to my knowledge, compost teas need no activator. people used to add molasses, but you do not need to. plus, i do not want to spray sugar on my plants, it is not good for them. i add a little bit of maxicrop's soluble seaweed powder at the end, once the tea is already brewed. if you are going to add anything extra to your compost tea, it is better to do it at the end.
From what I read, Kelp will at first slow the process of bacteria and fungi from reproducing for around 24hours? So if it is added first, you will need to brew a 48 hour tea for it to be balanced?
I have also read of some who add kelp to there tea last as well do you add it last for the above reason?
Mollases is food stock for the microbes, my understanding is that if you do add Mollases(in the beginning of your brew cycle) it should be brewed for only 12-24 hours because the bacteria start to feed on the molasses, and can reproduce at an exponential rate. -If brewed for too long it is possible for them to reproduce too quickly and deplete the water of oxygen which will result in possible growth of anaerobic bacteria.
Are you absolutely sure that sugars are BAD for the leaves? Maybe will help to chelate nutrients?-maybe attract pests-maybe even repel some?
Spraying with Compost Tea
When plants evolved on land, they formed an alliance with the microbial life in the soil and air. Certain species of bacteria and fungi became the chefs that prepared the plant’s food, the medics that helped them fight disease. Plants like to dine on biologically predigested nutrients; it is easier for them to assimilate. Healthy plants have a strong immune system that includes a ‘bio-film’ of microbial life on the roots, stems and leaves. To make use of these biological principles to feed and protect our plants, we can spray with compost tea.
Compost tea is “brewed” by aerating a mixture of water, compost (sometimes humus or worm castings), and organic nutrients such as molasses, kelp, fish emulsion, and
yucca. This produces a nutrient-rich solution containing vast colonies of beneficial bacteria and fungi. The microbes digest the nutrients into organic compounds that can be easily taken in by the plant. These same microbes colonize the surface of the leaves to help fight off disease.
When you spray with compost tea, you envelope the plant with living organisms -- and you enhance the web of life of which the plant is a part. The results can be astounding: large, mineral rich vegetation with clear glossy leaves, decreased disease, and even lessened insect attacks. Plants treated with foliar fertilization and especially compost tea have higher “Brix” levels – a measure of the carbohydrates and mineral density in the sap. High Brix is said to make the plants less attractive to pests and more resilient to stress. If they are vegetables, they even taste better!
Compost tea, unlike mineral sprays and foliar fertilization, cannot be over-applied and does not burn leaves. The microbe-rich droplets drip off the leaves to improve soil and growing solutions. Those same microbes can clean up toxic chemicals and turn them into nutrients. For growers who regularly use compost tea, there is nothing better. The main drawback is that brewed compost tea is not always available and, being alive, has a limited shelf life.