If your house plants have stunted growth and poor leaf quality, spray their potting mediums with tea water to make the medium slightly acidic. Read here to learn more.
According to statistics, spending time caring for your plants can instantly lower your anxiety, improve your mood, help with depression, and enhance your productivity during the day.
However, as calming and re-energizing as it is to look after your house plants, the task can feel stressful and cause you to worry if you fail to keep your precious plants alive.
This usually happens when you lack proper knowledge or you fail to address the plant’s special needs.
Hence, if your plants seem to be growing poorly and they lack pigmentation, spray their potting soils with tea water, as this can fully rejuvenate most of the plant species most of the time.
How to use tea Water for plants: 7 Benefits? Make a cup of tea with tea bags or loose tea leaves. Use green or black tea that is natural and organic.
- Allow the tea to cool to room temperature.
- Pour the tea into a watering can or spray bottle once it has cooled.
- Water your plants as usual, but use tea water instead of regular water. You can even spray the tea water directly onto the leaves of your plants.
- Repeat this method every few weeks to give your plants a nutritional boost.
Keep reading to learn what makes tea water an excellent potion for certain plants and which plants like tea water.
What is Tea Water?
Tea water is the mixture you create when you cook tea leaves in boiling water. It is generally light brown to black in color and releases a strong aroma after being cooked.
The key quality that makes tea water the ultimate plant potion is its slightly acidic nature. Most teas, including black tea, generally have a low pH of 5 to 6.5.
Tea Water Composition and Nutrients
When it comes to tea plant development and growth, the composition of tea water and the minerals it contains are crucial.
Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, chlorine, and fluoride are only some of the elements and chemicals found in tea water.
All these minerals are crucial to the well-being of tea bushes. Because of its role in photosynthesis, the process by which plants manufacture their food, nitrogen is crucial to plant growth and development.
- Phosphorous is crucial because it aids in the development of sturdy plant tissues like roots and stems. Plants rely on potassium for metabolic processes because it controls their water intake.
- Magnesium aids in regulating chemical processes in plants, whereas calcium is essential for generating new cells.
- Sulfur improves soil fertility and enhances plant metabolism. Keeping leaves green, chlorine is essential for photosynthesis. Fluoride increases pest and disease resistance in plants.
What Does Tea Water Do? Benefits
When acidic water is added to a plant’s potting soil, it mixes in with the rest of the accumulated moisture and makes the overall potting medium slightly acidic in nature.
This is the golden step to practice after feeding or fertilizing your plants.
When you add fertilizer to your plant’s potting mix, you introduce healthy micronutrients and organic compounds, such as calcium, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, magnesium, copper, etc., to the soil.
All these compounds play a huge role in encouraging growth, improving fruit quality, and enhancing the overall appearance and appeal of the plant.
Unfortunately, these micronutrients and organic compounds are usually too large to pass through the root’s cell walls on their own.
Unless the plant absorbs these compounds from the soil, it cannot enjoy any of the benefits they are added to offer.
- However, if you add tea water to your plant’s potting mix, the acidic nature of the solution will break down the large organic compounds and nutrients into smaller sizes.
- As a result, the plant roots will easily absorb these nutrients along with water molecules and thus benefit from improved health and immunity.
- Moreover, doing so will help you bear a higher quality fruit that will be healthy, plump, nutritious, and tasty.
How to Know When Your Plants Need Some Extra Care?
If you have had any experience caring for plants, you probably already know how plants communicate their distress to you.
While a plant will not wail like a dog for food, it will show clear signs of poor care, neglect, deprivation, distress, and sickness to let you know they need help.
When such signs become evident, regardless of age or immunity, the plant is now at its weakest.
If you do everything in your power to address these concerns and provide the plant with some extra care, your plant will survive the period of weakness and may grow to be much stronger.
However, if you continue to practice the same care routine that got your plant to this point, your plant is bound to suffer and die prematurely.
Hence, if you care to keep your plants alive, healthy, and beautiful, look out for the following signs to know when it is time to give your plants some extra love:
- Stunted or slow growth despite seasonal fertilization
- Lack of new leaves or flowers
- Excess leaf loss
- Leaves turning yellow, brown, black, or pale
- Leaves developing dark spots
- Leaf tips turning dry and crusty
- Stem is no longer able to support the weight of the plant
- The plant bears low-quality or rotten fruit
- Inability to fight plant diseases
What Makes Tea Water the Magic Ingredient for Certain Plant Species?
