Coffee Grounds as Fertiliser: Tips to Use It

Frahling lovers should be happy about this news: You can drink coffee and do something good for your plants! Coffee grounds can best be used as fertiliser. You can find out exactly how this works and what you need to consider here.

Coffee grounds are a waste product of our coffee consumption. But it does not have to end up in the garbage! As a valuable, organic fertiliser, it is ideally suited to provide our plants with nutrients and it is also virtually free of charge.

Why is coffee grounds suitable as fertiliser?

• Coffee grounds have a slightly acidic pH value. This can be attributed to the humic acids produced by roasting. This makes coffee grounds ideal fertilisers for plants that require an acid humus soil.
• In addition, coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, which in turn serves as a nutrient for the plant.
• Furthermore, coffee grounds score points with potassium and phosphorus, which also contribute to good plant growth.
• Coffee grounds attract earthworms, which loosen up the soil, which in turn is good for the plants.
• Ants do not like coffee grounds, so the fertiliser also serves as a natural pesticide.

How to use coffee grounds as fertilizer

• The coffee grounds must first dry before they can be used as fertiliser for the plants. Otherwise the wet grounds could quickly start to mold. It is best to let it dry overnight on a plate.
• If you want to collect more coffee grounds, a bucket with an attached sieve is suitable for drying.
• Don’t just scatter the coffee grounds on the ground: the nutrients won’t reach the roots! The coffee grounds must be mixed with the soil.
• As fertilizer for potted plants you can lift the dried coffee grounds under the potting soil before you repot the plants next time.
• Alternatively, you can easily work the fertilizer into the soil with a rake.
• You can fertilize indoor plants directly with the cooled coffee. To do this, it only needs to be diluted 1:1 with water. The mixture is then suitable for watering the plant stem directly. Do not use this fertilizer more than once a week. Half a cup per plant is sufficient.

Compost coffee grounds

Regular coffee consumption can bring your compost heap into shape: in which case, you don’t need to let the coffee grounds dry out first. Simply sprinkle it regularly over the compost heap – and after a while you will have well enriched humus.

How often can I fertilize plants with coffee grounds?

• Fertilise your outdoor plants with the natural fertiliser up to four times a year.
• Indoor plants, on the other hand, enjoy the direct fertiliser in winter and spring.
• The coffee-water mixture, on the other hand, can be used once a week on your houseplant.

Note for all who are not blessed with a green thumb: You cannot overfertilise the plants with the coffee grounds!

Which plants can be fertilized?

Plants that prefer acid humus soils are happy about the extra portion of fertilizer. Among other things you can fertilize the following plants with coffee grounds:

• Blueberries
• Fern
• Hydrangeas
• Rhododendron
• Peonies
• Blueberries
• Roses
• Fuchsias
• Geraniums
• Tomatoes
• Pumpkins
• Courgette
• Cucumbers

Plants that require a calcareous soil, on the other hand, should not be fertilized with the coffee grounds.