Quick Home-made Compost Tea

A Recipe for Leachate tea

Also called “muddy slurry tea”

Revised July 14, 2025

This is a wonderful nourishing tea when you do not have time, access, or equipment to do a “bubble brew” of actively aerated compost tea for 24 hours.

I call it the Quick & Crude Compost Tea!

Make this with finished and mature compost from a pile or a worm bin.

You’ll need a clean 5-gallon bucket, de-chlorinated water, finished compost, granulated molasses, and Maxicrop soluble seaweed powder.

—Place 4 level cups of compost in the bucket. (One cup per gallon of water) Or into a cloth or mesh as a tea bag).

—Add about 4 gallons of de-chlorinated water.

—Add 1/2 level cup of granulated molasses (or substitute with 3/4 cup brown sugar) and 4 level teaspoons of Maxicrop soluble seaweed powder. Pre-mix the Maxicrop in a little before adding to bucket.

—Stir this well.

You’ve just created a liquid that is rich in microbes, dissolved minerals, and microbe foods.

Strain and apply immediately. Or you can stir occasionally while you let it sit and steep for up to 3 hours (not longer!) and then apply.

To apply, scoop and pour, or use a watering can. This tea is difficult to strain clear enough for a spray nozzle. Use the left-over solids as a mulch.

Make a batch every 2 weeks & apply—you’ll feed your plants and boost their health, vigor, & growth.

Or better yet, combine with the Fish the Flats, Fish the Crops recipe for more plant nourishment.