tea comes in a polypropylene or polyester material, you must remove the tea leaves from the bag. If the teabag is made up of paper, that will decompose in the soil. One tip is to use a hot tea bag and put it directly in the ground since that will speed up how quick it takes to break down. If you leave the tea bag on top of the soil, it will take longer for that material to break down into the soil, which is where the plant will get the nutrients.
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Are Unused Tea Leaves Good For Plants
Theres a consensus among gardeners that unused tea leaves arent ideal for your plants. When you brew tea, you help speed up the fermentation process, which helps with the release of nutrients.
The beneficial effects of unbrewed tea leaves will be much delayed if you use them instead of brewed leaves.
Besides, some teas like green tea contain small amounts of caffeine, which isnt good for plants. With brewing some of that caffeine is seeped away from the leaves. And composting will further reduce its effects.
In conclusion, use the tea leaves after youve brewed your tea, and better yet, allow the leaves to compost first.
Soothes Puffy And Irritated Eyes
Tea has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce swelling. It also constricts blood vessels that help reduce the fluid deposit under the eyes.
How to use:
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Organic Control For Root Maggots
Some maggots and worms have positive benefits. In fact, some of them are crucial to your gardens eco-system. There are some, however, that dont really do any good.
In fact, they make matters worse. For them, teabags can be a discouraging factor. It doesnt work for all types pests though. I believe its the tannic acid in tea that sends them packing!
Still, since its good for the plant anyway , it doesnt hurt to try it and bury them near the roots of your plants or as we said in your compost.
Make sure you dont hurt the root though, its ideal to do this process slowly, so you can see the roots before it would be too late.
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Can I Put Tea Bags In The Garden
So the question is, Can I put tea bags in the garden?. The resounding answer is yes but with a few caveats. Moist tea leaves added to the compost bin increase the speed with which your pile decomposes.
When using tea bags as fertilizer, either in the compost bin or directly around plants, first attempt to identify if the bag itself is compostable 20 to 30 percent may be composed of polypropylene, which will not decompose. These types of tea bags may be slippery to the touch and have a heat-sealed edge. If this is the case, slit open the bag and discard in the trash and reserve the damp tea leaves for composting.
If you are unsure about the make up of the bag when composting tea bags, you can toss them into the compost and then pick the bag out later if you are feeling particularly lazy. Sounds like an extra step to me, but to each his own. It will be patently obvious if the bag is compostable, as the worms and microorganisms will not break down such a substance. Tea bags made of paper, silk, or muslin are suitable composting tea bags.
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Can You Add Tea Bags To A Compost Pile
If you are an avid tea drinker and love to compost, adding your used bags to your compost bin should be right up your alley. Composting brewed tea bags to your garden soil is an excellent way to boost nutrients and increase the nitrogen levels in the plants.
Tea leaves boost nutrients to the plant, but the compost tea bag itself will help the plant. The tea bag adds a bit more structure to your soil, which is a great way to allow the flow of oxygen and water throughout it.
Home Uses Of Tea Bags
12. Rodents and bugs Repellent
Rodents and bugs hate the smell of peppermint. Therefore, to repel them and keep them away from your home, take a few peppermint tea bags and prepare from them peppermint tea. Then remove the tea bags and place them in corners of your home and near entrances to repel the nasty creatures.
13. Nutrient Rich Compost
Even after youve reused your tea bags, they are still valuable organic material which will add life to your garden or potted indoor plants. Tea bags themselves are biodegradable so simply add them to your compost or bury them in your potted plants to preserve moisture in the soil.
14. Rust Proof Cast Iron
The tannins in black tea protect against rust and are a great way to keep your cast iron cookware in tip top shape. After every use, rub a wet black tea bag all over the surface of your cast iron. The invisible barrier of tannins from the tea will help your cookware to last for a very long time.
15. Easy Steak Marinade
Because of the acidic nature of black tea its great to tenderizing tough cuts of meat. Make a strong infusion from your leftover tea bags to use in marinades, combine with herbs, spices, garlic and you will have flavorful, melt in your mouth steaks. Allow the marinade to absorb into the meat for at least a few hours or overnight. The tea also imparts a lovely rich flavor to the meat.
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Don’t Toss That Used Tea Bag Here Are 15 Great Uses For It
The next time you brew yourself a steaming cup of tea, resist the natural instinct to chuck that soggy bag in the trash. As it turns out, the organic matter within tea bags is chock full of potential for upcycling! Also, the tea bags themselves are no friend of the environment, either, so the more use you can get out of them before they hit the landfill, the better.
Check out these 15 amazing and creative ways to reuse tea bags to their fullest potential. Unless otherwise specified, these are for use with black tea.
Be Careful About Making Soil Too Acidic
Another cautionary note: while some plants will absolutely benefit from a boost in acidic content, others wont. In fact, adding acid to their soil can actually harm them. Some plants such as beets, sweet peas, and asparagus prefer a more alkaline environment for their roots.
Make sure to research your plants needs before adding liquid tea or tea leaves to their soil. You want your plants to benefit, rather than having an adverse reaction. Once you have this information, you may consider marking your plants for easy identification.
