Do you like drinking coffee? And do you love plants? Coffee grounds are an excellent fertilizer for many houseplants. What do you have to pay attention to? Which houseplants like coffee grounds? Read on!
What are the benefits of coffee grounds for houseplants?
Coffee leftovers from the machine usually end up in the trash. But you can feed flowers, bushes, etc. with coffee grounds. Simply use coffee leftovers as fertilizer for your plants! Then you can save yourself expensive fertilizers. Here are the most important onesBenefits of coffee grounds:
- Coffee leftovers are a natural waste product that can be reused and do not have to be made from raw materials - this protects the environment and the family budget.
- Coffee grounds contain important nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, tannins, caffeine and antioxidants. Nitrogen in particular promotes lush plant growth. More commercially available
- Coffee grounds repel insects: The smell is pleasant for us humans, but many insects don't like it at all, so coffee grounds are also perfect for combating pests such as snails or ants. On the other hand, beneficial insects such as earthworms love the coffee grounds - they are environmentally friendly and inexpensive:
Coffee grounds as fertilizer: what should you pay attention to?
Procurement is easy: you just have to remove the coffee residue from the machine. Then it should be dried, for example by spreading it out on a baking tray. Because wet coffee grounds mold quickly - and that is very harmful to plants: mold spores can germinate in the soil, the roots rot and the plant dies.
When the coffee grounds are well dried, it is best to put them in a cloth bag and store them in a dry place. If you treat your plants to this, be sure to remove old coffee residue before each new fertilization to avoid compaction and subsequent mold formation.
How often can I use coffee as fertilizer
Basically, the frequency depends on the nutrient requirements of the plant and the pH value of the soil. During the growth phase, plants with low to medium nutrient content, i.e. plants that absorb little or moderate amounts of nutrients from the soil, should be fertilized up to twice a month. Heavy feeders can be fertilized more frequently if necessary. Since coffee grounds only release nutrients slowly, over-fertilization is rare.
However, if the plant shows signs of over-fertilization, you should initially suspend fertilization.To do this, pour the coffee groundsdirectly onto the soil, spread it and work it in. For potted plants it should be around two teaspoons; for mature plants, fertilizing twice a year is sufficient. Garden plants therefore need more: the filter contains around 30 grams of coffee grounds, which is enough for around ten liters of garden soil. Here too, the dried coffee residue should be sprinkled well.
How to Use Coffee Grounds for Houseplants
There are two basic methods for using coffee grounds on houseplants: mixing the coffee grounds into the soil or diluting the coffee grounds with water to make a liquid fertilizer.
You can use coffee grounds as fertilizer for flowers, but many other plants also love the nutrient. Because coffee grounds have a relatively low pH, they are particularly suitable for plants that grow in acidic soil, some examples:
The lemon tree fertilize with coffee grounds:The Mediterranean lemon tree can only be cultivated outdoors in summer, otherwise it will freeze. It therefore thrives as a container plant and has a correspondingly high nutrient requirement. Between April and September, the lemon tree can be fertilized with coffee grounds once a month.
Coffee grounds as fertilizer for orchids:The popular ornamental plants are very sensitive, but coffee grounds are still a good fertilizer. But try it with a teaspoon first to see if your orchid really likes the treatment. Wilted leaves or other changes are a warning sign.
Coffee grounds as fertilizer for herbs:Mediterranean herbs such as sage, lavender or rosemary grow best in dry, nutrient-poor soil and do not need to be fertilized, or only very rarely. Herbs with high nutrient requirements can be fertilized with coffee grounds in moderation, such as basil, parsley, spring onions, wild garlic, tarragon or mint.
Note: Be careful with lime-loving herbs such as sage, oregano and borage: They should not be fertilized with coffee grounds.
Geraniums, rhododendrons, hydrangeas and camellias also like coffee grounds as fertilizer.
Which plants don't like coffee grounds?
Plants that are sensitive to acid should not be fertilized with coffee residues. In particular, plants that like calcareous or alkaline soils should not be treated. These include, for example:
– Chrysanthemums
- Forsythia
– Gladiolus
In principle, however, the following always applies: It is best to try sparingly to see whether coffee grounds are suitable as fertilizer for the plant in question.
Also read:Fertilizing geraniums: coffee grounds or milk are better? We'll do the comparison!
