Tea Party Diva - Life & Craft

After a cup of tea, what do you do with those used tea leaves?
Used tea leaves make excellent mulch for roses and rainforest staghorns. They help feed the plants and assist in retaining moisture.

• Rose bushes in the garden love the mulch and moisture of used tea leaves placed around them, and over the roots. Don’t put the mulch too close to the stem of the rose bush.

Staghorns belong to the fern family. In natural rainforests, they are found attached to trees. They collect fallen leaf litter behind their fronds. Of course, they also retain the moisture from rain and dew in the same way.

Use your cold used tea leaves behind the leaves of staghorns in home garden or greenhouses for similar benefits. Place them behind the fronds, just above where the staghorn is attached to the tree or post. Staghorns in the home conservatory, greenhouse or garden, seem to thrive on regular top ups of the tea leaves.

Empty your cooled teapot - tea, tea leaves and all, straight from the pot, once a week or so. Keep an eye on the moisture level, so as not to overdo it.

• Water indoor or patio houseplants with cold or cooled leftover tea.

Savvy Tea Tip