Are old coffee grounds good for plants
16 Creative Uses for Used Coffee Grounds
Coffee is a popular beverage consumed all over the world.
People usually discard the grounds left behind after it’s brewed, but after reading this article, you may reconsider throwing them out.
Coffee grounds have many practical uses around the home and garden and can even help spruce up your beauty routine.
If you don’t make a lot of coffee at home, most coffee shops have an abundance of coffee grounds that they are willing to give away.
Below are 16 creative uses for used coffee grounds.
1. Fertilize Your Garden
Most soil does not contain the essential nutrients needed for optimal plant growth.
Also, as plants grow, they absorb nutrients from the soil, ultimately leaving it depleted.
Thus, most gardens need to be fertilized to ensure that plants have the nourishment they need to survive.
Coffee grounds contain several key minerals for plant growth — nitrogen, calcium, potassium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium and chromium (1).
They may also help absorb heavy metals that can contaminate soil (2, 3).
What’s more, coffee grounds help attract worms, which are great for your garden.
To use coffee grounds as fertilizer, simply sprinkle them onto the soil surrounding your plants.
Summary Coffee grounds make
great fertilizer because they contain several key nutrients
required for plant growth. They can also help attract
worms and decrease the concentrations of heavy metals in the soil.
2. Compost It for Later
If you do not have an immediate need for fertilizer, you can compost your coffee grounds for later use.
Composting is a natural process that turns organic items such as food scraps and yard debris into a dark, rich material called compost or humus.
Adding compost to your yard or garden can help the soil hold onto more nutrients and water, thereby improving the health of your plants.
One study found that compost made with coffee grounds and kitchen waste was richer in nutrients than compost made with waste alone (4).
Another study compared four batches of compost containing 0, 10, 20 and 40% coffee grounds.
The batch containing 40% coffee grounds produced the fewest greenhouse gas emissions and best quality compost (5).
Other items to compost include grass clippings, leaves, bark, shredded newspaper, brush, herbs, egg shells, stale bread and fruit and vegetable trimmings.
You should avoid composting meat and fish scraps, dairy products, diseased plants, grease and oils.
Summary Adding compost to your
garden can significantly improve the health of your plants. Coffee grounds can
help increase nutrient levels and decrease the greenhouse gas emissions of your
compost.
3. Repel Insects and Pests
Certain compounds found in coffee, such caffeine and diterpenes, can be highly toxic to insects (6, 7).
Because of this, you can use coffee grounds to repel bugs.
They are effective at deterring mosquitos, fruit flies and beetles, and they may help keep other pests away too (8, 9).
To use coffee grounds as an insect and pest repellent, simply set out bowls of grounds or sprinkle them around outdoor seating areas.
You can also keep pests out of your garden by scattering coffee grounds around your plants. They help create a barrier that slugs and snails do not like to crawl over.
Summary Coffee grounds contain
compounds that are toxic to many insects. You can use your coffee grounds to
repel mosquitos, fruit flies, beetles and other pests.
4. Remove Fleas from Your Pet
Fleas are a common problem in household pets, and treating them can be costly and time-consuming (10).
There are several flea-removal products on the market, but many contain harsh chemicals and can produce unwanted side effects.
Luckily, fleas don’t seem to like coffee, and you may want to consider coffee grounds as a natural treatment.
Simply rub the grounds throughout your pet’s fur after shampooing.
Then rinse them off and allow your pet to dry as usual.
Some say doing this may also add smoothness and shine to your pet’s coat, but there is little to no research to support either of these claims.
However, coffee grounds may be less effective than a prescription product, so if your pet has fleas and this treatment does not work, you may want to contact a vet to discuss alternative options.
Also, coffee grounds should only be used externally. They can be toxic to dogs if consumed.
Summary Like other insects,
fleas do not like coffee. Bathing your pet in used coffee grounds may help keep
fleas at bay.
5. Neutralize Odors
Coffee grounds contain nitrogen, which helps eliminate a foul-smelling sulfur gas from the air when it’s combined with carbon (11).
In other words, coffee grounds can help absorb and eliminate odors.
You can place a bowl of coffee grounds in your fridge or freezer to neutralize odors from spoiled or fragrant foods.
