Hello garden friends. Recently I was asked to give a lecture on plant tea.
No, this is not a tea for people made from plants, but a tea for plants made from ingredients found in home composts. Yes, plants can drink tea as well as humans.
The lecture and demonstration was held in Monterey. It was nice to see Los Banos residents Helen Huckobey, Shirley Daguerre and Rusty and Sharon Connell there.
As I explained in my talk, there are many types of plant teas; it all depends, what you are trying to accomplish.
The particular plant tea I talked about and demonstrated is made from banana peels, eggshells and Epsom salts.
The banana peels and eggshells have the same chemistry elements and nutrients for root growth and flowering. Along with Epsom salts, they contain potassium, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium.
Potassium is essential for flower production. Calcium and phosphorus help hair roots become strong and healthy. Magnesium promotes healthy stem cells and cane growth.
Banana tea with its eggshells and Epsom salts is a perfect formulation for all flowering herbaceous perennials and annuals, along with woody flowering plants, like roses.
Here is the recipe for banana tea:
1. Take 2-3 banana skins and cut them into segments.
2. Use 1 raw egg broken or 2-3 crushed eggshells and 1 tablespoon of Epsom salts.
3. Put ingredients into a one-gallon container. The container needs to withstand boiling water.
4. Boil enough water and drain into container.
5. Allow water and ingredients in container to brew overnight.
6 Pour the concentrated brew around designated plants.
7. Repeat this procedure every two weeks.
Here’s to healthy plants!
If you have a question for the Garden Guru, email it to mark_koehler@yahoo.com.
