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Kelsey Opel is a freelance writer and digital storyteller based in Austin, Texas. She enjoys writing for food, entertainment and mental health spaces. Off the clock, she loves indulging in an avocado margarita and chips and queso at her favorite Tex-Mex spot in town. Read more...

The next time you make a cup of tea, don’t throw the bag in the trash. Instead, feed it to your plants.

The organic nutrients in the tea can help fertilize your plants. As the matter decomposes, it increases the soil quality and nutrient levels.

Tear open the bag and sprinkle the leaves in with the soil. The organic matter from the tea stimulates plant growth around the roots. The damp leaves can also help retain moisture in the soil and prevent weeds from growing around your beloved plants.

Tea leaves also contain natural tannic acid. Make sure to only apply leftover tea leaves to acid-loving plants, like rosebushes or ferns. You can double-check the acidity of your soil with a pH testing kit. You’ll want to avoid plants that do well in neutral to alkaline soils, such as perennials and some vegetables.

Start the day off right with this compostable green tea.

The tea bags themselves are also a threat to the environment. If the bags are made from paper, silk, or muslin, compost them to fertilize your soil. If the package is made from polypropylene, save the damp leaves, but throw out the tea bag since it won’t decompose.

Hopefully, you’ll think twice before throwing out a steeped tea bag. Have leftover coffee? You can also give it to your houseplants to encourage their growth.

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