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!
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