You can also fill old socks or pantyhose with coffee grounds and tie them off to make portable air fresheners.
Place these in your shoes, gym bag, bedroom drawers, under your car seat or anywhere else that may need some deodorizing.
You can even keep coffee grounds by the sink and use them to scrub your hands after chopping garlic or onions. The grounds will help remove the smell from your hands.
Summary Coffee grounds can
help absorb and eliminate odors from your refrigerator, gym bag or smelly
shoes. Using them as a hand scrub can also help remove lingering smells from
onion or garlic.
6. Use It as a Natural Cleaning Scrub
Coffee grounds are abrasive and can help remove buildup on hard-to-clean surfaces. They may even help sanitize due to their antibacterial and antiviral properties (8).
If you like to avoid cleaning with chemicals, used coffee grounds might be worth a try.
Use them to scour your sink, polish your cookware or clean your grill.
Just be careful not to use them on any kind of porous material, as they can cause brown stains.
Summary Coffee grounds can be
used as an abrasive cleaner. They can help sanitize and remove buildup from
sinks, cookware, grills and other surfaces around the house.
7. Scour Your Pots and Pans
The coarse texture of coffee grounds makes them ideal for scrubbing hard-to-clean kitchen utensils.
You can use them to scrape your dishes clean and remove caked-on food from pots and pans. Simply sprinkle the grounds directly onto your pots and pans and scrub as usual. Make sure to rinse thoroughly afterward.
Summary You can use coffee
grounds to scour your pots and pans. Their abrasive texture helps scrape away
caked-on food.
8. Exfoliate Your Skin
The coarse particles in coffee grounds work as an exfoliating agent to help remove dirt and dead cells from the skin.
Simply mix coffee grounds with a little bit of water or coconut oil and scrub them with your hands directly onto your face and body.
Coffee grounds can also be mixed with a small amount of honey and used as an exfoliating lip scrub.
What’s more, the caffeine in coffee grounds has potent antioxidant properties that can help protect the skin from sun damage.
It can also increase blood flow, which aids in overall skin health (12).
Summary Coffee grounds can be
repurposed into an exfoliating scrub for your face and body. They help remove
dirt and dead skin cells and promote overall skin health.
9. Reduce the Appearance of Cellulite
Cellulite is a condition that gives the skin a dimpled, lumpy appearance. It affects 80–90% of adult women (13).
It occurs when fat deposits push through the connective tissue under your skin and is commonly seen in the buttocks and thighs.
When caffeine such as that in coffee grounds is applied topically, it may help break down this fat and increase blood flow to the area, thus decreasing the appearance of cellulite (12).
Simply mix grounds with water or coconut oil and scrub for 10 minutes twice weekly on any areas affected by cellulite.
Summary Coffee grounds may help
reduce the appearance of cellulite by breaking down fat deposits and increasing
blood flow to the affected area.
10. Use It as a Natural Dye
If you’ve ever spilled coffee on a white shirt, you know that it can leave a stain.
By rewetting used coffee grounds, you can create an inexpensive and all-natural dye that can be used to color cotton, rayon, cellophane, linen and paper (14).
This is an easy way to give fabrics and paper a vintage look or disguise existing stains on your clothing and towels.
Coffee grounds can even be used to dye Easter eggs or deepen the color of dark hair.
Commercial food and hair dyes can contain hundreds of chemicals, many of which may cause cancer (15, 16, 17).
Used coffee grounds make a great non-toxic alternative to traditional dyes.
If you’ve dyed a piece of fabric or yarn that will be worn or used for sewing or knitting, make sure to wash it in cold water with a very mild laundry detergent before using it.
Summary Used coffee grounds are
a great natural alternative to harsh chemical dyes. Simply rewet them and use
them to dye paper or fabric or darken brunette hair.
11. Clean Your Fireplace
Cleaning ashes from a wood-burning fireplace can be an incredibly messy task.
By scattering used coffee grounds over the ashes, you can weigh them down and prevent smoke clouds from forming.
This not only makes the ashes easier to remove, but it also keeps dust from escaping and traveling to other parts of the room.
