I can't do the tea due to the smell. I am trying so hard to have blooms and fragrance......good luck to yours. :-)

I wouldn't bother straining out the alfalfa pieces. Just throw the whole mess under the roses and keep your windows closed for a while!

Yep, same as Ingrid. I try to have some fresh hardwood mulch handy to put down over it.

Awesome post and title! Thanks Adrian. I've had the same issue. It wasn't rancid and didn't strain it. Just kept skimming off the top until I got to the leftovers. I poured the LOs into the veggie garden. But now it's planted. I don't want the "green haze" all over everything. What now? Compost pile (which I don't have) or into the yard waste?

Alfalfa Tea recipe:

Use your five gallon bucket or sprinkler can and gently dip out the liquid, without disturbing the sludge that is in the bottom of the container. Give each rose about 1 gallon of the liquid.

http://www.emmitsburg.net/gardens/recipes/alfalfa.htm

Here is a good article on the effects of triacontanol. The second experiment pertained to plants. There are many others that can be found. Unfortunately the growth stimulant triacontanol is not soluble in water. There for is somewhat useless in a tea solution. Triacontanol as a Growth Stimulant-A Report of Two Experiments

I like the stocking idea! Takes care of the sludge getting mixed in. I did give some to my annual flowers, they responded nicely, except catnip, million bells which got dark purple leaves after. I think they got a bit burnt, growing well though.

Sarah

Yes , the stockings made my life easy . I have 2 ten gallon boxes that I put near each rose bed so its easy for me to scoop the tea when its ready . before that I tried using the sludge , but it doesn't look nice so I figured that all goodness is steeped out anyway , might as well throw it . My roses become really healthy and green after the tea , its like a shot of protein & vitamins .