Works for Me...

In this era of "reduce, reuse, recycle," I am sharing an idea that I actually got from my Mom. My very green-thumb Mom. Seriously, my mom can put a stick in dirt and have a ten foot tree a week later. We both have quite a few house plants, and, although we do use Miracle Grow in our gardens, we use something else for the potted plants.

For houseplants we use tea. Compost Tea. Free Compost Tea. I started a new batch today, and here is what it looks like right now:

I wish I had thought to take a picture of the jar I had just emptied. It was better. Very dark.

So, here's how you make it:

1. Find a clean glass or plastic jar (mine is a peanut jar). 
2. Put it on your counter and put a little water in it.
3. Whenever you use an egg, put the shell in the jar. (I use a spoon to crunch them down in there.)
4. Whenever you make coffee, put the used grounds in the jar.
5. After you've put a few egg shells & coffee grounds in, top it off with water, shake and let it sit.
6. Let it sit some more.
7. And let it sit some more. I shake mine once a day, but Mom says that's not necessary.
8. Don't let it sit in direct sunlight or over your oven (where it will get warm). You want all the nutrients to leach out of the egg shells & grounds, but you don't want to start an algae farm!
9. I let mine sit for about a week.
10. When you are ready to fertilize feed your plants, you just strain out the eggs & grounds (I do this by pouring the contents of the jar through a paper towel into a big cup or bottle).

 

Sometimes I add extra water, and sometimes I just focus the "tea" full-strength on my plants that need it most.

Does it work? Well, you be the judge:

Philodendron + a purple plant I pinched at a Dr. office...

Oregano. Yum...

Prayer plant + something else I got 7 years ago.

If you're new today, please take a moment to leave a comment... I love getting feedback!

For more awesome ideas from some awesome ladies, check out WFMW at it's new, temporary home, Rocks in My Dryer.