How to fill a tea bag with fertilizer – Bonsai Tonight

Two months ago, Felix Laughlin, President of the National Bonsai Foundation, requested tips for how to fill a tea bag with fertilizer quickly. The process does seem to take a while, but I’ve found I can fill about 9 bags per minute with the following approach.

The most important thing is setting up everything within easy reach – tea bags (flap side up), fertilizer and scoop. From there there’s not too much to it.

The basic setup – the fertilizer here is E.B. Stone’s Starter Food, 4-6-2

I start by picking up a bag by the flap.

Picking up the bag

Gently folding the bag opens it.

Open bag

Next the fertilizer goes in.

Filling the bag about 2/3 – 3/4 full

Under filling the bag can work when only a little is needed; over-filling the bag makes it difficult to close the flap.

Tea bag filled with fertilizer

I close the bag by tucking my thumbs into the flap.

Starting with the thumbs

Next I pinch the top of the flap with my index fingers.

Pinching the flap

From there I can quickly close the bag.

Bag ready for use

I usually keep a second container nearby so I don’t have to move around much between bags.

One down, many to go.

Here’s the process in real-life action.

Hope this helps!