Click here to be taken to our High Tea Starter Kit with brewing accessories!
Dr Greenthumbs High Tea Compost Tea Extract is a premium microbial booster designed to load your soil with beneficial fungi and bacteria.
These powerful microbes improve nutrient cycling, enhance drought tolerance, suppress pathogens, and promote vigorous plant growth across vegetables, ornamentals, fruit trees, lawns, and indoor plants. Each pack brews up to 200 L of concentrated tea — dilute to make up to 2,000 L of useable solution.
Perfect for growers seeking to optimise soil biology without synthetic inputs, High Tea supports organic gardening principles and works beautifully alongside mycorrhizal inoculants for complete root protection.
Features:
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Enriches soil with high concentrations of beneficial microbes
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Improves nutrient uptake, water access and plant vitality
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Supports resistance to stress, pathogens, and environmental pressure
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Suitable for all plants: veggies, flowers, herbs, shrubs, indoor & outdoor
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Brew using an air pump or manually with shake method
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Cost-effective: 1 pack brews ~2,000 L of diluted solution
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Compatible with other Dr Greenthumbs products like Mycorrhizal Inoculant
How to Use:
Brewing with air:
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Add ½ tablespoon (5 g) per 5 L of unchlorinated water
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Place the tea in a mesh bag and bubble with an aquarium pump
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Brew for 24 hours in warm weather, 36 hours in cooler weather
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Ideal air pump power: at least 3 watts per 5 L of water
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Clean brewer and air stones thoroughly after each use
Shake brew method (no brewer):
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Use 1 teaspoon of High Tea in 2 L of dechlorinated water
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Place in a food-grade plastic bottle
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Shake vigorously and often, burp the cap to introduce oxygen
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Do not use if it smells bad (anaerobic). A good brew smells sweet/earthy
Dilution and Application:
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Soil Drench: Dilute brewed tea 1:5 with unchlorinated water
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Foliar Spray: Dilute brewed tea 1:10, strain through a fine mesh
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Apply every 2 weeks for general support
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For stressed or fast-growing plants, apply weekly if brew quality is maintained
Water Quality:
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Always use unchlorinated water (let tap water sit 24 hours, or use rainwater/RO)
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Chlorine or chloramine harms microbes; avoid it in both brewing and dilution
Storage and Shelf Life:
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Use brewed tea immediately or within hours of completion
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Avoid storing brewed tea longer than 24–48 hours
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Store the dry High Tea powder in a cool, dry place
Why You Should Buy:
Dr Greenthumbs High Tea is an advanced microbial inoculant that transforms your soil into a living, thriving ecosystem. It helps plants access locked nutrients, boosts resilience to heat and drought, and protects roots from harmful pathogens. Whether you're managing a veggie patch, flowering garden, or indoor plant collection, this product provides a cost-effective, science-backed solution to elevate plant health naturally — with each pack delivering exceptional volume and results.
FAQs:
What exactly is High Tea?
A compost tea extract that loads your soil with beneficial bacteria and fungi so plants access nutrients faster, handle stress better, and generally look happier.
How much does one pack make?
Each pack brews ~200 L of concentrated High Tea, which you then dilute to make up to ~2,000 L of useable tea.
What’s the basic mixing rate?
Use ½ tablespoon (≈5 g) of High Tea per 5 L of unchlorinated water.
Do I have to brew High Tea with air or can I just shake it?
Aerated brew is best (most microbe life). If you don’t have a brewer, the “shake” method works in a pinch: 1 tsp High Tea + 2 L dechlorinated water in a food-grade bottle, shake hard and often, and “burp” the lid for oxygen. If it doesn’t smell pleasant/sweet-earthy, don’t use it.
How long do I brew High Tea?
24 hours in warm weather; up to 36 hours in cooler weather. Going much longer risks drifting anaerobic. Smell should be sweet/earthy, not swampy.
What pump size do I need if I’m bubbling High Tea?
Rule of thumb from the product page: at least 3 W of air pump per 5 L of water for best oxygenation. Clean your brewer and air stones after each run.
What water should I use?
Unchlorinated only. If you only have tap water, let it sit 24 hrs (or use a bubbler/neutraliser) so chlorine dissipates—the microbes hate chlorine.
How do I apply it once brewed?
Dilute 1:5 for soil drenches, 1:10 for foliar sprays. Apply about fortnightly for steady results.
How soon should I use the tea after brewing?
