Frequently Asked Questions

  • Witches Brew is made to be reused. It's easy to clean and refresh so you can use it many times for healthy plant growth.

  • Boil used Witches Brew for 20 minutes, keeping it fully submerged. After boiling, rinse it in a metal mesh colander to wash away impurities. The rocks hold heat, so rinse with cool water.

    Tip: keep a bucket for used brew so it’s ready when you need to clean.

  • Remove large root pieces from the brew when you collect it. Let the used brew dry, then put it in a fine-mesh colander and shake — the dried fine root bits will fall out.

    After boiling, rinse your product with clean water to wash away any stuck roots or plant material. You can use the clean brew immediately, but it helps to dry it and give it one final shake in the colander.

    Tip: if there are lots of roots, boil the product twice — after the first boil, drain and cover with fresh water.

  • Absolutely! Witches Brew can be mixed into regular organic potting soil as an amendment. It improves aeration in heavy soil and helps plants take up nutrients.

  • Witches Brew is prized for its versatility. Use it for semi‑hydroponics, to improve potting mixes, or as an attractive top dressing.

    A surface layer of this inorganic medium not only looks refined but can also make conditions less favorable for fungus gnats, since their eggs and larvae develop more readily in moist organic material.

    Witches Brew can also be used as a top and bottom layer for bonsai plants.

  • We don’t recommend using Witches Brew in aquariums. It contains zeolite, which can alter water chemistry.

  • Witches Brew is an inorganic growing medium, not plant food. It gives great airflow, moisture control, and root support but has no nutrients. Plants get nutrients from soil or feeds, so you must fertilize to keep them healthy.

    However, you can start cuttings in Witches Brew with only water — we recommend it! It lets the cutting focus on roots and makes a healthier plant.