Summary Use coffee grounds to
weigh down the ashes in your fireplace before cleaning. This makes for easier
ash removal and less mess.
12. Tenderize Meat
Meat contains muscle fibers and proteins that can give it a tough consistency.
Tenderizing meat helps break them down, resulting in a softer texture.
Salt, enzymes and acids are three natural types of meat tenderizers. Coffee contains natural acids and enzymes, making it especially effective at tenderizing meat.
The acidic nature of coffee can also help enhance the flavor of meat.
Simply add used coffee grounds to your favorite dry-rub recipe and apply the rub to the meat two hours before cooking.
The grounds will get cooked onto the meat and form a dark, crispy crust.
Alternatively, you can rebrew used grounds to make coffee, allow it to cool and use it to marinade meat in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before cooking.
Summary Coffee grounds
contain natural acids and enzymes that help tenderize meat and enhance its
flavor.
13. Stimulate Hair Growth and Strip Buildup
Shampoos and styling products often leave residue behind that can dull and weigh down your hair.
Exfoliating your scalp with coffee grounds can help remove buildup and dead skin cells.
What’s more, several test-tube studies have found that caffeine, such as that in used coffee grounds, stimulates human hair growth (18, 19, 20).
Similarly, human and animal studies have found that applying caffeine to the skin increases blood flow and accelerates hair growth (12).
Before you shampoo, simply grab a handful of coffee grounds and massage them into your scalp and hair for a few minutes. Then wash and rinse as you normally would.
Do this one to two times per week, or as needed.
Summary Exfoliating your scalp
with used coffee grounds can help remove dead skin cells and product buildup
and may even speed up hair growth.
14. Repair Scratched Furniture
If you own wooden furniture, you’ve probably noticed it can be easily scuffed and scratched.
Various products can help minimize the appearance of scratches, but before you run to the store, you might want to give coffee grounds a try.
First, make a thick paste with used coffee grounds and water.
Then rub the paste into the scratch using a cotton swab, allow it to sit for 5–10 minutes and then wipe with a cotton rag.
This should help buff out the scratch and conceal it by dying the exposed wood a dark-brown color.
Continue to dab coffee into the scratch using a cotton swab until the desired color is achieved, waiting a few hours between applications.
Summary You can use coffee
grounds to buff out scratches on wooden furniture and darken them to match your
existing finish.
15. Grow Mushrooms
Mushrooms only thrive in specific conditions and are notoriously difficult to grow.
For starters, they do not grow in ordinary garden soil, as they require a substrate, or underlying substance or layer.
Used coffee grounds make a great substrate because they are packed full of nutrients that mushrooms like to grow on (21).
What’s more, they have already been sterilized during the brewing process, which would otherwise be an extra step in the growing process.
How to Grow Mushrooms in Used Coffee Grounds
- Collect about 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg) of grounds and moisten them using a spray
bottle. - Add a
little over 1 pound (500 grams) of mushroom spore and sawdust mixture and
mix well. You can look for this product at your local gardening store. - Place
resulting mixture into a filter patch grow bag, large freezer bag or
bucket and fill until approximately one-half to two-thirds full. - Cut
four air holes, about 5 mm in size, into the sides of your container above
the grounds. If you are using an open container, cover it with cellophane
and poke with a few more small air holes. - Lightly
spray the grounds with water once daily or as needed to keep them moist. - In
about two to four weeks when you start to see dense white areas with
little budding mushrooms, move the container to an area with lighter and
fresher air.
- When
the mushrooms become plump and their caps turn upward, you can harvest
them.
You can use this method to grow just about any kind of mushroom, but shiitake and oyster varieties seem to be the easiest.
Summary When combined with
adequate moisture, coffee grounds seem to be an ideal growing environment for
mushrooms.
16. Treat Under-Eye Circles
The skin surrounding the eyes is extremely delicate and contains very little fat tissue. Because of this, it’s one of the first places you might see signs of aging (22).
Many things can contribute to the development of dark circles and puffiness under the eyes, including fragile blood vessels, poor circulation and inadequate skin quality (23).
Coffee grounds seem to be a promising solution due to their high antioxidant and caffeine contents.
