>We choose to produce a peat tea by boiling for at least two reasons.
>First, hot water leaches out the tannins better than a cold water
Although my method does not boil/sterilize the whole mixture, I need to
elaborate a bit. Boiling water is poured in the peat bucket..... It
definitely help the tannins dissolve faster. Boiling plain water keeps the
kitchen a LOT cleaner! (a little bit less scientific, but the plants still
look great)
>percolation. Second, boiling will sterilize the tea. If you use
>a cold water percolation, and happen by misfortune to have a bad
>batch of peat moss, you could water your plants with a bacteria or
>fungus-laden tea.
"Bad" batch of peat in what sense? Bacteria & fungus are everywhere.
If we were talking about tissue culture, I could see the concern for
complete sterilization, but come on, we are talking about plants growing
in pots! They are already exposed to bacteria, fungus & bugs. (& who
knows what else?)
Take care & keep on growing,
-Tom- Hayes