Can Tea Grounds Help a Plant Grow?

How it Works

• Tea leaves contain many of the nutrients used in abundance by acid-loving plants. When the leaves are scattered around the base of a plant, these nutrients, along with the tea's naturally occurring tannic acids, are released into the soil, temporarily lowering the soil's pH. The reduction in pH improves the performance of the plant's roots, increasing nutrient uptake and boosting the growth of shoots, stems and leaves.

Application

• To use tea as a fertilizer simply scatter old or new leaves around the plant then cover the grounds with a thin layer of mulch. Any time the plants get watered, the tea will "brew" and discharge nutrients into the soil, stimulating plant growth. Alternatively, regular brewed tea can be used to water plants every few weeks throughout the growing season.

Alternative Garden Applications

• Tea bags can also be used to improve the performance of houseplants or container gardens; placing two to four dry tea bags on the bottom of the container before potting helps the growing media retain moisture and provides the roots with an ongoing source of nutrients. Also, used tea bags or old leaves can be added to the compost pile to accelerate the rate of decomposition -- the tannins in the tea draw acid-loving bacteria like a magnet.

Substitute for Tea

• Using tea leaves as a low-impact fertilizer can be an ideal way to reduce, reuse and recycle; however, those who do not drink tea are glad to know that coffee grounds can be used in a similar manner and bring about comparable results.