compost tea in a bottle

[Keegan]

I've seen compost tea in bottles that is ready to go and I know some guys on here sell it. He good is it really? Everything I've read on compost tea is that you need to brew it and use it within hours. So who is right? :confused:

[mrkosar]

the ICT Organics that Bill offers claims to have dormant microbes that awaken and become active. i can't remember how or when they activate, but i'm sure Bill will chime in and let you know the details of his product.

i can't wait to try out some this year. also, going to brew up my own CT thise year for the first time also.

[Dean_W]

I bought some compost tea in a bottle. I was under the impresion that ACCT would explode if placed w/in a bottle.

Dean

[Barefoot James]

I used it on over 200,000 ft of turf on 25 yards and it works! I did 65 power seeding jobs last fall and sprayed 25 of them with ICT (some side by side - with and with out) Night and day. The yards with ICT grew in much thicker before the winter dormate period and they are greening up quicker right now! ICT has a ton of stuff in it besides the basics - like Myco!

[DUSTYCEDAR]

i got some of ict product and will be spraying it this season cant wait

[macaw]

I think I will give my customers a choice between ICT Organics and the chemicals I think ICT will be a lot cheaper. what and how do you charge.

[DUSTYCEDAR]

here is the link to ict http://www.ictorganics.com/

[NattyLawn]

I've seen compost tea in bottles that is ready to go and I know some guys on here sell it. He good is it really? Everything I've read on compost tea is that you need to brew it and use it within hours. So who is right? :confused:

You can bottle a compost tea extract, not compost tea. It's a process where the microbes are ripped off the compost and not given any food or are "put to sleep". This product is good for lawns, but not good for tree/shrub applications because you want the active microbes to be absorbed by the leaves.

[Kiril]

This product is good for lawns, but not good for tree/shrub applications because you want the active microbes to be absorbed by the leaves.

I think you need to clarify this statement.

[NattyLawn]

I think you need to clarify this statement.

Taken from the Compost Tea Brewing Manual, 5th edition, by Dr. Elaine Ingham. $40 bucks for you cheapskates.

"Thus, teas that have been "put to sleep" are better for soil applications, because the organisms have time to wake up before they start to function, whereas on leaves, the organisms must be immediately active to protect the leaf surface."

I should have said protected, not absorbed. That might be a question for Bill. How long after adding the "Accelerator" part of his tea do the microbes wake up?

[Tim Wilson]

There is discussion elsewhere on this forum regarding this product and the specific microbes contained. I presume the archives can be searched?

Tim

[Keegan]

How many applications of ICT should be applied every season? Is this product similar to NCO's Bio Magic? I have used that with EXCELLANT results.

[tadhussey]

I think the issue is that we don't have different words for instant compost vs actively aerated compost tea. In reality they are very different products.

With instant compost tea, the manufacturer is extracting and replicating a very specific group of organisms and putting them in a dormant state until ready for application.

With actively aerated compost tea, you (the end user) are taking compost and putting it into water (with aeration) and adding food/nutrients for the biology in the compost. When made properly, your end product will contain a wide variety of beneficial bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. The organisms are active at the time of application, however, you don't the specific species you're applying. It's a shotgun approach.

With instant compost tea you'll have much less diversity, but specific organisms that the manufacturer has added for their beneficial attributes.

With both products, you'll need to be knowledgeable about the process, as their are bad instant compost teas on the market, and also bad brewers.

With instant compost tea, take a look at what species they are adding and in what amounts. With AACT, make sure that the brewer you use can consistently make good tea (meaning it's easy to keep clean and provides sufficient aeration in relation to your recipe). You'll also need to monitor your compost and foods.

I think both of the types of compost teas occupy different niches within organics. Instant compost teas are for people who don't have the time, expertise, or materials to make AACT. Or, if you're dealing with a specific disease or problem that a specific species of bacteria or fungi has been known to combat.

[Keegan]

Do these instant tea products need to applied as a drench or would a foliar spray on turf be ok?

[ICT Bill]

Do these instant tea products need to applied as a drench or would a foliar spray on turf be ok?

Keegan
This is an arborists term but we suggest "spray til drip" which is between 1.5 and 3 gallons per 1000 square feet. the typical treatment is 80 to 130 gallons per acre at 5 to 10 gallons of AACT

Tad is right, AACT is what we promote if it is feasible for your program, often it is not an option for applicators in a rush

[Tim Wilson]

With Bill's permission, I hope, I'll add here, that if you are using a product like ICT where the microbes are in a dormant state, do not expect those organisms to populate leaf/plant surfaces. Because they are dormant there is a 95% chance of NOT surviving on a leaf surface but a great likelihood of survival and vigorous growth in the soil.

This is one of the differences between dormant products and Compost Tea(CT). Because the microbes in CT are alive and active there is a greater likelihood of them populating leaf surfaces.

As always I don't mind being corrected should I be mistaken.

Tim

[ICT Bill]

Tim,
You are absolutely right

We always say that for disease suppression AACT is the way to go, you want those good little soldiers at attention and ready to go

[Keegan]

Thanks for the great information guys. One more question. Can I use a hose end sprayer with your product Bill? Mix all three bottles together in the cup and turn the hose on and spray away?

[ICT Bill]

That is not its intended use as the chlorine has an effect on the living microbes, but there are so many gazillion dormant that are behind it, it should not effect it much, but that is SWAG (scientific wild a$$ guess)

The testing we have done with Paul at SFI when testing before and after adding to chlorinated water is: it knocks the active microbes back by half and does nothing statistically to the dormant biology

There are 72 billion bacteria and 12 billion fungi per milliliter, there are 900 and some milliliters in our product package, that's a bunch of microbes

[treegal1]

84 billion x 9000:dizzy:wow thats a lot. can they be trained?

how about a hose end venturi for pumping out water beds?
hook a fan tip on the hose and a bucket full of tea it should work ok.

[ICT Bill]

We have them on a constant road show, its very hard to keep the groupies at bay.

"Come look through our electron microscope and watch them juggle"

I know its off topic but did you hear one of the comedians the other night,

"In trying to get more attention for their campaign, the McCain campaign decided to rename the effort and call it the........... antiques road show"

well I thought it was funny

[treegal1]

politicians should be in the fert biz with all the BS they sling, or we can make, maybe a protein based fert called "Raw deal" with the buggers.

really.. the whole thing is very scary