At times, people consciously try to water their plants on time and fertilize them seasonally, only to get disappointed by little or no results.
This is a very big problem in the global plant community and is one of the reasons plant enthusiasts eventually stop bringing home any new plants.
However, while people understand that plants generally need air, water, light, and nutrients, they are unaware of the other essential ingredients that will aid the plant’s health and growth.
This is where tea water comes in.
Although the ingredient seems too simple to fix your plant problems, it can surprisingly be the ultimate addition to your plant care routine that will bring all the difference.
However, what is tea water, and what does it do?
Which Plants Thrive with Tea Water?
In general, most of the flowering plants, green plants, trees, fruits, and vegetables out there thrive in acidic soils.
Hence, unless you have certain plants or vegetables growing at home, you can add tea water to the entire garden to improve its health and beauty.
Tea water is beneficial for plants in numerous ways. One of its many benefits is the prevention of wasteful fertilizer and mineral waste.
Tea leaves contain tannins, which may boost the population of beneficial bacteria and strengthen the soil structure.
Roses, hydrangeas, and azaleas, among others, do very well when watered with tea. Tea water may help these plants maintain their stunning blooms for as long as possible.
Watering your plants with tea is a terrific approach to keep them looking their best since it generally encourages healthy development.
1. Roses
Roses are like tea water because it contains tannic acid, which helps to keep the soil acidic. This is important for roses because they need acidic soil to thrive.
Tea water also contains nutrients that roses need, such as nitrogen and potassium.
2. Azaleas
Azaleas are one of the many plants that love tea water. Tea is rich in nutrients essential for healthy plant growth.
Azaleas are known for their beautiful flowers, so adding tea to their water can help promote more blooms. Be sure to use cooled, brewed tea when watering your azaleas, as hot water can damage their roots.
3. Blueberries
Tea contains several nutrients that aid in plant development. Some gardeners use tea as a plant food, while others use it to prevent plant disease.
In addition, tea may be sprayed into plant leaves to have its beneficial effects work more quickly. There is another way in which tea may be used. It’s important to remember that feeding plants with too much tea might harm them.
Add a tiny amount, then increase it over time. It is recommended to dilute the tea with water before applying it to the soil or spraying it on the leaves.
Horticulturists have a theory that blueberries thrive better when watered with tea. Start by blending one part of tea with two parts of water in a mixing dish to experiment with tea on your blueberries.
The diluted solution should protect the plant’s leaves from any potential damage. Evenly coat the plant with the mixture, giving special care to the stems and leaves.
4. Lettuce
Lettuce is one of many plants that love tea water. Tea water is rich in nutrients, including nitrogen, which helps promote growth giving you a healthy leafy bunch!
5. Spinach
Spinach is a leafy green vegetable that is rich in nutrients. It can be eaten fresh, frozen, or canned. When buying spinach, look for leaves that are dark green in color and free from blemishes.
Avoid yellow or wilted leaves—store spinach in a plastic bag or container in the refrigerator. Use within two days for best quality.
To prepare the spinach, wash the leaves thoroughly under cold water. Remove any stems or bruised leaves. Spinach is a versatile ingredient in salads, soups, pasta dishes, and more.
6. Succulents
Although some plants are sensitive to the tannins in tea, others, like succulents, seem to love it. Succulents may be given a helping hand by watering them with tea water. Tea contains tannins that may reduce the soil’s pH.
Succulents, which thrive in slightly acidic environments, may benefit from this. Meanwhile, tea tannins have been shown to inhibit the development of pests and fungi.
7. Cacti
Cactus is one of the most common plant species that thrive in tea water. Cacti can withstand dry conditions due to their unique capacity to retain water in their leaves. Cacti grown in tea water need a potting mix with good drainage.
Cacti like dry conditions and can only tolerate damp soils briefly. Your cactus will thrive with plenty of bright light. Keep an eye on the moisture level of your potting mix to prevent root rot in your cacti.
