The term, "bokashi spray," is used to contrast with "bokashi sprinkle." Both terms are used in regards to fermenting food waste, that is, as fermentation starters to make bokashi food waste. The bokashi sprinkle is bokashi bran, a granular solid material, and therefore, is sprinkled onto food waste. The bokashi spray is Activated EM, a liquid, and therefore, is sprayed onto food waste.
The bokashi spray is also used for various other purposes, usually diluted (at 0.5 fl oz/gallon to 10 fl oz/gallon or more) including as a foliar spray, cleaning purposes, and odor control.
However, "bokashi spray" can also refer to EM•5 as a spray for plants and soils. EM•5 is typically used as a foliar spray on plant and tree leaves. Activated EM can also be sprayed onto plants and soils and not just to food waste. Both EM•5 and Activated EM can be sprayed for other purposes: EM•5 for rat odor control and on garden tools for cleaning/disinfecting; Activated EM for general odor control and for general cleaning.
To avoid confusion, if you are using both type of sprays, they can be referred to as follows or a variation of the following:
- Refer to Activated EM as bokashi spray.
- Refer to EM•5 as "EM•5 foliar spray."
While EM FPE can also be sprayed, it may be dense with particulates (depending on the mesh size of the strainer when straining the liquid from the fermented plant matter) which can clog the spray nozzle. It may be better to just apply EM FPE using a watering can with a shower head.