Liquid feeds put nutrients to work fast, and in this climate when you use them matters almost as much as how you make them. The wet season is when to feed generously; summer is when to feed carefully.
The Basic Method
Steep a shovelful or two of finished compost in a bucket of water, stirring or aerating it periodically, for a day or two. Strain out the solids before applying, and always dilute the liquid, aim for the colour of weak tea rather than something dark and concentrated. Undiluted tea can scorch roots and foliage, and dilution also makes a given batch of compost go much further.
A Genuinely Seasonal Practice
Liquid feeding is especially valuable through the active wet-season growing window covered in Chapter 13, when plants are taking up nutrients fast and a liquid feed reaches roots far quicker than solid compost breaking down slowly in the soil.
Through summer, use it more sparingly and deliberately, given how scarce water itself is then (see Chapter 11). A small amount of concentrated tea diluted well stretches limited water further than a plain fertiliser application might, but that isn't licence to water freely just because the feed itself is "only" liquid. Every litre used on a tea application is a litre not going toward deep watering elsewhere.
What to Brew It From
Urine diluted roughly 1:10 with water is the simplest liquid feed available, and it doesn't depend on having a finished batch of compost ready. Comfrey or nettle tea is another strong option, made from plants that grow well through the mild wet season, the same activator sources covered in Chapter 8, cut and steeped while they're actively growing rather than expected to still be lush by summer.
Apply liquid feeds early morning or evening, especially through summer, to reduce evaporation loss and cut the risk of leaf scorch in strong midday sun.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I make a basic compost tea?
Steep a shovelful or two of finished compost in a bucket of water, stirring or aerating it periodically, for a day or two. Strain out the solids and dilute the liquid before applying it to soil or foliage, roughly the colour of weak tea rather than dark and concentrated.
Should I use liquid feeds differently in summer than in the wet season?
Yes. Liquid feeding is especially useful through the active wet-season growing window, when plants are taking up nutrients fast. Through summer, use it more sparingly and deliberately given how scarce water itself is, a small amount of concentrated tea diluted well stretches limited water further, but that doesn't mean water can be used freely just because the feed is diluted.
What's the simplest liquid feed if I don't have finished compost ready?
Urine diluted roughly 1:10 with water is the simplest, always-available liquid feed and needs no waiting for a batch of compost to finish. Comfrey or nettle tea, made from plants that grow well through the mild wet season while they're actively growing, is another reliable option when those plants are available.