Coffee has great benefits in not just energising the body, it also plays a key role in plants too. Coffee grounds help plants benefit from their caffeine content, whether it is the used or fresh one.
So, you should never let your used coffee go down the drain again. According to experts, coffee grounds contain nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, making them great for gardening activities.
Amazingly, that's not the only use of coffee grounds. In this article, we will give you everything you need to know about coffee grounds and how it can benefit your gardening activities.
How to Use Coffee Grounds as Fertilizer
If you know the relevance of coffee, you’ll know some grounds cannot just go down the drain. 'I so, giving them to your plants is just the best way to utilise them. To use coffee comportyou’re your garden;
Sprinkle the grounds directly on your soil and slightly rake in. The coffee ground will add to the organic minerals in the soil and increase its water retention ability, drainage and aeration.
Leftover diluted coffee can serve as a liquid plant fertiliser. Just mix two cups of brewed coffee grounds with five gallons of water in a bucket overnight.
How to Make Compost with Used Coffee Ground
If you are wondering how to male compost, experts recommended adding coffee grounds among the list of ingredients. According to scientists, adding a balance of greens and browns is needed for creating the right environment for compost to occur.
Greens are nitrogen-rich materials that are used by microorganisms in the soil for their growth and reproduction. They include vegetable and fruit peels, and ground coffee. Browns are carbon-rich materials used to feed microorganisms and give them energy. Examples are twigs, dried leaves, and newspaper.
To mix greens and brown, use a ratio of 1:4. That’s 1 part of greens and 4 parts of browns. When you have too much green in your compost, it will make your compost pile smell.
That’s due to the ammonia produced from the microorganism. If the green material will stop the compost from heating up because the microorganism won't have enough energy to function.
Ensure to mix your compost thoroughly. Also rake in the coffee ground. If you leave the coffee ground on the surface without raking it in, you will expose them to air and they will eventually dry out.
When your coffee ground is dried out, it compacts and acts as a barrier, thus preventing water from penetrating the soil beneath. So always mix it up.
If you practise vermin composting with a worm bin, adding coffee ground is compulsory as worms love them. For a small bin, add a cup of grounds every week to feed their addiction. However, ensure you don’t add too much at once as the acidity could have a negative impact on the worms.
Which Plants Like Coffee Grounds Most?
Acid-loving plants like roses, lilies, azaleas, and holies, love coffee grounds. These plants help to lower the soil pH, making it more acidic. Acid loving plants thrive best in the acidic characteristics of coffee grounds. However, even while coffee plants have their undeniable benefits, coffee grounds don't work on every plant.
Plants like rhododendrons and tomatoes are sensitive to coffee ground and might develop brown leaf tips if they come in contact with the coffee ground. So, if you plan to grow tomatoes, you might want to keep your coffee ground away. You should also keep the coffee away from the seeded area as it can reduce germination.
Uses of Coffee Grounds
Used coffee ground can be used for the following:
Spread it on planting beds like mulch, grounds fertilise soil, drive weeds and kill slugs.
A coffee mulch also attracts earthworms and acidifies the soil. Some gardeners use coffee grounds in beds in that it aerates and acidifies soil.
In terms of fertilising soil, coffee grounds contain a significant amount of nitrogen, thus improving soil fertility.
Coffee grounds inhibit the growth of some plants, including geranium, asparagus fern, Chinese mustard and Italian ryegrass. Conversely, grounds (used as mulch and compost) improve yields of soybeans and cabbage.
Ways to Use Coffee Grounds for Gardens
So what’s the right course of action with coffee grounds? Follow these tips for the best success in repurposing grounds in your garden.
1. Compost- One of the best ways of using coffee grounds is as compost. But when adding coffee ground, use only 10-20% of the total compost. A higher percent might inhibit the function of food microbes from breaking down organic matter.
In other cases, add four parts of shredded leaves to 1 part coffee ground. Some experts have insisted on adding wood ash or lime to the compost, to shed off the initial acidity of the ground. It's not a necessary input but if you must, use a ratio of cup of lime or ash to 10 pounds of grounds.
2. Spread Thinly and Cover- Using coffee grounds as a thin layer is the best. Using thick mulch tends to compact and form a barrier that prevents air or water from penetrating. If you want to spread coffee grounds on soil, use a half a thin layer at most covered with a thicker layer of two to four inches of organic matter, such as shredded bark, wood chips or compost.
3. Shift soil pH- To use coffee grounds to acidify alkaline soil, dig grounds into soil to a depth of 7 to 8 inches.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What plant likes coffee grounds?
Acid loving plants like lily of the valley, carrots, hydrangeas, azaleas, radishes, and rhododendrons love coffee grounds. However, plants like tomatoes do not like coffee grounds and you must keep them from it.
Why should coffee grounds not be used?
Coffee grounds are highly acidic and if your soil already has a larger percentage of nitrogen, the acidic content for coffee grounds can stunt the growth of plants such as flowers and fruits.
2. Can you put too much coffee ground in your garden?
No, you cannot put too much coffee ground in your garden. It is recommended to apply a layer and no thicker than half an inch of coffee ground. For compost, never add more than 15 to 20 percent toral compost volume. That’s because they are acidic, and too much of anything is dangerous.
3. Do coffee grounds attract rats?
No, they don’t. While rats and mice are attracted to food odour, they are not attracted to the smell or taste of coffee grounds, however, rats and mice are repealed by both fresh and used coffee grounds.
4. Are coffee grounds good for hydrangeas?
Yes, coffee grounds will boom and boost from your recycled coffee ground. Hydrangea love coffee grounds and will go wild and become colourful and super bright. That’s because Your hydrangeas will definitely get a bloom-boost from your recycled coffee grounds.
5. Are coffee grounds good for grass?
Yes, coffee grounds will make your grass greener and longer when added to your soil. You can mix them through the soil in your indoor plants or sprinkle them in the grassy areas, if you have a large amount, for a little growth boost.
6. Are coffee grounds good for roses?
The high nitrogen content used for coffee grounds makes a great growing companion for roses. That’s because it helps to change the soil pH from neutral to acidic. Some experts also suggest sprinkle coffee grounds in the soil next to the plant.
However, when applying it, ensure to add just a little as too much can burn and kill the plant due to the high nitrogen content. Matter of fact, just add only a cup for each bush.
Alternatively, you can mix one cup of ground with one gallon of water per bush and use this mix to water the plants so your roses are particularly bright and beautiful. And you can also use your coffee compost if you have made some.
7. Do coffee grounds deter slugs?
Yes, coffee grounds repel slugs and snails. Spread coffee grounds around plants you want to protect from insects.
Wrap Up!
Coffee Ground is great for gardening because it contains a high acidity which is good for plants. On the other hand, coffee grounds are not friendly to some plants.
So, it is important to do good research before using it. If you ever forget how to use coffee grounds, check this article again.
