Why You'll Want To Add An Old Tea Bag To The Bottom Of Your Planters

As we're entering the prime season for hygge — the Danish concept of coziness — people are pulling out scarves and candles and settling under blankets with warm drinks to get comfortable during a frigid winter. Next time you brew a cup of tea, don't toss the tea bag just yet. One of the ways to repurpose a used tea bag around your home is to bury one toward the bottom of a potted houseplant. Just as tea offers health benefits to people, tea leaves are packed with nutrients that are transferred to plants, giving the houseplant its own version of hygge.

How does this work? Tea leaves contain tannins, which is a substance — more specifically, a phenolic compound — found in plants. (And, yes, these are the same tannins found in grape skins, stems, and leaves that are used to make wine.) Tannins in tree bark, wood, stems, roots, and other parts help to protect plants against potential infections from bacteria or fungi. For example, if your plant is growing a bud, tannins are likely playing a role in protecting the new leaf within. 

If you're wondering if your plants have a tea preference — just like many people do — chamomile is a good option, as it's an herbal tea that can get rid of your soil's fungus. Chamomile plants, and subsequently chamomile tea, offer a lengthy list of benefits, including being antifungal, antiparasitic, and insecticidal. Place a brewed teabag (or several, if your pot is large) in the soil among your plant's roots.

Tea leaves also are known to contain a healthy amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which should sound familiar to all of you plant parents who are vigilant about fertilizing your houseplants. If you're adding tea to the plant's soil — whether encased in bags, as loose leaves, or in brewed form — the tea will lower the soil's pH, so do this only with plants that like soil on the slightly acidic side, such as maidenhair ferns, philodendrons, and succulents.

When putting steeped tea bags in your pots, let them cool off first so your plants aren't shocked by the heat. Choose tea bags made with biodegradable materials, such as paper or muslin, and remove items like staples and string that won't decompose. Over time, the bag will break down and release nutrients into the soil while also helping with moisture retention.