I heard from my grandma that mixing weeds in a bucket with rainwater creates some sort of weed tea or fertilizer for my plants. However, I'm a bit concerned because it smells really bad—like cat poop and rotten chicken! Is this normal for weed tea?
3 Answers
If you want to avoid the bad smell but still make that 'tea', consider using an aquarium bubbler. It introduces air into the mix, converting it to aerobic composting, and you can actually eliminate the smell completely if you get the balance right!
Yep, that smell is actually normal! It's all about the anaerobic bacteria breaking down the weeds, which is what makes the fertilizer potent but stinky. Some folks skip this method because of the odor, but it can definitely be a good way to deal with those pesky weeds you don’t want in your compost. Just weigh the pros and cons for yourself.
Exactly! The rotten smell comes from the decomposing organic matter, and while it’s effective, a lot of gardeners find it easier to grab a store-bought fertilizer instead. Most plants only need fertilizing every couple of weeks or so, and you can find options at grocery stores too—usually pretty budget-friendly!