As heavy feeders, geraniums need a lot of nutrients to form flowers. Fortunately, there are many home remedies that can be used as natural fertilizers for flowers. Milk has recently been touted as an effective fertilizer. But coffee grounds are actually quite suitable for this too. Which home remedy should you take? We do the comparison.
Fertilize geraniums with this home remedy: Coffee grounds promote growth
Coffee grounds work well as fertilizer for geraniums. It contains:
- Nitrogen, which promotes sprouting and growth
- Phosphorus, which geraniums need to form flowers
- Potassium, which keeps plant cells healthy
- has a neutral pH
It is very important that coffee grounds inhibit germination and can therefore only be used on plants that have already sprouted.
But it can do even more:
- A thin layer of coffee grounds can also act as mulch and protect the soil from drying out on sunny days. To do this, simply place the coffee grounds directly over the root area.
- Coffee grounds worked into the soil can loosen the soil and improve drainage. But be careful – too much of a good thing can have the opposite effect. Too much coffee grounds in the soil prevents rainwater from draining away and leads to waterlogging.
- Studies have shown that coffee grounds can inhibit weed growth.
- Keeps coffee grounds in the groundPests such as slugs away
How to properly use coffee grounds as fertilizer for geraniums
Depending on what you want to achieve, the coffee grounds can:
- be incorporated into the soil. In this case, it is enough to use 1 teaspoon of coffee grounds per 10 square meters. For potted plants, a pinch of coffee grounds sprinkled on the ground is enough. Fertilize the geraniums with coffee grounds every 10 days during the growth phase. When flowering begins, fertilize the flowers every 2 to 3 weeks.
- You can also prepare a broth. To do this, simply add 1/2 teaspoon of coffee grounds to 5 liters of water, let it steep overnight and then use it to water the flowers. The next day, strain the liquid and pour it into a spray bottle. Then spray the leaves of the plant with it and use the rest of the brew as irrigation water.
Milk as fertilizer for geraniums: The home remedy stimulates flower formation
Milk is also suitable as a natural fertilizer. It contains:
- Calcium, which promotes the growth of young plants.
- Vitamin B. This group of vitamins strengthens geraniums and makes them more resistant to diseases.
- Sugar: a quick source of energy for the flower.
- Beneficial bacteria that improve the soil and enrich soil life.
Milk is also used, with varying degrees of success, in the fight against certain pests such as aphids and the mosaic leaf virus they transmit.
Using it in the garden is extremely simple: you dilute milk and water in a ratio of 1 to 1 and use it to water the plants. For potted plants, use is only recommended in limited quantities. It is best to add 4 tablespoons of milk to 1 liter of water and use it to water the geraniums. Fertilizers should be given every 4 weeks.
But milk also has some disadvantages:
- If it is used excessively and undiluted, an unpleasant smell can develop. This is especially noticeable on warm days. If the milk spoils, it can stunt the growth of the plants.
- If the leaves are sprayed with skimmed milk, this can promote various fungal diseases such as soft rot.
Coffee grounds or milk: which natural fertilizer is better for geraniums?
Both coffee grounds and milk are suitable as fertilizers for geraniums. However, they differ in their effect: coffee grounds promote growth and milk promotes flower formation. If you compare the disadvantages of the two, it becomes clear - using coffee grounds does not pose any major risks to potted and garden plants. However, frequent use of milk can lead to fungal diseases.
Our tip: First fertilize the geraniums with coffee grounds and then, if this home remedy does not produce the desired results, try milk. By the way, coffee grounds work best when combined with banana peels. We have already told you how to make your own fertilizer from banana peels in our article “Fertilize geraniums with home remedies: The best natural fertilizers" explained.
