I often drink green tea, and sometimes I do not finish the my last cup. I was thinking that maybe I could take the left over tea (Not the leaves) and feed it to my plants. Would feeding green tea to plants be any good for them, or would it be a risk?
Green Tea contains
The main green tea ingredients are caffeine (formerly called theine), tannin (flavonols), theophylline, theobromine, fat, wax, saponins, essential oils, polyphenols particularly catechins, carotene, vitamin C, vitamins A, B1, B12, and P, flouride, iron, magnesium, calcium, strontium, copper, nickel, and zinc.
It also has trace elements such as molybdenum and phosphorus, as well as 300 additional substances.
Would any of these ingredients be harmful to house plants?
Thanks in advance!
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7 responses so far ↓
1 Sha T // Apr, 2008
I am not sure about that, you should do a little research on the Internet first.
2 Black Hawk // Apr, 2008
I am not sure. I think it is. But caffeine is not good for them I think. I am not sure. But I really found this question intersting.
3 meanolmaw // Apr, 2008
regular tea is often used, so the green stuff shouldn't hurt either… tea bags also go in compost….
4 donna d // Apr, 2008
i wouldn't chance it.other than water and fertilizer i think that is all your plant realy requires if you would like to give them something to drink give them some miracle grow in a cup.that will help them tremendously.
5 Guardian of Earth // Apr, 2008
it should be fine, its just like giving them a weak organic fertilizer.
If you ever use milk in it, then it would be a good source of calcium too.
I would use it, but i would fertilize as well(when needed). Think of it as a tonic
6 grannygrunt28391 // Apr, 2008
I think the tea it's self is not the issue but rather is the plant an acid loving plant.
http://www.google.com/search?
You might want to read some of the URLS based on how to use tea for plants
hl=en&q=using+tea+is+for+acid+loving+plants&btnG=Google+Search
7 oohhbother // Apr, 2008
Tea is nothing but jasmine leaves, so soaked water from leaves will not harm your plants. meanolmaw is correct, use the used tea leaves for compost, or topdressing around acid loving plants. If you are using instant tea, though, maybe not.
The concept is sound, as long as you don't use sugar or cream. The old historic master gardeners made manure tea for plant food.
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