Leachate from worm composting bin-

[Growzay]

>> OFF TOPIC Hey Now! I have a worm composting bin-I added 25 mil seaweed extract to 1 gal leachate & (about 10 mil) - aquarium benificial bacteria supplement along with 1 gal fishwater from my aquaponic tank -  CAN I USE IT FOR foliar feeding if i aireate it & dilute it? Right now it is (1:1 ratio leachate/fishwater)

[Christian James]

I would never use leachate for a foliar spray, brew a good clean compost tea from just the castings.  Leachate picks up all the bad stuff like oils flowing through the composting bin and is mostly anaerobic.  Just dump it.

[Growzay]

Thanks - I have read that before but also to the contrary- I will trust your advice- thanks again, much appreciated!

Christian James said:

I would never use leachate for a foliar spray, brew a good clean compost tea from just the castings.  Leachate picks up all the bad stuff like oils flowing through the composting bin and is mostly anaerobic.  Just dump it.

[TCLynx]

If you have some really hardy greedy dirt plants (like bananas) the leachate might be find for dumping around them.  Otherwise the brewed tea from finished castings is probably better.

[Homefire]

Hi Growzay,

This distinction between worm tea and leachate is questionable.  It depends on what happened to it since it left the worm.  If a worm lives in the grow medium and relieves himself which part is "leachate" and which "worm tea"?  So it depends on whether it was collected and sat around anaerobicly in containers. 

About seaweed exstract; i remember Sylvia's post that Maxi Crop with iron could be dicey in AP cuz of the iron. 

Homefire

 

[TCLynx]

If you have iron deficiency, Maxicrop with Iron is ok.