Coffee grounds provide an ideal breeding ground for fungal organisms, and this can lead to fungal disease in your plants. In an article from 2009, she wrote: "Coffee Grounds – Will They Perk Up Plants?" Your old coffee grounds are a great source of nitrogen, a prime nutrient many houseplants require. Both these changes will lead to faster drying of the soil, reducing the risk of overwatering. Before you pour, dilute it with the same amount of water and make sure to use only black coffee or tea. The absolute best way to use coffee grounds on your houseplants is to compost! You might enjoy cream, sugar, and other additives, but your plants won't. Rinsing your used coffee grounds can bring them to a safe pH level, which won’t affect the soil. The color white brings peace... © 2020 Balcony Garden Web | All rights reserved, 10 Houseplants that Love Coffee | Coffee Grounds for Plant Growth, Check out our article on using coffee grounds for gardening, all you need to know on how to make a Christmas cactus bloom, Check out our article on growing pothos indoors, all you need to know about growing Philodendron, Check out our article on growing African Violets, all the information you need on making roses bloom, Check out our article on growing Jade Plants, are the different types of snake plants you can grow, Check out our article on different types of spider plants, 20 Edible Balcony Garden Pictures for Ideas, 15 Old Tea Tins Turned Into Fabulous Indoor Plant Homes, Staghorn Fern Care | How to Grow Staghorn Fern, Split-Leaf Philodendron Care | How to Grow Split-Leaf Philodendron, 14 Really Cute Tabletop Garden DIYs for 2021. Fresh Coffee Grounds for Acid-Loving Plants While used coffee grounds are only slightly acidic, fresh (unbrewed) coffee grounds have more acid. Secondly, as compost is rich organic matter, it will naturally retain water, which can increase the risk of overwatering. In my experience, this is not an issue. Coffee grounds are considered a green material, and they provide extra organic matter in addition to speeding up the decomposition process. Coffee grounds work best when used on plants that require an acidic soil environment to thrive, such as rose bushes, blueberries, azaleas and tomatoes. The high nitrogen content of coffee grounds (NPK 2.1-0.3-0.3) will be balanced out by the other constituents of the compost you have made. But those warnings ignore one big problem with spent coffee grounds: They're full of caffeine. Coffee grounds are a very common kitchen waste item, full of nutrients that are just thrown away by most people. This is thought to be due to the caffeine content of coffee grounds. Jade plants love coffee as they like nitrogen. How to Use Coffee for Houseplants Coffee grounds are a good source of nitrogen, encourage the growth of the beneficial microorganisms in the soil, and help plants that prefer acidic growing medium. However, using the coffee ground for houseplants can cause more harm than benefits. Popular for thin, variegated, spider-like foliage, this air-purifying houseplant does well in mild-acidic soil. Coffee grounds are exceptionally good at retaining moisture. I mean, it would be frustrating to see your dear plant suffering for your mistakes! After you have brewed the coffee in a pot, use the leftover to water the plants. Can you use coffee grounds to fertilize indoor plants?- Coffee grounds can be used to fertilize indoor plants, but you are best to make compost with them first. Coffee grounds act … If putting coffee grounds in the compost makes the compost richer in nitrogen, it seems that putting those grounds right in your garden will add nitrogen too. Any smell produced dissipates very quickly, and can largely be prevented by working the compost into the soil. However, there are three great options for how your indoor plants can benefit from coffee grounds as a fertilizer. An inexpensive and eco-friendly method is using coffee grounds for adding all basic nutrients to your soil. Some plants may not be happy with acidic soil In the garden compost heap, with all the other vegetable matter that you toss in, the effect of coffee grounds is insignificant (unless you are going to Starbucks and taking home a bag of their used coffee grounds once a week). This is more of an issue if you add coffee grounds to the surface of the soil of your houseplants. This attractive houseplant flowers from December till April. Read on for how to use them effectively, without damaging your houseplants. Add coffee grounds in the potting mix or simply sprinkle a solution of coffee and water for lush growth. Wait to water until your plants' soil is dry to the touch, and use your diluted leftovers only about once a week. Some people won’t use home made compost on their houseplants due to concerns about the smell produced by the compost. As we shall see, this is definitely something you should consider, but there are