Did you know that coffee, without added sugar, is an excellent natural fertilizer for certain plants? We already knew that coffee grounds are a great option for fertilizing the soil. Thanks to its numerous nutrients, and mainly its nitrogen content, this component is regularly used for growing plants. But the idea of using coffee itself to water plants seems unusual to say the least. Well, you will be pleasantly surprised by the result!
We drink a cup of coffee every morning to give us a boost of energy to face the day as best as possible. But who would have thought that it could also be used as fertilizer in the garden? Incredible but true: “making” our plants drink coffee can help them boost their growth. Discover these plants that appreciate this famous black nectar as much as we do!
The benefits of coffee for plant care
Is it really beneficial to water plants with coffee? Let’s find out.
Coffee contains magnesium and potassium, these are nutrients necessary for plant growth. Of course, we cannot use the coffee we drink with sugar, a little milk or maybe even a touch of cream. If sugar is not a really harmful substance, cream and milk remain harmful for planting vegetables. In other words, if you plan to use coffee to water your plants, always remember to dilute it first with a little water.
It is important to know that plants grow best with an acidic pH (specifically 5.8 to 7). Coffee already has a pH between 5.2 and 6.9, so adding tap water (which tends to have a pH higher than 7) can increase the acidity of the soil. You will therefore need to let the coffee cool and then dilute it with cold tap water (more or less with the same quantity of coffee).
After that, you can water any plants that like slightly more acidic soil, including:
1. Azaleas
2. Cyclamens
3. Hydrangeas
4. Gardenias
5. Hyacinths
6. Aloe-Vera
7. Roses
8. Begonias
How to use coffee on plants?
Diluted coffee adds enough organic fertilizer to encourage your plants to grow and flourish healthier.
However, to prevent the soil from being too acidic, only water your plants with coffee occasionally, otherwise they risk getting sick or even dying. Yellowing of the leaves can also be a sign of excess acidity in the soil, in which case it is better to stop this type of watering and instead repot the plants.
Be careful, never use it to water plants that do not like acidic soil. And as we’ve already mentioned, don’t consider watering with flavored coffee either: this can lead to soil microbes, fungus and unwanted odors.
Why should you use coffee grounds in the garden?
The virtues of coffee grounds for the garden are numerous, here are some good reasons not to throw them away:
- Soil fertilizer
- Soil for seedlings
- Anti-pests
- Keep the cat away from the garden and vegetable patch
- Growing medium
- Compost mixture
