Have you drank coffee and thrown away the remaining coffee grounds? Do not do it! As it turns out, coffee grounds make a great fertilizer for most plants, both in the garden and around the house. The minerals contained in them have great power: they not only improve the quality of the soil and its structure, but also have a positive effect on green plantings.
How does fertilizer from coffee grounds work on plants?
Coffee grounds can be used as a fertilizer for both potted houseplants and vegetables or ornamental plants in the garden. Due to their acid reaction, they are particularly suitable for fertilizing acidophilic plants. Among them you will find many popular species such as: rhododendrons, azaleas, heathers, hydrangeas, ferns, and even some vegetables and fruits (eg tomatoes, strawberries).
Coffee grounds contain many valuable micronutrients for plants. These are mainly:
- nitrogen – responsible for the growth and development of plants, allows the proper conduction of the photosynthesis process.
- phosphor – affects the proper development of the root system, flowering, fruiting and seed formation.
- magnesium – responsible for the process of photosynthesis.
- potassium – improves the frost resistance of the plant, taking care of the strengthening of the roots.
- copper – has a beneficial effect on the proper development of the young parts of the plants, their further growth and ripening of the fruit.
Thanks to the use of coffee grounds, we can enrich the soil and improve its acidity. Furthermore, they are extremely useful for the growth of plants and even improve their visual aspects.
Can fertilizer from coffee grounds harm plants?
Unfortunately, despite many advantages, fertilizer from coffee grounds can also harm plants. Therefore, it is necessary to know how to apply it correctly. This is very important, because otherwise the coffee grounds will quickly mold and become useless. You should also be careful with rotten and fermented soils, since they can do more harm than good for the correct development of the plants.
It also happens that coffee has a negative effect on the growth of some plant species. These include, for example, a three-tuple. You should not use coffee grounds for seedlings and seedlings, as they inhibit seedling growth and development and seed germination. Also, don’t overuse coffee grounds for plants that like more alkaline soil. These include m.in lavender, thyme, vines, oleander, and bougainvillea.
How to use fertilizer from coffee grounds?
Just sprinkle a handful of coffee grounds around the plant. But be sure to mix them in with the top layer of soil. Thanks to this, you will ensure that nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus or magnesium filter deeply into the substrate and help the flowers develop. If coffee grounds are left on the surface of the soil, the stem and lower leaves of the plant will quickly become covered in mold.
Coffee grounds can also be used to prepare a nutritious preparation for watering plants. All you have to do is put a tablespoon of leftover after drink in a pint of water and it’s ready. This makes it easier to mix the coffee grounds into the soil where the flowers are planted.
