You can make the most of your everyday brew for your indoor garden if youโฆ
โฆlove coffee and gardening.
It is important for you to understand what benefits they give to your plantsโฆ
โฆand how they benefit your plantsโฆ
..as well as how you can correctly and efficiently use them in your garden.
Hear it from Cindy!
I love my morning coffee every time I have the chance to brew it myselfโฆ
Thereโs a sense of calmness in the brewing and drinking processโฆ
Usually, the waste from my brew will not go directly to the binโฆ
โฆbut to the houseplants, I have at home!
My gardener friend told me that it would be beneficialโฆ
โฆ for the nitrogen intake of the plants โ in the right amount of course.
So far, I havenโt had any problems with the coffee grounds in my houseplantsโฆ
Thatโs right!
Despite being an excellent source of nutrition for plantsโฆ
โฆ it needs to be used in moderation.
The use of coffee grounds is ideal for the growth of houseplantsโฆ
โฆ such as African Violets, Cyclamen, and Philodendrons.
What Do Coffee Grounds Do?
IN THIS ARTICLE:
Coffee grounds are excellent for fertilizing plantsโฆ
The benefits they offer in keeping the soil healthyโฆ
โฆhas led to their use in composting and outdoor gardensโฆ
They are acidic but do not change the pH level of the soil when added.
Nitrogen is given out by the coffee groundsโฆ
As a major component of chlorophyll, it is important to plantsโฆ
When they receive the right amount of nitrogen, their growth and development will be improvedโฆ
All plants utilize nitrogen (N) in the form of NO3- and NH4+. It is most imperative element for proper growth and development of plants which significantly increases and enhances the yield and its quality by playing a vital role in biochemical and physiological functions of plant.
Shah Jahan Leghar, Niaz Ahmed Wahocho, Ghulam Mustafa Laghari, and Abdul Hafeez Laghari in Role of Nitrogen for Plant Growth and Development: A review
There are three types of soil nitrogen:
- Organic Nitrogen โ Majority of the Soil Nitrogen is made up of Organic Nitrogen.
- Ammonium (NH4+) โ NH4+ positive ions bind with the soilโs negative ions in a Cation Exchange Complex (CEC) and practically behave like other cations in the soil.
- Nitrate (NO3โ) โ Negative ions do not bind with the soil due to the principle of โlike charges repelโ, instead they dissolve in soil water and precipitate as soluble salts.
Soil nitrogen is primarily made up of Organic Nitrogen that comes from either plant or animal residuesโฆ
Ammonium (NH4+) is a common form of nitrogen in plantsโฆ
โฆwhereas Nitrate (NO3โ) is found more commonly in inorganic forms like ammonia (NH4โ).
The use of nitrogen by plants requires large amountsโฆ
โฆand even if nitrogen is readily available in the atmosphereโฆ
โฆthe absorption process may take some time.
Most plants with restrained root systems as a result of compactionโฆ
โฆwill suffer from nitrogen shortages.
A nitrogen deficiency in plants can result in their stems getting thinnerโฆ
โฆ their leaves losing color, and their growth is stunted.
If too little nitrogen is absorbed, a plant will eventually dieโฆ
Nitrogen is not the only nutrient presentโฆ
Potassium and phosphorus are also essential elements toโฆ
โฆmaintaining the health of your plants.
Benefits Of Using Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds have been used by experienced gardeners to solve all kinds of plant issuesโฆ
โฆ and have been used for various plants in different settings.
Reduce Plant Disease
Natural microorganisms content available prevent most pathogenic fungi from growingโฆ
โฆ thereby preventing plants from rotting.
ย
Deter Pests
Even though pests are not a big problem indoorsโฆ
โฆ itโs still worthwhile to mention thatโฆ
โฆ it deters pests that cause harm to your plants.
Theyโre especially effective against slugsโฆ
Improve Soil Quality
The grounds decompose, releasing beneficial micronutrients such as nitrogenโฆ
โฆpotassium and phosphorus.
They are good fertilizers that eventually lead to a better plant.
However, results may not be immediateโฆ
Water Retention
Coffee grounds help houseplants use water less frequentlyโฆ
Thus making your job much easierโฆ
Indoor plants donโt really need to be watered that often, having said thatโฆ
Provides Drainage
If you have watered your plants a bit more than necessaryโฆ
โฆit helps break down the soil and prevent stagnant waterโฆ
โฆthat might cause rotting in your plantโs roots.
Wait, I have a solution for you!
This moisture meter is a must-have if youโre a total newbie or if youโre just really into plants after a series of failures like I was. That way youโll know exactly when to hydrate your plants.
- Reliable and accurate: Sensing probe ensures accurate and instant testing results, matching for both indoor or outdoor use.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Keeps Cats Away
The coffee grounds might be ideal for cat ownersโฆ
They will deter cats from using your flower pots or plant beds as litter boxesโฆ
Through these pointsโฆ
..it is evident that they are highly beneficialโฆ
โฆbut they should be used in moderation. After all, too much of anythingโฆ
โฆcan be dangerous in the end.
Where To Get And How To Store Coffee Grounds?
For those of you not drinking them but would like to experimentโฆ
โฆ with the use of coffee grounds in your little indoor gardenโฆ
โฆ you can easily get some at any of your local cafes.
