Worm Tea - part 1

In this post we are going to cover making a simple worm tea.  This is safe for both the plants and fish in the aquaponics system.  This will also add extra nutrients to the system that fish and water alone cannot supply.


Here are the items needed:

• Small can.  Coffee or something that size with a lid.
• Unsulphered molasses
• Worm castings
• Air pump with hose and stone.
• Water from the aquaponics system

To make the worm tea add about 1-2 tablespoons of molasses to the coffee can.  Follow that with about 64 oz of the aquarium water.  (I use the aquarium water cause it has already been dechlorinated.)  Stir the mixture to dissolve the molasses.  Add about 1/4 cup of worm castings to the water.  Then throw in the airstone and plug in the pump.  If you have it you can also add some fish emulsion, seaweed extract or lemon juice.  Just a tablespoon or two will do.


I cut a notch in the lid for the airhose and put the lid on.  This keeps all the bubbles inside the can.  Let this go for 24 hours or a little longer.  Strain though a tea strainer into a spray bottle or other container.  Put the worm castings in your compost pile or in somewhere in the garden.  Use right away and keep for about 3 days in the fridge.

This can be used a few different ways.  In a dirt garden it can be used as a soil drench, in other words pour in the ground.  You can use it as a foliar spray to feed the plant directly.  Dilute it 1 part tea to 9 parts water and use it to get rid of and prevent spider mites, aphids and other pests.  You can also just pour it right into the fish tank.  It won't harm your fish.


In the center of the picture on the leaf those little dots are spider mites.  They look like little red specs but if you watch them closely they move.  You can also see tiny webs.  I plan on using the tea to get rid of these.