Studies show that skin care products containing antioxidants and caffeine can help prevent the appearance of aging and reduce under-eye circles (23, 24).
In particular, caffeine has anti-inflammatory properties and stimulates blood circulation around the eyes, which can help reduce the appearance of dark circles and swelling (12, 25).
The antioxidants in coffee can also help fight free radicals, which contribute to skin aging (26).
Simply add water or coconut oil to your coffee grounds to form a paste. Apply the mixture under your eyes and let it sit for about 10 minutes before rinsing. Repeat this process daily or as needed.
Summary Coffee grounds contain
caffeine and antioxidants. When applied to the skin, they can help prevent
aging and reduce the appearance of dark under-eye circles and puffiness.
Are Coffee Grounds Safe to Consume?
Drinking coffee has been linked to a number of health benefits, including a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes, stroke and some types of cancer (27, 28, 29, 30).
While it may seem safe to assume that consuming coffee grounds may yield similar benefits, many doctors caution against it.
Coffee beans contain compounds called cafestol and kahweol, which can increase blood cholesterol. These compounds are typically removed by paper filters when coffee is brewed but remain in the grounds.
One study looked at the effects of consuming about 0.25 ounces (7 grams) of coffee grounds per day. After three weeks, the blood cholesterol of participants increased by an average of 26 points (31).
Some recipes for baked goods, meat rubs and sauces call for coffee grounds. Using coffee grounds this way is probably fine as long as you don’t consume them often.
Summary Coffee grounds
contain compounds that can raise blood cholesterol. Consuming small amounts on
occasion is fine for most people, but they may be problematic if consumed in
excess.
The Bottom Line
Most people discard the grounds left behind after brewing coffee. However, there are many great ways to reuse them.
The caffeine and antioxidants in coffee grounds may help combat cellulite, under-eye circles and other signs of aging skin.
Coffee grounds are also packed with nutrients that can nourish plants and deter pests in your garden.
Furthermore, their abrasiveness makes them a great cleaning scrub around the house.
Next time you brew yourself a cup of coffee, consider repurposing the grounds using one of the ideas in this article.
Coffee grounds for plants: the natural way to boost growth
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(Image credit: GettyImages)
Coffee has undeniable benefits when it comes to waking up the human body (especially during the pre-noon hours). However, its power is not limited to the kitchen. Instead, this caffeinated staple is equally as impactful in the garden, where experts are using coffee grounds to benefit their plants.
'Used coffee grounds – left over from using a coffee maker – contain a substantial amount of nitrogen, as well as potassium and phosphorus,' says coffee expert Lewis Spencer of Coffee Direct . ' These properties make them perfect for garden activities, such as composting. It's an innovative way to make use of something that would otherwise have ended up in landfill.'
However, its power doesn't end there. Here's everything you need to know about this organic garden idea – according to those in the know.
Are coffee grounds good for plants? Everything you need to know
(Image credit: GettyImages)
So, we've established that coffee grounds are good for plants. But what does the process involve? And does it work on all greenery? You can boost your plants with our expert tips below.
How to use coffee grounds as fertilizer
Did you know that your coffee grounds can be used as a slow-release fertilizer?
'I always use coffee grounds as fertilizer,' says James Gray, founder of Barista & Co . 'Some sizes of grounds can’t go down the sink, so giving them to your plants is a great way to reduce waste.'
Lewis Spencer adds: 'To use coffee compost, simply sprinkle the grounds directly onto your soil and lightly rake it in. Coffee grounds add organic material to the soil, helping water retention, aeration, and drainage.
'Leftover diluted coffee can create a liquid plant fertilizer, too. Simply mix two cups of brewed coffee grounds with five gallons of water in a bucket overnight.'
(Image credit: GettyImages)
How to make compost with used coffee grounds
If you are investigating how to make compost, the experts recommend adding coffee grounds to your ingredients.
'Scientists state that a balance of 'greens' and 'browns' is needed to create the proper environment for composting to occur,' say the plant doctors at Patch Plants .
‘Greens' are nitrogen-rich materials that are used by microorganisms in the soil for their growth and reproduction, and 'browns' are carbon-rich materials used to feed microorganisms and give them energy.