ASAP—ideally within a few hours of finishing. Fresh tea has the best biology; storing invites anaerobic funk.
My tea smells bad—can I still use it?
Nope. If the aroma is anything other than pleasant/sweet/earthy, it’s gone anaerobic. Dump it and re-brew with better aeration.
Can High Tea be used as a foliar spray?
Yes—strain well and dilute 1:10 so you don’t clog nozzles. Foliar use helps microbial colonisation on leaves; always spray fresh.
Soil drench vs foliar—when should I pick which?
Drench to inoculate roots/soil and boost nutrient cycling; foliar when you want biology on leaf surfaces (e.g., for competitive exclusion of nasties).
Does High Tea replace fertiliser?
It’s primarily a biological inoculant to help plants access and cycle nutrients more efficiently—not a full N-P-K feed by itself. Keep your regular organic program and use High Tea to supercharge it.
Can I use High Tea with your Mycorrhizal Inoculant?
Yes—recommended together for “belt-and-braces” root protection and nutrient uptake. Brew/apply High Tea as directed; dust/soak mycorrhizae at transplant.
How often should I apply?
Every two weeks is a solid cadence for most gardens. You can pulse weekly during heavy growth or recovery from stress, provided brews are clean and aerobic.
Is High Tea okay for indoor plants and ornamentals?
Yep—houseplants, veg, herbs, ornamentals, shrubs, trees. Customers report stronger roots and visibly perkier growth. Just keep it fresh and avoid over-wetting.
Can I use High Tea in hydroponics?
Generally not in sterile recirculating systems (microbes + sterile lines = biofilm). It’s great in soil and soilless mixes (coco/peat) as a drench, but avoid dosing clean hydro reservoirs unless you run bio-systems designed for it. (General ACT best-practice.)
What temperature should I brew at?
Room-temp is ideal; many growers target ~20–22 °C. Too cold slows the good guys; too warm can skew the biology. Brew in shade, not full sun.
Do I need to add molasses or extra foods?
High Tea is formulated as an extract you brew; extra sugars can crash oxygen if your pump is under-sized. If you do experiment, keep it light and well-aerated. (Over-feeding is a common reason brews go bad.)
What does a successful brew look/smell like?
Vigorous bubbles, a light foam, and a clean sweet/earthy smell. No rotten-egg or ammonia notes.
How fine should I filter for foliar spraying?
Strain through a fine mesh/paint strainer so you don’t clog jets, especially for misting. Use immediately after straining.
Can I store unused High Tea for later?
Not recommended. Most ACT guidance says use within hours; 24–48 hrs max is already pushing it and risks anaerobic shift.
Any equipment hygiene tips?
Rinse immediately after use and give the brewer/air stones a proper clean—biofilms can sabotage the next batch.
What if my tap water is chloraminated (not just chlorine)?
Chloramine doesn’t gas off as easily. Use rainwater/RO, a carbon filter, or a safe neutraliser to protect the microbes. (General ACT best-practice.)
Will High Tea help with drought or heat stress?
Healthier microbial populations can improve water/nutrient access and root resilience, which helps plants ride out tough spells. It’s not a silver bullet, but it stacks the deck in your favour.
Is there any science behind compost tea/extract?
Research is mixed but growing: aerated compost teas/extracts can enhance nutrient cycling and sometimes aid disease suppression when brewed/applied correctly; sloppy brews are the usual failure mode.
Can one pack really stretch very far?
Yes. At the standard dose, the concentrate-to-useable volume math (≈2,000 L) checks out, which is why cost-per-use is low compared to one-shot liquids.
Any red flags to watch for?
Bad smells, slimy equipment, or lack of bubbles = oxygen problem. Fix aeration, clean gear, and don’t over-feed sugars.
Can I combine High Tea with other Dr Greenthumbs products?
Yes—very commonly paired with TurboDirt, Root Roids, and the Mycorrhizal Inoculant. Keep High Tea fresh and apply on its own day if you’re also doing foliar nutrition to avoid tank-mix clashes.
Pickup or delivery options?
Click & Collect at Bellambi (usually ready in 24 hrs) or ship nationally.
Where can I read a step-by-step brew guide?
Our in-house “24-Hour Compost Tea Guide” walks through gear, schedule and pro tips.
Why choose extract/tea at all—does it really work?
Used correctly, compost teas/extracts can turbo-charge soil biology and plant vigour; used sloppily, they’re underwhelming. Technique matters more than hype.