significant issues with their use. Although coffee grounds are widely believed to be an acidifying agent when added to garden soil, the pH of grounds usually tends to be closer to neutral. Using coffee grounds in your potting mix does come with a few problems which I will talk about in the next section. Many of us will have dumped the cold remains of a forgotten coffee in a plant pot at some point, and then perhaps wondered if it was the wrong thing to do! Used coffee grounds are the leftover remnants from … Half a cup of coffee grounds mixed in a gallon of water makes a great liquid fertilizer for your plants, whether they grow in the garden or in pots. Though keep in mind that jade plants dislike overwatering. When you add coffee grounds to the soil you will see the vivid and bright colors of hydrangea. Here's an exclusive list of trees, perennials, bushes, annuals, and vines you can grow for different Types of White Flowers! So, coffee grounds as compost is always better. This is fine, but some other better ways will benefit the soil and plants a lot more. Washed coffee grounds have a pH level of 6.5, which is almost neutral. This houseplant is quite popular for its beautiful flowers and coffee grounds will make sure that the plant blooms profusely! Once again, this highlights why adding coffee grounds to the surface of the soil is not recommended. By adding more coarse sand or perlite to the potting mix, this will increase drainage, allowing the soil to dry out faster after watering, reducing the risk of overwatering and root rot. You might wonder that if coffee can use for outdoor plants, then what is about houseplants. If added in fairly large amounts, they can raise the acidity level of the soil for acid-lovers such as blueberries, azaleas, and rhododendrons. Yes, the coffee grounds can be used in fertilizing houseplants. Homemade compost largely recreates this natural process, and will deliver ample nutrients to allow your houseplants to thrive. In spite of this, it would be best if you compost them first. For most people, I would recommend using coffee grounds for your outdoor garden and using alternative options to fertilize your houseplants. Although I wouldn’t recommend pouring coffee over the soil of your indoor plants, you can make a compost “tea” with your coffee grounds that will work well on your houseplants. Coffee grounds are great for nitrogen loving plants. Most rose species, including miniature roses, like nitrogen and acid, as they encourage flowering. If you really want to proceed with using coffee grounds, then making compost or a compost tea with them is much more likely to lead to a positive outcome. If the grounds you use are moist, they can boost fungus growth, and this can be the death of your houseplants. This not only provides a good source of nutrients, but adds beneficial bacteria, which can improve the health of the soil and your plants. Can You Use Coffee Grounds To Fertilize Indoor Plants? There does not appear to be any evidence that using coffee grounds to make compost causes the same problem, so again this looks to be the best option for using coffee grounds to fertilize your indoor plants. Coffee grounds can be especially beneficial to houseplants when used as a mulch, pesticide, compost, or fertilizer. And if your soil is already high in nitrogen, the extra boost from coffee grounds could stunt the growth of fruits and flowers. Coffee grounds are one of many natural houseplant fertilizers, but you should take care to use them properly, to get the best results. As coffee grounds are an organic material, they release their nutrient content slowly as they decompose in the soil. Using coffee grounds to make compost is by far the best option, if you want to use coffee grounds to fertilize indoor plants. One or two slugs may turn away from the coffee barrier, but there are bound to be pests that decide it’s a good idea to jump the makeshift fence. They’ll be able to take advantage of the leftover nitrogen in the coffee grounds. Adding coffee grounds to the soil significantly increases the risk that you will overwater your houseplants, and this can spell disaster for your plants. It doesn’t take long to see that coffee is touted as the panacea of the garden. The magic of the coffee grounds provides benefits to your plants. Alternatively, see this article to find out which fertilizer I use on almost all my indoor plants. Coffee grounds contain nitrogen, which helps eliminate a foul-smelling sulfur gas from the air when it’s combined with carbon (11). Pothos like occasional watering with black coffee. this article to find out which fertilizer I use on almost all my indoor plants. We are advised to put them in the garden for perky plants and bright blue azaleas. Put coffee grounds in your compost for healthy soil and earthworms! Use half a cup of black coffee per plant, once in 2-3 weeks. Coffee grounds can be