Hi,

I recently started to research foliar sprays, compost teas etc; in particular I am studying fermentation.

My instinct would be to make a major compost tea with compost, obviously, fermented cornmeal, lactobacillus (say, a kefir starter), neem powder, grapefruit seed extract, a little bit of colloidal clay, ashes, turmeric, oregano leaves, and the list goes on, but in substance I mean stuff that's nutritious and stuff that will keep bugs and germs away. However, wouldn't the natural antibiotics (such as neem, turmeric, oregano and grapefruit) kill my good microbial cultures (such as lactobacillus, the microbes in the compost, and the cornmeal)?

Thanks.

I would leave out the things that you think might work against the beneficial microbes in the compost. The normal purpose of actively aerated compost tea (AACT) is to rinse the beneficial microbes out of compost, feed them with food (like molasses and grain (oatmeal is popular)), and create an aerated water for them to breed copiously. Then STOP quickly and apply the tea immediately. The entire process takes 24 hours at about 70 degrees F. At 80 degrees F the process does not work. You cannot aerate water at 80 degrees so the microbes die. You need cold water and a cool room to make AACT. I would not put anything into tea that was not real food for the microbes. Spray the rest of your recipe independently of AACT.

What is fermented corn meal? If it involves yeast and the production of alcohol, I would not use it in a tea.

You might post your question in the compost forum for CaptainCompostAL. He's the tea expert here.

Thank you! I have more questions, but I'll look for Cpt Compost as you said.