'Greens' include items like fruit and vegetable peels, and used coffee grounds. 'Browns' include items such as dried leaves, twigs and newspaper.
'When mixing green and brown together you should remember the ratio 1:4 (1 part green, 4 parts brown). If you have too much green material your compost pile will start to smell (a bi-product of microorganism reproduction is ammonia). If you don't have enough green material, the compost pile won't heat up because the microorganisms don’t have enough energy to do their thing.
'After about three months your old coffee grounds will have been transformed into nutrient-rich compost giving your plants a much needed boost.
'Remember to mix your compost thoroughly. If you leave coffee grounds on the surface of the soil, without raking them in and exposed to the air, they can dry out. Dried-out coffee compacts and will act as a barrier, preventing water from reaching the soil beneath. So mix-mix-mix and wait.'
If you practise vermi-composting with a worm bin, coffee grounds are a must as worms love them. For a small bin, add a cup of grounds per week to feed their addiction.
Avoid adding too much at once because the acidity could negatively impact your worms. Paper coffee filters can even go in too.
Which plants like coffee grounds most?
Acid-loving plants in particular love coffee grounds because they will lower the pH level of soil, causing it to become more acidic,' says Jason White, the CEO at All About Gardening . 'Your roses, azaleas, lilies, and hollies because they are acid-loving plants that will thrive best in the acidic characteristic of coffee grounds,' he adds.
The plant doctor at Patch Plants adds that many plants will benefit from a coffee compost that follows the correct 4:1 method. '[Ensure] it's not just put on the top of the soil where it's left to harden and prevent water from entering the soil.'
(Image credit: Alamy )
However, while coffee grounds have their undeniable benefits, Lindsey Hyland from Urban Organic Yield warns that this trick does not work for every plant.
'Tomatoes and rhododendrons are coffee-ground sensitive and may develop brown leaf tips if they come into contact with the grounds,' she says.
So, if you're looking growing tomatoes, it may be better to keep remnants of your brewed beverage away.
Similarly, Kate Russell from the Daily Gardener urges you to keep coffee grounds away from freshly seeded areas, as they can reduce germination.
Are coffee grounds good for hydrangeas?
Your hydrangeas will definitely get a bloom-boost from your recycled coffee grounds.
James Gray says: 'Coffee makes the soil more acidic and is packed with nitrogen, which hydrangeas go wild for, making them become super bright and colourful.
'Essentially coffee is a fruit, so think of the amount of nutrition the soil gets from things like dropped apples and berries as this works in the same way.'
Are coffee grounds good for grass?
Your grass could be greener – and longer – with the addition of coffee grounds in the soil.
James Gray comments: 'Try mixing them through the soil in your indoor plants, or if you collect a larger amount, sprinkle them in grassy areas for a little growth boost.
'
(Image credit: GettyImages)
Are coffee grounds good for roses?
The high nitrogen content makes used coffee grounds a good growing companion for roses, as it helps take the pH from neutral to acidic – you can find out about how to test the pH of soil in our guide.
Some experts suggest that you can sprinkle your coffee grounds in the soil next to the plant, but others warn that you should be careful not to put too much on as the high nitrogen content could actually burn – and kill – them. Do not use more than a cup for each bush.
Alternatively, you could mix one cup of grounds with one gallon of water per bush and use this mix to water the plants so your roses are particularly bright and beautiful. And you can also use your coffee compost if you have made some.
Do coffee grounds deter slugs?
Coffee grounds are a great repellent for getting rid of slugs and snails. Simply spread the grounds around vulnerable plants to create a barrier against the insects.
Lewis Spencer says: 'Research shows that caffeine is effective in repelling slugs and snails when applied to foliage or the growing medium of plants. This is because of the naturally abrasive properties of coffee: soft critters tend to avoid rough surfaces.'
Where can you get coffee grounds?
It is possible to enjoy coffee's benefits, even if you're not an avid drinker. Kate Russell suggests asking for used coffee grounds from neighborhood coffee houses, as they are likely to pass them along for free.
