How to Use Worm/Vermicompost Tea at Home
How to Use Worm Tea at Home
You can use worm tea, also known as vermicompost tea, at home to naturally nourish your flowers, vegetables, fruit trees, and plants without using any harmful chemicals. In South Florida's year-round warm climate, worm tea can help maintain healthy soil biology and plant resilience through heat and humidity.
To use it, apply worm tea as a liquid fertilizer by either watering the soil or spraying it onto plant leaves (a foliar spray). For soil drenching, you'll first want to dilute your worm tea with water (see our 'How to Brew Your Own Worm Tea From Vermicompost' for recommended amounts). Once diluted, water the base of each plant until the surrounding soil is thoroughly moistened. For smaller plants or potted flowers, about 1–2 cups per plant is sufficient. Larger plants, shrubs, or trees can take 1–2 gallons, depending on size.
If you want to use it as a foliar spray, fill a clean garden sprayer with undiluted or slightly diluted tea (about 1:4 ratio works well). We recommend spraying early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid direct sun and heat, which can stress plants and harm the beneficial microbes in the tea. Be sure to coat both sides of the leaves for maximum effect. Foliar applications can even help suppress certain pests and diseases while boosting nutrient absorption.
How often should you use it? In South Florida, where plants grow actively most of the year, apply worm tea every 1–2 weeks during the growing season. You can apply less frequently during periods of slower growth (like the peak of summer heat for some plants) or during the occasional cool fronts in winter.
For best results, always use your worm tea as fresh as possible — ideally within 24–48 hours of brewing or purchase — to ensure the living microbes are still highly active. Shake or stir the tea before use to keep the microbes suspended.
By regularly applying worm tea, you'll enrich your soil with beneficial bacteria, promote stronger roots, improve plant immunity, and help your garden or flowers thrive naturally.
Worm Tea Tips and FAQs:
When Should I Use It?
Use worm tea within 24–48 hours of brewing or purchase for best results. It contains living microbes that require oxygen and will start to decline if it's stored for too long.
When Should I Apply It?
Avoid applying tea during the heat of the day (midday sun in South Florida can quickly stress plants and harm the beneficial organisms in the tea); early morning or late afternoon is ideal.
How Often Should I Apply It?
Every 1–2 weeks is ideal during active growing periods. South Florida's hot climate allows many plants to grow nearly year-round, so you can use worm tea throughout much of the year. Just adjust frequency based on plant needs and the season. Try not to overdo it. Worm tea is gentle and natural, and applying it every 1–2 weeks is plenty. Your plants will respond best to a consistent schedule rather than daily use.
What Steps Should I Take Before Applying?
Before using a sprayer, clean it thoroughly to avoid introducing harmful residues that could affect the tea's microbial life.
Can I Use Worm Tea on Edible Plants?
Absolutely! Worm tea is perfectly safe for vegetables, herbs, fruit trees, and edible flowers. In fact, it helps support healthier, more productive edible gardens. If applying as a foliar spray close to harvest time, rinse edible parts before eating, just as you normally would with any garden produce.
Do I Need to Dilute Worm Tea?
You can use it full strength or diluted, depending on your plants' needs. Refer to "How to Make Worm Tea" for recommended dilution guidelines.
How Do I Store It?
When storing, keep it out of direct sunlight, and don't keep it in sealed containers since the microbes need oxygen. It's best to keep it in an open or loosely covered container in a cool, shaded spot.
How Do I Know If It's Gone Bad?
Fresh worm tea has an earthy, pleasant smell. If you notice it starts to smell sour, rotten, or foul, it has likely gone anaerobic (low oxygen) and is no longer safe or beneficial for your plants. Discard it and start fresh.
Already Brewed Vermicompost Tea
Vermicompost tea is one of the most effective ways to nourish your soil and boost plant health – naturally. Packed with beneficial microbes, nutrients, and organic matter, vermicompost improves soil structure, enhances water retention, and supports strong root development. While you can brew your own worm tea at home using quality castings, Lion Farms also offers this powerful solution already brewed for large-scale growers.
Contact us today to learn about our microbially-rich, fast-acting, 100% OMRI-listed organic vermicompost tea. For farms looking to supercharge their soil and strengthen their crops, our worm tea provides an organic, chemical-free alternative that transforms your growing system from the ground up. Your customers will love buying from a farm that doesn't use dangerous chemicals. By choosing vermicompost tea over synthetic fertilizers, you’re working with nature—supporting healthier soil, cleaner crops, and tastier, safer food your customers will appreciate.
