We know you love chai, but you know who else does? Your plants!

Leftover tea leaves are an excellent manure for plants, both indoor and outdoor.

Gorakhpur-resident and gardener Brahmadev Kumar says tea waste is a nutrient-rich compost with the ability to support faster growth of plants.

“Tea powder contains 4 per cent nitrogen, along with phosphorus and potassium, as well as other micronutrients that are beneficial for soil,” he says.

Kumar, who runs an urban gardening YouTube channel, shares the process of using the tea waste effectively:

You need: Tea powder, a mud pot, a lid to cover the pot and a pointed tool to make holes in the utensil.

Wash the tea powder (residue after making tea) thoroughly to avoid odour and ants.

Press the mixture to drain the excess water.

Add the mixture to the mud pot which has holes to support ventilation.

Add tea powder everyday. and after 30-45 days, you will see a white layer of fungus.

The process will be completed in 90 days.

Expose the mix to sunlight for a few days before adding it to your garden soil mix.