8. Ferns
Tea leaves are great for maintaining the lush green color of acid-loving ferns throughout the growing season. Remember that ferns are the one exception to the rule that ferns may be fed tea leaves.
9. Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas are an acid-loving marsh plant that produces enormous clusters of flowers in a rainbow of hues, from pink to vivid blue. To enhance the blue hue of hydrangeas, acidic fertilizer is often utilized.
10. Spider Plants
Even though spider plants may survive without regular fertilization, their development can be sped up by using tea water.
11. African Violets
African violets are a common indoor blooming houseplant but need special care. The plant’s development and flowering may be stimulated by providing the right amount of light and an acidic fertilizer at regular intervals.
few more plant species that thrive with tea water are as follows:
- Magnolia
- Dogwood
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
- Money plant
- Snake plant
- Most succulents
- Cactuses
- Willow tree
- Oak tree
- Pine tree
- Daffodils
- Camellias
- Broccoli
- Cucumber
- Sweet corn
- Onions
- Turnips
Which Types of Teas Are Good for Plants?
Although you can add regular black tea to your plants’ potting soil, there are better options that offer your plants the exact acidity they are looking for. Some of these tea types are:
How to use tea Water for plants for the Best Results?
| Steps to Follow | Procedural Details |
| Gather the things you need | Add a cup of distilled water to a pan and bring it to a boil. Add the tea leaves and cook until the color of the water changes the tea water aside and let it cool down |
| Prepare the plant tea | Add your tea water to a spray bottle. Gradually spray the solution onto the plant’s potting soil and the garden shovel to mix in the tea water. Wait and repeat this procedure at least two to three times every week |
| Add tea water to the selected plants | Make sure the pot has abundant drainage holes, and none of them are clogged provide the plant with the needed sunlight and humidity |
| Additional tips for best results | Make sure the pot has abundant drainage holes, and none of them are clogged provide the plant the needed sunlight and humidity |
| Look for signs that show your plants are reacting well to the tea water | Signs of success will include: Return of vibrant plant pigment New leaf, flower, and fruit growth Reduced leaf loss Healthier looking leaves A stronger and straighter stem No rotten fruits |
| Store the extra tea water | Finally, store the excess tea water in the fridge and use it within two to three days. |
Why is Too Much Tea Water a Problem?
As explained above, treating your dying plant or tree with tea water will help return pigment, health, immunity, and beauty to your green companion.
However, as magical as tea water can be, an excess can be bad for a plant. While plants enjoy acidic environments, too much acidity will reduce the availability of nutrients, will make the soil toxic, and will prevent the plant from fulfilling its water needs.
As a result, the plant will once again die from dehydration and toxicity.
Tips and Precautions for Using Tea Water
When using tea water for your plants, there are a few things to keep in mind. Here are some tips and precautions to help you out:
- Before you water your plants with tea water, be sure it has cooled fully. Roots and foliage might be scorched by too hot water.
- Remember to filter the water through a strainer if you use loose tea leaves to water your plants.
- Avoid saturating fragile plants with too much tea water. When you overwater, you risk issues like root rot.
- If your plants are already getting enough nutrients from other sources, tea water is an excellent method to supplement their diet.
- Ensure they eat a varied, healthy diet that relies not only on one food source.
Which Plants Generally Suffer after Tea Water?
As mentioned above, most plants, trees, fruits, and vegetables like tea water. It helps them absorb more nutrients from the soil, which thus enhances health, immunity, and growth.
However, there are plant species that prefer alkaline environments. Some of these plants include:
- Blackthorn
- Strawberry tree
- Spindle
- Field maple tree
- Asparagus
- Cabbage
- Kale
- Peas
- Thyme
- Rosemary
Final Thoughts –Prepare Your Plant Tea Now!
If your house plants seem to suffer from stunted growth and poor leaf quality, spray their potting mediums with tea water to make the overall medium slightly acidic.
This will help make the micronutrients in the soil more available to the plant, which will thus help improve the plant’s immunity, health, and appearance.
My name is Olivia, and I live in the United States and love having plants in my garden. Lots of plants are there on my balcony, indoor and outdoor garden also. Here I am trying to share useful gardening tips, how to grow and care for various plants, etc.
