As a love apple nurseryman , you ’re always looking for ways to boost your plants ’ wellness and yields . And if you ’re an avid Camellia sinensis drinker , you may have find out that used afternoon tea bag can profit tomato plants . But is this fact or fiction ? countenance ’s explore the potential pro and cons of using Camellia sinensis bags on tomatoes .
The Pros: How Tea Bags Can Help Tomato Plants
There are a few key ways that tea traveling bag can furnish advantage for Lycopersicon esculentum plants :
territory acidification – The tannin in Camellia sinensis can help lower soil pH , which tomatoes prefer slightly acidic in the 5.5 - 6.5 range . Many ground are too alkaline .
Nutrient release – As tea handbag separate down , they slowly release nutrients like nitrogen , phosphorus , and potassium that are vital for good for you tomato plant growth .
wet retention – tea leaf bags can serve keep soil moist , especially during dry periods . Wet tea leaves pretend as a mulch .
Pest baulk – The smell of tea may help repulse some insects and animals like mice or quat from nibbling on plants .
Anti - fungous attribute – compound in Camellia sinensis may suppress soil kingdom Fungi that stimulate diseases like damping off .
When used correctly , tea bags seem to bid some real welfare for Lycopersicon esculentum plant in term of dirt properties , nutrient , wet , and pest protection .
Potential Drawbacks and Risks of Tea Bags
However , there are also some potential downsides to be cognisant of when using tea bags on tomato plant life :
Over - acidulousness – Too many tea leaf old bag can make the grease overly acid , which Lycopersicon esculentum roots do n’t like . practice minimally .
nutritious imbalance – superfluous tea bags and nutrient may further more leaf development rather than fruit production .
Pest attraction – While deterring some pests , tea bags can entice others like ants to the garden .
Waterlogging – Too many wet afternoon tea bags may keep soil soggy , which tomato plant root detest .
Chemical rest – Non - organic tea leaf bag may contain pesticide or additive that you do n’t require in your vegetable garden .
The key is moderation . Tea bags should be an occasional supplemental fertilizer , not the only nutrient source for tomatoes . And be certain to use only organic tea bag to avoid any chemical .
How to Use Tea Bags on Tomato Plants
There are a few easy methods for applying used tea bags in the tomato garden :
Bury 1 - 2 bag conterminous to each transplant ’s stem at planting sentence .
Place 1 grip atop the grease surface near established plant monthly as a fertilizer .
Brew a modest tea leaf solution to use for watering tomatoes occasionally .
Mix dry tea leaves into potting soil blends for seed starting .
Scatter dried tea exit around plant as a mulch before tearing .
Always apply tea bag in moderateness to forefend over - fertilizing . And dumbfound to organic teatime bags from reputable brands to prevent any contaminant .
Top Tea Bag Tips for Tomato Success
Choose organic black-market or light-green afternoon tea base – quash “ flavor ” type .
confine tea leaf bag to 1 or 2 per plant per calendar month .
Bury bags just under the land surface when applying .
Monitor stain pH – do n’t allow over - sour .
Use dried tea leaf leave sparingly in potting mix .
Scatter exit as mulch before watering for slow nutrient release .
take away any moldy looking udder instantly .
Never employ tea bags as your exclusive fertilizer source .
accompaniment with balanced organic fertilizers as needed .
With prudent use , tea bags can be a helpful accessory to boost tomato plant health , not a cure - all replacement for right care and eating . A few travelling bag monthly is plenty . compensate close attention to your plants and stain , and enjoy the benefit of tea metre in your Lycopersicon esculentum patch !
Q: I am planning to make a small bed and plant two lilies and a banana plant there. All are fairly small. Could I layer the top layer of soil with wood chips or something to give it life? Also, what type of flowers would go well with lilies and the banana plant?
put Sea Soil or compost on top of the layer would do a great occupation of present your ground sprightliness . If you do nt have your own compost , garden center of attention sell handbag of commercial compost . A dish of one or the other would be sufficient .
On top of whatever nourishment you choose , bark mulch suppresses weed very well . It ’s easy to pull weed out of bark mulch when the seeds finally blow in on the wind and they set forth to develop .
My top selection for planting under your banana tree Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree would be sempervivums . Their leaf are russet scab in various convention and shades : reddish , blue - grey , fleeceable with red tips , etc .
These plants make a carpet so obtuse weeds seldom germinate .
In summer some of the older rosettes create thick halt with flowers . After flowering , the old russet scab die , but newfangled rosettes speedily take in . Sempervivums are extremely drought - resistive .
cranesbill are another possibility . My top alternative would be the deep purpleblue flowered Rosanne . This remain blooming for a very farseeing stop . Its dwarf and spread out into a encompassing , down mound .
A pretty , mat - forming yearbook , which is also a great bee plant , is Sweet Alyssum .
This is available in mauve or white forms . They re covered with flowers all summertime and are very sweet smell . They go in winter , but re - seed themselves copiously in spring . You might like the repeated Oriental poppy if you like plants that grow taller . In late May , they have huge , beautiful flowers that are red , orange , white , or pink . These seed themselves around if you entrust the seed capsules on the plants .
If you favor spring blossom , the perennial Hellebore orientalis flower give pleasure for many months . Buds pop up in late January , followed by loving cup - shaped , long - lasting efflorescence , then interesting spiky seedheads . All class , hellebore leaves stay greenish . But in belated winter , they demand to be cut back to make room for newfangled growth and flowers the following yr .
Anne Marrison is happy to answer garden doubt . direct them to her via [ e-mail protected ] .
Q: I was wondering what tea bags, coffee grounds and eggshells do for plants and could you apply them to any type of plant or only specific plants?
All three are in the main in force for the garden . The good element in them are slow - release and present in relatively modest quantities . So you do nt have to keep any of them away from any specific plant life .
Allowing them to split down in the compost is one proficient way of using them . Another way is to mix them into the land around unlike plants without put too much of one type in one position .
The tea leaf in tea suitcase contain nitrogen . So do coffee grounds . The coffee grounds also have trace amounts of phosphoric and potassium .
Eggshells provide calcium to the plants they are placed near . Ca is especially valuable for tomatoes .
Eggshells are only sorry because most mass just oppress them ( potato mashers work great for this ) . But crush eggshells take a foresighted time to break down in the ground .
Ground - up shell release calcium much faster . An old blender might do this occupation .
Are tea bags good for tomato plants?
FAQ
What plants do good from tea bags ?
Is tea a serious fertilizer for tomatoes ?
Are coffee and tea primer coat sound for tomato plant ?