Besides disease, pests are one of the biggest inhibiters to growing a healthy garden. For plants that will benefit from the addition of tea, tannins can help to get rid of some pests. Sprinkle tea directly on the soil and leaves of plants that are prone to infestation. Pests such as aphids and caterpillars are deterred by the teas high acidic content.
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Give Old Clothes New Life
If you have an off-white tee or other clothing you don’t find fun to wear anymore, give it new life with used tea! Here’s how you can do it:
The results will vary, but your top should be between a light coffee and off-beige color. It depends on the material of the top, the strength of the tea, and how long the clothes are soaked in the solution. To get a darker shade, soak it for a longer period of time.
Try something fun and tie the tee with rubber bands to get the tie-dye look! Try different teas to see what colors you can get from various types.
- Don’t forget to wash this top separately from other clothing, as the ‘tea dye’ might run.
My wooden box before and after given the used tea leaves and tea bags treatment.
Dont Throw Away Those Used Teabags
Dont throw away those used teabags.
Have you ever wondered if there was a use for all those used teabags you throw out each day? I love to recyclye, upcycle and reuse and repurpose as many things as I can.
Compost Booster: Not only can tea bags with paper or muslin bags can go right in the compost bin, they actually speed up the decomposition of your other organic produce. . If the bag isnt biodegradable, just cut off the bag and sprinkle the tea leaves inside.
Plant feed: Used tea bags double as a handy fertilizer because of their tannic acid, which in turn foster increased nitrogen levels. Many plants, including roses and potted plants, will benefit from the elevated levels, so mix or spread those steeped tea leaves right onto the soil.
Pest Deterrent: Pre-steeped bags are a great way to rid your garden of slugs, bugs, and rodents: just sprinkle the wet or dry leaves directly onto the soil. According to Tip Hero, the caffeine also deters pests from eating, nibbling, or peeing on your garden turf.
Anti-fungal: Watering your plants with a used tea bag-infused spritzer can also help prevent fungicide. Chamomile tea is particularly efficient just steep a couple of tea bags for 16-24 hours, and then spray.
Grass Booster: Tea bags can also help your grass stay green and pristine. Just soak the grass seed in brewed tea before seeding your lawn, or plant your lawn with used tea bags. The nutrient-rich brew will eventually seep into the surrounding soil.
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Restore Shine To Your Hair
You can use tea to make your hair shiny and smooth! Use a couple of used tea bags to brew a strong tea, then allow the tea to cool completely. Before a shower, pour the tea into your hair until its completely saturated. Allow the tea to sit for about 10 minutes, then hop in the shower. Shampoo and condition your hair as normal. Your hair will thank you the tea treatment!
How To Brew The Best Cup Of Tea With An Infuser
Ahhh, much better.
Using a tea infuser is a little different than a tea bag. “Because loose leaf tea can be stronger than bags, remember to remove your infuser after a few minutes to keep it from becoming too strong and bitter,” Meghan recommends, adding that different kinds of tea require different preparations so you should always check the tea’s brewing instructions first. “For example, youll want to steep black tea longer than green tea, and in hotter water.”
As for the infusers themselves, take care of them properly so that they last longer and brew better. “Keep them clean to keep the holes clear of stuck leaves, and make sure theyre completely dry before storing them away,” Meghan says.
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What Plants Like Tea Bags
All plants can benefits from the use of tea bags because they act as a natural pest deterrent. Most garden pests dislike the scent of tea and will stay away from areas that have tea bags or leaves nearby.
Sprinkling tea leaves around plants will also keep cats away from them. Place tea leaves on top of the soil in containers that cats like to lounge on or use as a litter box. A generous sprinkling around the perimeter of outdoor flower and garden beds will also help to deter cats from entering.
There is a lot of nitrogen in used tea bags and adding them to the soil will help all plants produce more above-ground growth. The tea bags will also slightly increase the acidity in the soil and provide benefits for acid-loving plants like tomatoes.
In addition to tomatoes, these vegetables, fruits, and flowers benefit from a boost of nitrogen and increased soil acidity:
Beans, cucumbers, squash, onions, sweet corn, turnips, broccoli, potatoes, sweet potatoes, peppers, radishes, eggplant, basil, blueberries, cranberries, elderberries, strawberries, azaleas, hydrangeas, camellias, daffodils, and dogwoods.
The Verdict: Are Tea Grounds Good For Plants
So, think again before you throw out those tea grounds. Your plants can have a sip, too.
Tea grounds work nicely with almost all indoor and outdoor plants. But, always remember to monitor the PH levels of your soil and the quality of your tea.
Overall, tea may be a valuable and easy method for nourishing indoor plants!
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Black Tea Or Green Tea Which Is Best For Plants
From a human health perspective both black tea and green tea are equally beneficial, although green tea has higher antioxidant properties, while black tea contains theaflavins unique to it.
In terms of plant health, however, black tea has a higher caffeine content than green tea, and therefore, its less likely to be as beneficial to your plants as green tea, which has a lower caffeine content.
What about milk and sugar?
While I dont take my tea with milk or sugar, many people do, especially black tea consumers. Both milk and sugar can help the proliferation of microorganisms in the soil, not all beneficial to your plants.
So, you may want to remove your tea bag or strain your tea before adding any milk or sugar to it.