Grow with confidence

Compost tea chart & mixing calculator

Our official compost tea program — the same rates we hand out at the store in Nevada City, CA 95959. Brewed compost tea wakes up soil biology fast, whether you top dress, root drench, or mix it straight into new soil.

Download the brewing recipe card

How to read these rates

Vital Tea is our dry, certified-organic compost tea concentrate — brew it, extract it, or use it straight. All three application methods below use the same bag or bucket, just measured differently. Start at the low end of any range for young or sensitive plants.

Feeding chart Section B already lists our weekly root-drench rate — this page adds the top-dress and soil-amendment rates, plus a calculator for any batch size.

Looking for the full plant food program instead? see the official feeding chart & mixing calculator →

The recipe

Brewing recipe card

Download the recipe card →
Vital Garden Supply compost tea brewing recipe card
Section A

Compost tea dosing chart

MethodRateHow often
Root drench / brewed tea1 cup per 5 gal water · top dress or root drench1×/week, veg & bloom
Top dress (per plant)1–3 cups per plant, spread around the drip line1×/week through veg, 1–2 weeks into bloom
New or existing soil1–5 cups per cubic foot, mixed evenly into soilOne-time, at planting or bed prep

Full strength or diluted: Vital Tea can be used at full strength or diluted up to 3:1. Store in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight and reseal after use.

Mix it right

Compost tea calculator

Pick your path

Ready-brew, kit, or brewer

Questions about your compost tea program? Call the store — (530) 470-0124. Our whole team grows, and we'd rather help you buy the right bottle than the wrong two.