Itโs free and plentiful everywhereโฆ
All you need to do is askโฆ
Some big-name companies will re-package these grounds andโฆ
โฆdisplay them in their store free for anyone who needs them.
Tips Of Use In Your Indoor Garden
You should be cautious when using the groundsโฆ
Too much of them can poison your plantsโฆ
โฆso they should only be used in moderationโฆ
Below are some tips for correctly utilizing the grounds:
Donโt Use on Seedlings
For young plants, coffee grounds contain high amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassiumโฆ
You can use them when you have already repotted your seedlingsโฆ
..or when they are already mature.
Or even betterโฆ
On the recommendation of my gardener friend, on how to grow hanging and potted plants well and bloom beautifully, I bought this product for the progress of my seedlings.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Mix With Your Mulch
Mulch is a layer of material applied to your soil in order to provide it withโฆ
โฆnutrition and insulation.
It would be best to mix them with mulch rather than going straight into the soilโฆ
โฆas they have a lot of micronutrients which are readily available for plants toโฆ
โฆconsume.
The result of this process is a mixture of earth and snow elements.
Finding the right mulch? Ok, you get me. This mulch was laid down about two months ago. The weeds have been kept at bay. I like the color: itโs almost black, but not quite. This mulch comes highly recommended.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
1:3 Ratio
We mentioned earlier that coffee grounds should be used in moderation.
Mixing the grounds directly into the ground would be less effective thanโฆ
โฆcovering the soil with mulch.
The ratio of 1 part coffee grounds to 3 parts soil should be usedโฆ
This is only for soil that does not have any plants in it yetโฆ
Mixing the grounds deeply would cause physical damage to the rootsโฆ
โฆof your plant.
Nextโฆ
Water After Application
Experts suggest watering the potted plantโs soil after you have appliedโฆ
โฆenough of them. The moisture helps bind the grounds, soil, and mulchโฆ
โฆtogether.
- Protects against over- and under-watering
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Use Sparingly
Particularly when used in small containers or potsโฆ
โฆthey need to be used in small amountsโฆ
A tablespoon of coffee ground will be enough for a small plantโฆ
You only need a thin layer on top of the soilโฆ
Those tips will help you get the most out of the coffee groundsโฆ
โฆyou have at homeโฆ
Houseplants That Thrive With Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds are definitely the best choiceโฆ
โฆ if youโre looking for a more organic means of fertilizing your plants.
However, not all plants would thrive due to the level of nitrogen they produceโฆ
Here are a few plants that would thrive with them:
- Philodendrons (Philodendron bipinnatifidum) are helped by soaking the veins in them.
- Jade Plants (Crassula ovata) have thicker leaves and longer stems thanks to their presence in the soil.
- Christmas Cacti (Schlumbergera spp.) You can manage good drainage and avoid stagnate water, which would eventually kill the plant through rotting. The micronutrients in coffee grounds also help flowering.
- Succulent Cyclamens (Cyclamen hederifolium) make great houseplants. Plants flourish with it mixed into the soil, with lush green leaves and winter blooms.
- The African Violet, Saintpaulia spp. love nitrogen and acid; they will therefore flourish in a pot containing coffee grounds, as long as coffee is not spilled on the leaves.
The plants listed here thrive in acidic soilsโฆ
Even though the chances of coffee grounds changing the pH of your soil is very unlikelyโฆ
โฆ most coffee grounds are acidic.
The deep root zone contributes to the acid need of the plant itselfโฆ
โฆ since it is part of the whole soil system.
How Often Should You Use Coffee Grounds In Your Houseplant?
Since coffee grounds contain plenty of organic matterโฆ
โฆ you can be sure that it will make a great addition to your indoor gardenโฆ
You shouldnโt add them to your plantโs pot daily since this would cause an imbalanceโฆ
โฆ in the nutrients, they get and eventually cause damage to your plant.
The number of coffee grounds you should give your plantsโฆ
โฆevery 4 to 6 weeks is usually sufficient.
Because the consistency of the grounds is quite fineโฆ
โฆ you may not need as much to maximize their benefits.
For years, coffee grounds have been used to plant outdoor vegetable and fruit gardensโฆ
By realizing the potential of this apparently waste materialโฆ
โฆ we can truly transform the way we grow our own gardens.
To Sum Up
Coffee grounds do help houseplants to prosperโฆ
With the right amount and frequency of applicationโฆ
Your houseplants will thrive and get the benefits of coffee groundsโฆ
โฆ such as deterring pests, give better drainage, and providing nutrients.
Conclusion
There are still many recent and interesting articles aboutย Snake Plantsโฆ
โฆ as well as other unique information fromย All Things Gardener.
Check out more posts on our website like this one here!
For further information and other inquiriesโฆ
โฆ you can contact usย here.
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I am a new gardener - from the covid generation. From gardening, I know how to be more patient and tend to other things besides myself.
I'm sure there are many new gardener like me. I hope I can give us helpful information through this All Things Gardener site (which is our lovely website, of course). Let's be better of taking care of our "green child" together!๐๐๐
*My first friend is jade plant a.k.a money tree. It is true, we can make money from the tree. If you sell the tree, you get your money :3.