Teabags can be useful for the gardener in many ways. It's a great way to use the teabags after making tea, allowing you to keep them out of the garbage system.
Things they can be used for in gardening include:
- Composting
- Growing seeds in teabags (germination)
- Fertilising
- Water retention for plants
Composting with teabags
Keep a week's worth of teabags in a suitable container. At the week's end, pour boiling water into the container. Leave to cool down completely. The remaining liquid will be a container of brewed tea. Pour it into the compost to help the decomposing process. The tea will also attract acid-producing bacteria, which can be ideal when you want an acidic compost.
Throw the teabags into the compost to decompose too.
Fertilising with teabags
Place teabags around flowering plants that appreciate acidic soils, such as gardenias and azaleas. The best thing to do is to split open the teabags and sprinkle the tea leaves around the plants.
Add teabags to mulch for slow release fertiliser that also helps to retain water. Cover with mulch, then leave in place. As they decompose, they will release nutrients into the soil. Either new or used teabags can be used.
Additional ways of using as fertiliser to be added.
Water conservation with teabags
Use teabags at the base of a container to conserve water when watering. To do this, place a drainage layer at the base of the plant container first, such as pebbles or small rocks. Then place a layer of two or more of new teabags (depending on the size of the container) above the drainage. Fill with the soil and the plant. The teabags will help to retain water for a time while still present, and as they break down, the release nutrients into the soil.