11 Fermented Plant Juice

Sustainable Agriculture
(Agri 107)
CHAPTER III. SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES (Soil Related)
Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ)
What Is Fermented Plant Juice?
FPJ is used in solutions for seed and soil treatments and plant nutrition. It consists of the
young shoots of vigorously growing plants that are allowed to ferment for approximately 7
days with the aid of brown sugar.
What Affects the Quantity and Quality of FPJ?
The most important requirement when selecting plants for making FPJ is to use the growing
tips of plant species that are fast growers. Flowers, flower buds, and immature fruits can
also be used.
The plants should be vigorously growing at the time of collection. Plant parts should be
harvested while the plants are in respiration mode (before sunrise) and not in
photosynthetic mode (during daylight).
Avoid collecting plant parts during or after rainfall (ideally, wait two sunny days after rain
stops) and do not rinse collected plant parts, to conserve their surface microbial populations
(lactic acid-producing bacteria and yeasts), which will carry out the fermentation process.
Low levels of these microbes will result in improper fermentation and/or low yields of plant
juice.
What Kinds of Plants Can Be Used to Make FPJ?
Plants should be vigorous, fast-growing, and healthy.
Making Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ)
1. Collect plant material
Before sunrise, collect the fast-growing tips (2–3 inches long)

of plants; for plants with longer tendrils, such as sweetpotato, Fig. 1 Young, vigorously
longer pieces can be collected. Avoid collecting during or after growing angelica herb
rainfall.
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CSU-CAA Supplemental Lecture Notes | Agri 107, Rev. 0, 06-01-20
2. Cut and weigh the plant material
Do not rinse collected plant parts, so as to conserve surface microorganisms. Record the
weight of the plant material. Cut the shoot tips into 2- to 3-inch pieces (Fig. 2). Weigh plant
parts before or after cutting, whichever is easier.
Fig. 2. Cut plant material into 2- to 3-inch lengths Fig. 3. Add equal weight of brown sugar to cut plant
material
3. Add brown sugar
Weigh out an amount of brown sugar equal to the weight of the plant material, and toss
together in a bowl or large pan. Coat as much of the surface area of the plant material with
sugar as possible to expedite the osmotic process and draw out the plant juices (Fig. 3).
4. Pack the plant-material-and-brown-sugar mixture into a container
Select a clear glass or food-grade polyethylene (PE) plastic container (no lid necessary). Do
not use metal, which will react with the solution. Pack the container tightly with the plant-
material-and-brown sugar mixture until full (Fig. 4). Cover the mouth of the container with a
breathable material, such as muslin, heavy cheesecloth, or a towel, to allow air exchange.
Secure the cover (with string, rubber bands, etc.) to keep pests and other contaminants out
(Fig. 5). Paper towels can be used but should be replaced if they become wet or torn. Store
the covered container in a well-ventilated area away from artificial or natural light and
extreme heat or cold. Do not refrigerate.
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Fig. 4. Pack the plant material and brown sugar in a Fig. 5. Secure a breathable cover over the mouth of the
container until full container and store in a cool place
5. Check the container after 24 hours and adjust the volume if necessary
In order for the fermentation process to occur properly, the volume of the plant-material-
and-brown-sugar mixture should settle to 2 /3 of the container after 24 hours. If the
container is too full, the microbes will not have enough air to properly ferment. Remove
some of the plant material until the container is no more than 2 /3 full. If the container is
less than 2 /3 full, add more of the mixture to prevent mold growth. Not all plants will settle
in the same way, so it is important to check and adjust the volume after the first 24 hours.
6. Let the contents ferment undisturbed
The fermentation process is dependent on ambient temperature. Warmer, humid weather

speeds up fermentation (3 to 5 days), while cool or cold periods slow the process. You will
know that fermentation is occurring when bubbles start to form, which normally occurs on
the second day. Ideally, fermentation should take no longer than 7 days, as the quality of
FPJ appears to diminish thereafter. Fermentation is complete when 1) the plant material
floats and the liquid settles at the bottom (note: if too much brown sugar was used, this
separation is not distinct); 2) there is a light alcohol smell due to breakdown of chlorophyll;
and 3) the liquid tastes sweet, not bitter.
7. Separate the liquid from the solids
After fermentation is complete (3 to 7 days), separate the plant material from the liquid
using a colander or strainer. The spent plant material can be used as animal feed, or added
to mixed compost. The liquid is Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ), which can be used immediately
or stored in a loosely covered container.
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8. Store the FPJ properly.
Transfer the FPJ into a glass or food-grade polyethylene (PE) plastic container. The
microorganisms in the solution are alive and continue to produce gases. The lid must be
kept loose .
For long-term storage, add an equal amount of brown sugar by weight to FPJ to prevent it
from souring.
How Is FPJ Used on Plants?
FPJ is diluted with water and applied as a soil drench or a foliar application directly onto
plants. Traditionally, the plant material used in the fermentation process produces FPJ for
specific phases of plant growth. Generally, use FPJ made from plant material at the same
growth phase (vegetative or reproductive) as the plants that are to be treated.
• FPJ made from dropwort, mugwort, or bamboo shoots is applied from germination until
early stages of plant growth.
• FPJ made from arrowroot or bamboo shoots is applied on vegetative growth (leafy) crops
that need nitrogen (N).
• FPJ made from green (unripe) fruit is applied to plants that are just beginning to develop
flower shoots and need phosphorus (P).
• Once plants reach the reproductive phase (flowering and fruiting), they require a lot of
calcium (Ca). FPJ made from calcium-rich plants or FPJ that has been stored for over a year
is applied at this stage.
Preparing and Applying FPJ
Dilute FPJ with water
It is best to use a mixture of old and newly made FPJ in your solutions. FPJ is generally used
at a concentration of 1 part per 500 parts water (1:500). A more dilute solution is necessary
(1:800 to 1:1,000) to avoid damaging plants (leaf burn) under the following circumstances:
• more than three ingredients (a “cocktail” of different inputs applied at once) are being
combined, or
• it is applied during hot weather, or
• FPJ that has been stored longer than a year and thus has become more concentrated is
being used.
Apply FPJ once per week in the late afternoon, ideally an hour before sunset.
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The solution can be watered onto plants or into the soil, or it can be applied as a foliar spray.
The nutrient solution is applied once per week and is adjusted as the plant passes through
its life-cycle stages and vegetative and reproductive phases.
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Sustainable Agriculture

CHAPTER III. SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES (Soil Related)

Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ)

What Is Fermented Plant Juice?

What Affects the Quantity and Quality of FPJ?

What Kinds of Plants Can Be Used to Make FPJ?

Plants should be vigorous, fast-growing, and healthy.

Making Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ)

1. Collect plant material

Before sunrise, collect the fast-growing tips (2–3 inches long)

3. Add brown sugar

4. Pack the plant-material-and-brown-sugar mixture into a container

6. Let the contents ferment undisturbed

The fermentation process is dependent on ambient temperature. Warmer, humid weather

7. Separate the liquid from the solids

How Is FPJ Used on Plants?

Preparing and Applying FPJ

Dilute FPJ with water

• it is applied during hot weather, or

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