For us Indians, there's nothing that a hot cup of tea can't do. There's always room for tea and more tea, be it in the wee hours of the morning or after a strenuous session of working out.
We Indians strongly believe in raising a toast with our cup of teas. It is always a good idea to begin a venture or deed by announcing it over a cup of hot and refreshing tea.
When we consume this mood-altering beverage, it leads to an enormous amount of tea powder or tea leaves getting wasted, with most of the waste hurled up in the dustbin.
It's a lesser known fact that the same tea leaves could be reused as a nutrient or a rich compost that could enhance the fertility and health of your flower beds and gardens.
What is the tea powder made of?
Tea Powder contains 4% nitrogen along with phosphorus and potassium powder that contains small quantities of tannic compounds called polyphenols along with vitamins A, B2, C, D, K, and P in addition to several minerals in trace amounts and also aromatic oils.
These components add micronutrients to the soil and acts as manure for your plants and will not harm the settings in any way. Tea leaves are rich in tannic acid and the other added nutrients that make the soil more fertile. It also helps increase oxygenation and facilitates the growth of a stronger root system
This fertilizer is especially effective for fruit-bearing plants, herbs and flowering plants. The added nutrients in the soil can give rise to a faster rate of production.
Here's a cycle that each one of us could follow to process and reutilize tea powder, which would otherwise wastefully lie in our bins.
Procedure
There are two kinds of procedures to make the compost. You can blend it with other wet waste or assemble the tea powder separately.
The only thing that you need to be cautious of is the method of storing the compost before using it.
You would need used tea powder, a mud pot, a lid to cover the pot, and a pointed tool to make holes in the outer pot.
When we drink tea, we often add other ingredients to it to enhance the taste of this very refreshing drink. All of these ingredients are left as a residue with the to-be-wasted tea powder. They include:
1) Holy Basil
2) Ginger
3) Cardamom
4) Sugar mixed with milk
To begin, we must rinse the tea powder before turning it to compost. This is done to prevent awful odor and ants from wringing into the combination.
Then press the cleaned tea powder, so as to drain it off water completely. Then place this dried mixture into a mud pot. Make sure the mud pot is permeable so that sufficient airflow can reach the compost. Added ventilation by way of drilling holes in the pot will ensure a healthier compost for your plants.
Continue using the wasted tea powder from your daily tea and follow the same process until this pot is full. There's no need to add water to this compost as the tea powder is already moist enough.
Make sure to cover the filled pot and leave it aside for a span of 30 to 45 days.
During this period, you will notice a white layer of fungus over it, which is a sign that the process has begun.
The entire process takes about 90 days before the powder completely dries up and cracks develop in it.
Place this dried mixture in the sun for about 2 days, post which you can utilize it as an effective fertilizer by mixing it well with your flower bed or garden soil.
Written By - Pratthiksha shree A
Edited By - Tushna Choksey
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