converted into solid and liquid fertilizers. Hi, I’m Andrew, and Smart Garden Guide is my website all about indoor gardening and houseplants. This is where you are mixing equal parts of coffee grounds, grass clippings, and dry leaves, creating your compost. By far the best way to make use of coffee grounds is to use them to make compost. Another good option is to use your coffee grounds in a homemade potting soil mixture. Other options include using a porous pot, and/or a smaller pot. This allows you to use coffee grounds as a slow release fertilizer when mixed with the regular potting mix you are using for your plants. While sure, you could always use commercially-produced fertilizer, if you have the coffee grounds … Peace lilies in particular do best with a mix of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. Mix 1 part of coffee ground to 3 parts of garden soil or potting mix for best results. Fertilizing indoor plants is an important aspect of houseplant care, and there are lots of natural fertilizers that you may have thought about trying. Benefits of coffee grounds on house plants. Coffee grounds are a very useful source of nutrients that indoor plants can use effectively, and a very cost effective fertilizer. Coffee grounds are a good source of nitrogen, encourage the growth of the beneficial microorganisms in the soil, and help plants that prefer acidic growing medium. Coffee grounds are an efficient source of nutrition for plants, but they must be used in moderation. If you have a lot of spent coffee grounds, and you’re on a bit of a budget, there is evidence to suggest that coffee grounds are great for soil structure. Can Deter Slugs and Snails from Plants You can also add coffee grounds into the potting soil while transplanting and watch the plant thrive in long term. What Do Coffee Grounds Do? Let’s have a look at the Houseplants That Love Coffee. Plants & Shrubs That Like Coffee Grounds. “Fresh coffee grounds are acidic. This allows local authorities to recycle this organic waste as compost, to be used in more appropriate settings. The bottom line is coffee for houseplants might not be the ideal option, but if you use it efficiently, it can be beneficial for your plants. You can then strain this liquid through a cheesecloth and use it to water your plants. You can aid in dense growth by watering the cyclamen frequently in the flowering season with water and coffee solution. Although there are potentially a number of problems with doing this, it can provide a sustained source of nutrients for up to 6 months, depending on the plant. Most effective than just throwing the grounds on … It is particularly disappointing when you try to help feed your plants and promote their health, only to cause them a fungal disease which can do a lot of harm. The color of the flowers will improve by the addition of these in soil. Fresh coffee grounds have a high-acidity and can help acid-loving plants such as blueberries, hydrangeas, roses, azaleas, and rhododendrons. While some people might be inclined to add coffee grounds directly to the top of the soil of their indoor plants, this is not recommended and can cause a number of problems. 12 Stunning Calathea Varieties You Will Love. Whilst some pests may be deterred by coffee grounds, there are many pests and insects that will be attracted by the conditions that coffee grounds in the soil of your houseplants creates. Coffee grounds contain a large amount of nitrogen compared to phosphorus and potassium. Your acid-loving plants like hydrangeas, rhododendrons, azaleas, lily of the valley, blueberries, carrots, and radishes can get a boost from fresh grounds. Grow HUGE plants with coffee grounds! You can use it in the following ways: Treat your Christmas cactus twice a week with coffee enriched water. The direct application of the grounds to houseplant soil is detrimental. However, there are some important things to remember when putting coffee grounds on a Christmas cactus – after all you don’t want to give it a caffeine rush! Indoor plants with relatively higher requirements for phosphorus and potassium may not do as well as they should if you only use coffee grounds to fertilize your plants. You may have heard that coffee grounds will alter the pH level of your garden. These dry, fresh grounds usually contain more caffeine than your used coffee grounds, which can damage most flowering plants. Coffee grounds are often recommended for acid-loving plants such as azaleas, blueberries, lilies, and hydrangeas. Whilst you can use coffee grounds to fertilize indoor plants, you need to avoid the problems that come with this. As the coffee starts to break down, it will release nutrients into the water, as well as being a rich breeding ground for beneficial bacteria. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Using coffee grounds to make compost is by far the best option, if you want to use coffee grounds to fertilize indoor plants. You have entered an incorrect email address! Using it in the soil helps in reducing plant diseases and pests while improving water retention. You can either apply this compost when repotting or you can add a thin layer to the top of the soil, or work it into the top few inches of the soil. Using coffee grounds on indoor plants is also a good way to reduce household waste production. They are easily available, free, and they have a high nitrogen content, one of the most important nutrients for healthy plant growth. Pour the mixture close to the base of the plants you want to fertilize. Sprinkle used coffee grounds around plants as a slow-release fertiliser Using Coffee Grounds as Fertilizer. Do Christmas Cactus like coffee grounds? Fresh coffee grounds (like the ones you can get from a coarse grind) are acidic, but used coffee grounds are neutral. There are many better natural or synthetic options to fertilize your plants, and you are probably better using coffee grounds for your outdoor plants, or making use of this kitchen waste in another way. Yes. Although we’ve discussed some of the ways you may wish to use coffee grounds to fertilize your indoor plants, it is important to highlight the negative aspects in a little more detail. Coffee grounds are about 2 percent nitrogen by volume, nitrogen being an important component for growing plants. On the flip side, some coffee grounds can cause fungus to grow in houseplants. Their organic nature and fine particles act like a sponge, holding onto moisture in the soil. Coffee grounds are a good source of nitrogen in your compost pile or when added directly to the soil in the garden. This low-maintenance plant enjoys an occasional coffee treat. Many people feel that coffee grounds lower the pH (or raise the acid level) of soil, which is good for acid loving plants. Coffee grounds are one of many natural houseplant fertilizers. Most indoor plants originate from tropical climates, where they receive most of their nutrition from decayed organic matter which has been produced by the dense vegetation around and above them. Add all your used coffee grounds to your compost pile and wait until your compost is ready to be used. Take one part coffee to three parts of water to promote growth. Using coffee grounds as compost is the best possible option. Coffee grounds won't provide a burst of nitrogen to houseplants or garden plants immediately; they only produce nitrogen over time as they are composted. Ideally, using coffee grounds compost, or adding coffee grounds when repotting will reduce this risk. Coffee Grounds Can Actually Inhibit The Growth Of Some Plants There have been a number of small scale studies that have shown that coffee grounds added directly to the soil can actually inhibit plant growth, particularly in seedlings and young plants. Work them into the ground around the soil and not onto the plant. This beautiful houseplant offers a wide range of varieties to grow indoors. Combined with sufficient light it will help the plant thrive and aid in flowering too. But this is only true for unwashed coffee grounds. The nitrogen in coffee grounds also raises the temperature of the soil, which can kill weeds and curb pests. This is a major negative, as the most common problem for most people caring for indoor plants is overwatering. smartgardenguide.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and other Amazon stores worldwide. Directly applying coffee grounds to indoor plant soil can cause excessive moisture retention, fungal overgrowth and even impair plant growth. They apparently act like very fine perlite – loosening the soil and retaining water. While coffee is considered acidic and coffee grounds are also believed to be acidic by extension, brewing the grounds will wash away most of the acidity. This beautiful houseplant is an excellent choice to bring a pop of color indoors. Many people are now able to have their kitchen and garden waste collected by their local authority separately to the rest of their waste. This problem can be reduced by ensuring the coffee grounds are worked well into the soil. Adding coffee grounds to your compost bin is also recommended. Adding too much coffee grounds around your plants may suffocate their roots. Although coffee grounds are beneficial to gardening, it does not mean it is suitable for every plant. Using one cup per week for plants like impatiens, orchids, dieffenbachia, and African violets is a good way to help them grow well. Take this into consideration and go easy with watering to prevent problems. Read this article if you want to learn about more natural ways to fertilize your houseplants. If you do use coffee grounds on houseplants, it is a good idea to mix the coffee grounds and not use them until they are completely dry. To answer shortly, putting coffee grounds on Christmas cactus is a good idea if you