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Should I dilute alfalfa tea?

last month

This year I decided to make alfalfa tea; I found this recipe on-line which I used, because here in Italy I find alfalfa HAY, not MEAL: https://www.bettervegetablegardening.com/alfalfa-hay-tea.html

By now, it's been brewing at least 1 week. Can I use it as it is, or should I dilute it with water? What would the proportion be, in the latter case? I'd be using it on roses, natch. Thanks in advance.

Featured Answer

Nollie in Spain Zone9

last month

Before I found a source of pellets I also made tea from alfalfa hay. I did dilute it but only because the recipe I used made it pretty concentrated and it wouldn’t have been enough to go around all my roses. I used the strained hay again for a second brew of weaker tea, then chucked the hay on the compost heap. So one bag of inexpensive rabbit food went a long way!

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Comments (6)

Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
last month
I think you can do it either way, Bart. It won't burn the plants. I might divide it out so you use it up.
bart bart thanked Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
susan9santabarbara
last month
I used to make alfalfa tea all of the time using pellets, and I always applied it "as is"... just scooped it out of the 33 gallon trash can I made it in. Never burned anything, and they loved it. Not so much my next-door-neighbor :-D
bart bart thanked susan9santabarbara
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Update: I've noticed a good jump of new rose growth and leafy green foliage since applying the tea yesterday. The smell has mostly dissipated. Whether the growth is the cause of the tea or the warm temperatures, or a bit of both is hard for me to measure. I have not noticed any burning (yet). Konrad, I think it is dependent on whether or not you dilute the mixture before you place it on the plants. I have read elsewhere on this forum that it in extreme cases where there is too much alfalfa meal sitting on top of the soil caused issues as it tends to cake-up and form a crust. Wayne, good call on the aphids liking the new growth. The aphids here are insane. I have to spray the roses daily with water to knock them off.
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bart bart
Original Author
last month
Thanks, all. How much tea per rose would you advise? Since it's been raining properly recently, thank Heaven, I'm trying to really focus on roseseek's (Kim Rupert's) "weakly, weekly" fertilizing routine (this is the thread) https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6428465/roseseek-questions-about-weakly-weekly-fert-routine#n=11 Up until now, I've used liquid chemical fert, but feel that some extra nitrogen wouldn't hurt. I'm definitely interested above all in getting these new roses to put on bulk as plants-not focusing AT ALL on blooming. I want to take advantage of the first decent weather we've had in years to get them to establish as much as possible before the dreaded summer arrives.

Also, should I use the chemical liquid fert AND the alfalfa tea, or just one at a time? Thanks so much in advance.
susan9santabarbara
last month
The alfalfa tea isn't really used as a "fertilizer"; it's used primarily as a source of triacontanol, an organic acid that acts as a growth stimulant for plants. Sure, the alfalfa tea will have some NPK nutrients, but not much. So yes, you should continue to fertilize with your regular fertilizer. Just remember that Kim's advice is to use a fraction of the recommended dose more regularly. If you're doing it weekly, do a quarter of the package monthly recommendation. There should be no problem using liquid fertilizer with alfalfa tea.
bart bart thanked susan9santabarbara
Nollie in Spain Zone9
last month
I don’t think there is a set amount of tea to give to each rose, Bart, or at least I’ve never found any magic formula. Just divide what you have up among your roses, diluting it if necessary to ensure they all get some. Alternatively, you could just use it on those roses you feel really need the extra help.

I agree with Susan it’s not a fertiliser as such and I use it as an early season boost alongside my regular fertilising regime.
bart bart thanked Nollie in Spain Zone9

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