The experts at WeThrift share how using coffee grounds can be good for both houseplants and plants outside. According to professionals, the hot drink can be used as a fertilizer for plants as it contains essential nutrients like nitrogen, potassium, calcium and magnesium, all of which plants need to thrive.
The experts explain: “Coffee in particular is a great source of nitrogen, which your plants need to produce greener, healthier and stronger stems.
“Mixing coffee grounds into your compost pile is an organic way to give your plants a huge boost.
“Despite its brown color, coffee is considered a green compost material because it is kitchen waste. A healthy compost mix should contain equal amounts of both green and brown.
“Greens include kitchen waste products such as coffee grounds or eggshells, as well as any other fresh or green produce such as fresh grass, cut flowers or even weeds.
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“Whether they are found outside or inside, most plants will benefit from the extra boost in nutrients that coffee grounds can provide.
“Coffee grounds can still be used for most houseplants to very similar results. Diluted coffee will continue to serve as an efficient and organic fertilizer for more healthy looking houseplants.
“You would struggle to find any plant that would not benefit from being fed coffee, however, there are plants that should only be fed coffee in moderation and others that seem to like it a lot.”
Outdoor plants that love coffee include hydrangeas, blueberry bushes, holly and azaleas.
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Whether using granules or diluted coffee, it is best to apply the coffee finely to the soil, away from the stems, leaves or flowers of the plant.
The WeThrift experts continued: “If you’re using coffee grounds, be sure to rake them into the soil to avoid clumping, as the more dispersed the coffee the more effective it will be.
“Remember that there’s no need to go out of your way to make coffee for your plants when you can just use leftovers from your morning cup.”
As well as being a great fertiliser, coffee grounds can be used around plants to make them less attractive to slugs.
Experts said it’s a combination of the high caffeine content as well as the abrasive texture that keeps slugs away from nearby plants.
The pros said: “Luckily, the caffeine-high coffee in your soil won’t put off worms. Those clumpy creatures are incredibly helpful to your soil’s fertilization process and supposedly love coffee grounds.
“Coffee in very small amounts is not harmful to worms, and a caffeinated worm will do its job much faster, plus they are likely to breed in the soil.
“Like myself, be careful not to overfeed your plants with coffee, no matter how grumpy they may look.
“Your plants should only need Coffee Boost once a week to see benefits. Coffee can be naturally acidic, so feeding your plant with it can have a negative effect.