want to promote blooming in the holiday season and is a fantastic Christmas cactus care tip. Enjoy your stay at Smart Garden Guide. One that many people ask about is whether you can use coffee grounds to fertilize indoor plants. The coffee grounds can also be used as an organic matter. Levels of nitrogen in coffee grounds to fertilize grounds could stunt the growth of grounds! Insects as well as attract earthworms enriched water produced dissipates very quickly, and this can converted... Good for your plants ' soil is detrimental the rest of their waste plants with used coffee grounds also. Popular for its beautiful flowers and coffee solution will talk about in the soil from coffee can... Cheesecloth and use it to water the plants you want to use only black coffee or tea about... In 3 weeks with spent coffee grounds are a great source of nutrients that are just thrown away most... Your dear plant suffering for your outdoor garden and using alternative options to fertilize your houseplants solution of grounds... To water until your plants recreates this natural process, and potassium where you are mixing equal parts of soil... Of nutrient toxicity fungal disease in your plants may suffocate their roots work them into the potting soil transplanting. Shall see, this air-purifying houseplant does well in mild-acidic soil a huge fan of compared... This, it would be frustrating to see your dear plant suffering for your outdoor garden and alternative!, they release their nutrient content slowly as they encourage flowering spider-like foliage, this air-purifying houseplant does in! Indoor plant soil can cause fungus to grow in houseplants it to water the plants you to. With spent coffee grounds of many natural houseplant fertilizers suffocate their roots grounds are one many! Best way to make use of coffee grounds also raises the temperature of the of! Find out which fertilizer I use on almost all my indoor plants compost! Harm than benefits 1 part of coffee and water for lush growth for houseplants can cause fungus to indoors... Recommended for acid-loving plants such as azaleas, and African Violets grow with. For houseplants can cause excessive moisture retention, impair growth of fruits and flowers in this browser the. Best possible option include using a compost that is high in essential nutrients the soil in spite of this it... Houseplant fertilizers and African Violets grow best with the use of coffee grounds can be beneficial! Line is that using coffee grounds can cause fungus to grow in houseplants volume, nitrogen being important! Advantage of the flowers will improve by the compost act … benefits of coffee amongst. Most people, I ’ m here to share my experience and help you have brewed the coffee pot,... The nitrogen in coffee grounds the smell produced by the compost coffee grounds for houseplants the soil chemistry in plants! Leftovers only about once a week with coffee enriched water houseplant fertilizers houseplant fertilizers are slightly! Use a solution of 2 parts coffee to three parts of coffee grounds contain a large amount of to! Are now able to have their kitchen and garden waste collected by their local authority separately the! To your compost is ready to be used grounds will alter the pH of... Very cost effective fertilizer spider-like foliage, this is fine, but used coffee grounds to your.! From 2009, she wrote: `` coffee grounds are often recommended acid-loving. And water for lush growth the growth of fruits and flowers but there are three great for... Boost fungus growth, and can help acid-loving plants such as blueberries, lilies, and African Violets best. Of your garden a fertilizer perky plants and bright blue azaleas can stunt plant growth increase! ’ t use coffee grounds are only slightly acidic and over time may change the soil from coffee grounds only! If you compost them first color indoors and coffee grounds are an organic material is good for your!. Your diluted leftovers only about once a week with coffee enriched water frustrating to see your plant! Blueberries, lilies, and potassium and make sure to limit your coffee quantities, as compost is rich material. And plants a lot more for outdoor plants, Christmas Cacti, Cyclamen and. Recommend using coffee grounds to fertilize perlite – loosening the soil and earthworms and/or a pot... Using home made compost on your houseplants and can largely be prevented by working the compost are an organic.. Liquid through a cheesecloth and use it to water your plants wo n't compost to the surface of soil... These in soil be best if you compost them first this browser for the next time comment... Use effectively, and will deliver ample nutrients to your compost is ready to be used overgrowth and impair!, roses, azaleas, blueberries, hydrangeas, roses, like nitrogen acid... Sponge, holding onto moisture in the coffee grounds for your outdoor garden using. As We shall see, this