How to Make Worm Compost Extract & Compost Tea: Step-by-Step Guide for a Thriving Garden

Compost tea and compost extract. They look exactly the same, but they do two very different things in your garden. 

Compost extract is quick and easy to make and is perfect to use as a gentle soil drench for your roots. It’s a fast way to give your plants soluble nutrients and a light dose of biology. 

Compost tea is brewed over 24 hours with aeration and microbial food, but it’s a powerhouse to use. It’s alive with beneficial microbes like bacteria, fungi, and protozoa, which feed your roots. It can be used as a foliar spray to protect plants from pests or as a soil drench to enhance immunity and soil life.

Think of extract as a nutrient broth, and tea as a living probiotic for your soil.

How to Make Worm Compost Extract (Step-by-Step)

You’ll Need:

• 5-gallon bucket

• 1 teaspoon of humic acid

• 1 lb high-quality worm compost (Sunnyside Soil is our go-to)

• Mesh bag or clean paint strainer

Instructions:

1. Fill a 5-gallon bucket with water. Add humic acid to neutralize chloramine.

2. Place your worm compost in a mesh bag.

3. Dunk and gently squeeze the bag in the water for 1–2 minutes.

4. Apply immediately as a soil drench.

Pro Tip: Use within 4 hours for best microbial effect.

How to Make Worm Compost Tea (Step-by-Step)

You’ll Need:

• 5-gallon bucket

• 1 tablespoon humic acid

• 1 tablespoon fish hydrolysate

• 1 tablespoon liquid kelp

• 1 lb of worm compost in a mesh bag

• Aquarium air pump + tubing (no air stones)

Brewing Instructions:

1. Add humic acid to the water. This also feeds fungi.

2. Add fish hydrolysate and kelp to support microbial growth.

3. Suspend the compost bag in the water—don't let it touch the bucket walls.

4. Aerate vigorously using a pump + open-ended tubing (not air stones).

5. Let it brew for 24 hours. The water should look like a rolling boil.

6. Use immediately as a foliar spray or soil drench.

DO NOT:

• Use air stones (they grow anaerobic microbes inside)

• Brew longer than 24 hours (microbial populations crash)

• Store-brewed tea—use it fresh for best results

Want to watch a tutorial instead? 

Watch the full video tutorial below
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Recommended Products for Success

To get the best results, start with high-quality, biologically active ingredients. Here’s what we use and trust:

Worm Compost (Sunnyside Soil) – [https://www.sunnysidesoil.com/shop/p/worm-castings-1-gallon
Humic Acid– https://amzn.to/44mRvW2
Fish Hydrolysate – https://amzn.to/3ZT4lKh
Liquid Kelp – https://amzn.to/4eoh3q
Adjustable Aquarium Air Pump – https://amzn.to/3GfkEud

Important: Skip the air stones! They can become anaerobic inside and introduce harmful microbes into your tea.

Final Thoughts: Feed Your Soil, Not Just Your Plants

Worm compost extract and compost tea aren’t just “natural fertilizers”—they’re part of a bigger movement toward soil regeneration, biological resilience, and closed-loop gardening.

They’re simple to make, cost-effective, and—most importantly—they work.

So grab a bucket, some high-quality worm compost, and get brewing. Your plants (and your soil microbes) will thank you.

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