Gardening is a relaxing and rewarding activity that helps reduce our stress levels. Plus, who doesn't like living surrounded by beautiful plants? Precisely to keep them beautiful, we can reuse tea bags for plants.
Those elements that we normally throw away after having enjoyed our favorite drink, it turns out that they can be very useful for our friends from the plant world.
Benefits of tea for plants
Tea is an infusion that is prepared from ground dry leaves and buds of the tea bush. Although there are many varieties of tea, The truth is that they all come from the same bush, the Camellia Sinensis. What changes is the processing method.
As an infusion, tea has many beneficial properties for our body. And it turns out that it is also a powerful ally to take care of the beauty and health of our plants.
Nutritional contribution
Tea, especially if it is organic, contains a number of nutrients that are very beneficial for plant growth. Among them, phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium.
Therefore, we are talking about a completely natural fertilizer that will in no case harm our plants.
Stimulates growth
Precisely because tea is rich in organic compounds that are healthy for plants, helps stimulate its growth.
If we fertilize our plants with the tea leaves we have consumed, We are going to see that its foliage is more exuberant. But a phenomenon that we cannot see with the naked eye will also occur, and that is that its roots will become stronger.
Control of pests and diseases
Fungi pose a serious risk to all types of plants. But It turns out that tea leaves are a wonderful natural defense, because they have antimicrobial and antifungal properties.
If you have plants susceptible to the action of fungi, such as rose bushes, Do not hesitate to use the contents of the tea bags with them. You will be giving them an additional layer of natural defense.
The aroma of tea acts as a natural repellent for some insects, so it can be an excellent deterrent that helps you avoid pests.
Improvement of soil structure
With an operation as simple as putting the remains of the tea in the substrate of our plants, We are improving its quality. Because its capacity to retain water increases and it gains nutrients.
Reuse tea bags for plants: how to preserve them
What do we have to do to enjoy all these benefits that we have seen? Put the tea bag directly on the substrate? No, the process is a little more complex, but it won't take you too long.
- Dry the bags. Once you have enjoyed your cup of tea, dry the bag. You can hang it directly in the sun or leave it in a well-ventilated place. In a few hours it will be completely dry.
- Storage. Put the dried tea bags in an airtight container and store in a cool, dry place. It can be a closet, but also the refrigerator. With this, you preserve the freshness of the tea while preventing mold from appearing.
- Tea selection. Consuming different types of teas provides your body with different benefits, such as a greater amount of antioxidants. And plants can also benefit from it, so don't hesitate to keep bags of different types of teas.
How to reuse tea bags for plants?
Now that we have the bags dry and well preserved, it is time to put them to use. In this sense, there are several ways you can apply tea to your plants.
Make liquid fertilizer
Soak the tea bags in water overnight to create an all-natural liquid fertilizer. You can apply this on the substrate or dilute it in more water. to have enough for several plants.
For best results, use rainwater to make your liquid fertilizer with tea. If it is not possible, Put water in a container and let it sit for 24 hours. This causes the chlorine to dissipate. After that time, you can “infuse” the tea.
Mix the tea with the soil
If you want to add an extra and direct dose of nutrients to your plants, Open the tea bag and deposit its contents directly on the substrate.
You can do this several times during the spring and summer months, which is when Most of the plants are growing and in flowering season, which makes them need more nutrients.
It can also be a good remedy to try to save those plants that, for one reason or another, They do not look their best and appear to be ill.
make compost
If you make natural compost, Don't hesitate to add all the tea bags you consume to your compost pile. You just have to be careful to remove the rope and cardboard.
Tea accelerates the decomposition process of organic matter and, at the same time, enriches the compost, making it even more nutritious for your plants.
Place tea bags next to the plant
If you have varieties that are susceptible to the action of insects and prone to having pests, you can Avoid problems if you put several tea bags around the substrate. Its aroma is unpleasant for many insects, so they will look for other “victims”.
A cup of tea and multiple benefits
Tea has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer properties, and is rich in minerals and vitamins. Besides, It is low in calories and has a powerful flavor, so it is a good addition to our diet. Although it is not advisable to abuse it, because it also contains theine.
And, as you have just seen, it is also very beneficial for the plant world. Therefore, do not hesitate to reuse tea bags for plants. This way you reduce waste and include more sustainable practices in your gardening work. If you are going to enjoy a delicious cup of tea, think about all the benefits it has for you and your plants, and take the opportunity to give a new use to the bags that you have already consumed.