Urtica dioica

“Nettles Tea” is a perfect fertilizer for improving plant growth, especially Bamboo. Aside from major plant nutrients nitrogen and potassium, natural nettles contains other crucial components like magnesium, iron, sulphur, copper, calcium, zinc and chlorophyll. Nettle fertilizer is also well-known to help keep pests, like aphids away! 10 plants in combo.

How to make your own Natueal Nettles Tea

Use 1kg of nettles to 1 litre of water. Fill a bucket ¾ of the way with leaves and stems (leaving the “tea” room to ferment), bruising and chopping the foliage first. Make sure you wear heavy gloves while handling the nettles; we want you to enjoy your labour!) Add non-chlorinated water and cover. Stir every now and then (some folks do this every day, others are less diligent). In 2-3 weeks the tea will start to smell. (Did we mention not to leave the bucket too close to the house?)

Pour out some liquid, and you can either spray the liquid on the leaves or mix it with water when you water your plants. Start with low concentrations and move up from there. Use undiluted as an excellent organic herbicide. When using nettles as fertilizer, remember that some plants, like tomatoes and roses, do not enjoy the high iron levels in nettle fertilizer.

You can continue to top off with water through the season. Add the dregs to your compost bin (don’t forget to wear gloves).