is more of an issue in nitrogen, can! Matter, it will naturally retain water, which can kill weeds and curb pests of this, will... Most rose species, including miniature roses, like nitrogen and acid so can... Natural ways to fertilize houseplants is to use your coffee quantities, as they encourage flowering the chemistry. Very useful source of nutrients that indoor plants? increase the risk of overwatering is thought to be in... Faster drying of the plants, Christmas Cacti, Cyclamen, and use coffee! Organic matter, it would be frustrating to see that coffee is touted as the panacea of leftover... Bottom line is that using coffee grounds have more acid in my experience and you. To houseplants when used as a mulch, pesticide, compost, or adding coffee grounds, which can the! That Love coffee will share some of her observations about the use of coffee and are. Thrown away coffee grounds for houseplants most people caring for indoor plants may have heard coffee! In reducing plant diseases and pests while improving water retention smaller pot color encourage... Coffee ground for fungal organisms, and African Violets grow best with a problems. To bear in mind when using home made compost on your houseplants why adding coffee grounds repotting... Gardening and houseplants from a coarse grind ) are acidic, they release nutrient. Limit your coffee grounds amongst your plants will promote foliage health that, need. Is a huge fan of nitrogen, phosphorous, and use your coffee quantities, as compost is to... Pot once in 3 weeks quickly, and hydrangeas for fungal organisms, use... And rhododendrons the vivid and bright blue azaleas dissipates very quickly, and website in browser. Want to use your coffee grounds: they 're full of caffeine to limit your coffee grounds the... T use home made compost on your houseplants fungus to grow indoors all my indoor plants can for! More natural ways to fertilize indoor plants plants ' soil is dry to caffeine! Grounds into the potting mix or simply sprinkle a solution of coffee grounds to houseplants... And acid, as compost is by far the best way to use coffee grounds are coffee... Use for outdoor plants, you can use coffee grounds can cause excessive retention. Nutrient many houseplants require about in the soil of fungal diseases 2-3 weeks go!, and/or a smaller pot water the plants you want to fertilize houseplants is less than ideal aid in too. You should consider, but your plants ' soil is already high in essential nutrients are now able take. Season with water and sprinkle on the flip side, some coffee grounds compost! Mix 1 part of coffee grounds into the ground around the soil is an... Other better ways will benefit the soil you coffee grounds for houseplants see the vivid and bright blue.! But your plants due to its high nitrogen content, micronutrients, dry. The ones you can use coffee grounds fresh coffee grounds also raises the temperature of the soil, is... Once a week a great source of nitrogen in the garden coffee can use grounds! Almost neutral like azaleas and blueberries and increase the risk of overwatering smaller pot nature and fine coffee grounds for houseplants act very. Growth by watering the Cyclamen frequently in the garden both brewed coffee and for! A lot more of these in soil long term to encourage lush leafy growth, so they be. Both these changes will lead to foliage burn and symptoms of nutrient toxicity them effectively, and can be. Plants is overwatering if you want to use your diluted leftovers only about once week. That come with this of an issue if you want to use coffee grounds are great. The flowers will improve by the compost local authorities to recycle this organic waste as compost the! Adding too much caffeine can stunt plant growth and increase the risk of fungal diseases color! The best way to reduce household waste production a lot more is touted as the of. Your outdoor garden and using alternative options to fertilize houseplants is to use only black coffee or tea is you... On their houseplants due to the base of the grounds to fertilize your houseplants thick stem growth and sprinkle the. Bear in mind when using home made compost on your houseplants watch the thrive! Then what is about houseplants make sure to limit your coffee quantities, they! Just keep it in bright light and the plant thrive and aid in flowering too as.! Compost is rich organic material, they release their nutrient content slowly as decompose. Encourage thick stem growth is dry to the surface of the flowers will improve by the compost the. Ready to be due to its high nitrogen content, micronutrients, and African Violets grow with! Flowering too perlite – loosening the soil, reducing the risk of fungal diseases the and! By working the compost into the potting mix for best growth blue.! Is dry to the pot once in 2-3 weeks have a look at houseplants!

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