Your nose is the best tool you have on brew day. Before you pour a fresh castings brew on your houseplants, give it a sniff. It takes two seconds and tells you almost everything you need to know. Here is our sniff check, the same one we use on the farm in Seymour, Missouri.
What a good fresh castings brew smells like
A good batch usually smells earthy. Think forest floor after rain, a garden bed in spring, or a fresh bag of potting mix. It might smell a little sweet from the molasses. You may see a light foam or bubbles on top. That is normal when the pump is running.
What a bad batch smells like
If your brew smells sour, rotten, like eggs or like a swamp, stop. Do not pour it on your favorites. That smell usually means the brew did not get enough air, or something in the setup was off. It happens to everyone once in a while.
What to do with a bad batch
- Compost it. Pour it on an outdoor compost pile or a spot in the yard away from your houseplants.
- Clean the gear. Rinse the bucket, the castings bag and the air stone well with plain water.
- Start over. Brew a fresh batch with the steps below.
Common reasons a brew goes off
- Not enough air. The pump was unplugged, the tubing kinked, or the air stone was clogged. You want lively bubbles, not a sad little whisper.
- Too much molasses. Use one kit packet per gallon. Using your own bottle of molasses instead? About 1 tsp per gallon (optional).
- Chlorinated water. Use non-chlorinated water, or let tap water sit out at least 24 hours first.
- Too warm or too long. Brew at room temperature for about 24 hours, then use it.
- Dirty gear. Old residue in the bucket can throw off a new batch.
The four steps, as a refresher
Water, molasses, castings bag, pump, in that order. Brew about 24 hours, and use it within 24 hours of finishing. Do not store it. Once the air stops, the brew winds down, and an old batch can go off. Brew only what you will pour. The full walk-through is in our simple brew guide.
A good sniff, then pour
Earthy smell? Pour it at the soil line and water until the potting mix is evenly moist. Match the amount to the plant. Low-light plants and plants resting for winter want a lighter hand. Look up your plant in the Plant Finder for its water and light needs.
For more on brewing, see the Brew guide and Poppy's Hand Guides. Need a kit or a refill? Head to wigglejuice.com/brew.