'Coffee grounds contain up to 10% nitrogen after brewing. They also contain cellulose (carbohydrates), structural lignin (woody plant parts), triglycerides (oils), lipids (fats), protective phenolics (flavonoids/non-flavonoids), and essential oils,' she says. Now you have every excuse to call into your coffee house at the next opportunity.
Ruth Doherty is an experienced digital writer and editor specializing in interiors, travel and lifestyle. With 20 years of writing for national sites under her belt, she’s worked for the likes of Livingetc.
com, Standard, Ideal Home, Stylist and Marie Claire as well as Homes & Gardens.
Content
- Useful properties of coffee grounds
- Use coffee as fertilizers
- The use of coffee dumb coffee in the garden 9000,000 as compost
- How else to use grounds
- Where to get enough grounds
All this is possible thanks to useful substances contained in coffee grounds. You can talk a lot about the beneficial properties of sleeping coffee and its use as a fertilizer for indoor flowers and garden plants, but this issue should be dealt with in more detail. nine0003
Benefits of coffee grounds
Ground coffee contains a lot of valuable substances. This is:
- potassium;
- calcium;
- magnesium;
- nitrogen;
- phosphorus;
- a number of other useful minerals.
Undoubtedly, during the brewing process, some of these substances are washed out of the coffee grounds. The content of useful mineral components in sleeping coffee is approximately 2-3% (for different substances it is different). But even this amount is enough to use coffee grounds as a mineral fertilizer for home and garden flowers, vegetables, and ornamental plants. The substances contained in coffee waste are essential for their growth and development. nine0003
For example, nitrogen plays a key role in the process of photosynthesis, without which plant growth and the formation of oxygen are impossible. Phosphorus and potassium are also involved in this important process, contribute to the development of the plant, the formation of flowers and fruits.
Using dormant coffee as a fertilizer is a virtually free way to provide your plants with healthy mineral nutrition.
At the same time, the probability of harming them from an overdose of one or another component is equal to zero.
The concentration of minerals in the thick is optimal for many indoor flowers, garden and garden plants. nine0003
Potted flowers are particularly susceptible to coffee ground fertilizer:
- azaleas;
- begonias;
- ferns;
- roses.
A good result is the use of dormant coffee to feed vegetables, including:
- carrots;
- tomatoes;
- peppers;
- radish;
- peas and beans.
This fertilizer is suitable for garden roses, lilies, ornamental shrubs, herbs. nine0003
Drinking coffee is an excellent means of feeding fruit and berry bushes and trees. After its application, the yield of these crops increases.
It is believed that coffee residues are highly acidic and therefore unsuitable for many plant species. This is not entirely true. The grains do have a high acidity. However, excess acid is washed out during the brewing process. Coffee grounds have a neutral level of acidity and as a fertilizer it is suitable for feeding any plants.
nine0003
Use of coffee grounds as fertilizer
Coffee grounds are used to fertilize plants in two ways:
- Liquid top dressing. This method is very simple. It consists in the fact that coffee residues (thickness and part of the liquid) are collected in one container. Then this composition is watered on the ground in flower pots or under garden plants. This method has one significant disadvantage: a wet substance is prone to infection with mold or fungi. Therefore, to fertilize potted plants, it is recommended to use dry top dressing. nine0055
Helpful Hint: To fertilize garden beds or garden shrubs, thin out the grounds until they are ready to be watered. Water the plants from above with a watering can, then pour plain water over them. This will allow the minerals to slowly release into the soil, nourishing your plants.
- Dry dressing. Dry the coffee beans thoroughly before use. To do this, after draining a small amount of thick, evenly distribute it on a sheet of thick cardboard or waterproof paper.
You can use plastic spacing or baking sheets from the oven. Place the prepared thick in a warm place and keep it there until completely dry. When the substance dries, do not forget to break the caked lumps. Fertilizer can be used immediately or stored in dry glass, plastic or tin cans with tight-fitting lids. Thick paper bags are also suitable for this purpose. nine0006
Use of coffee grounds in the garden
Dried dry coffee is poured under the plant, then the soil is slightly loosened. When watering, useful substances will be released and flow into the ground, gradually enriching it.
When using this fertilizer in the garden, it is dug into the ground under the plants. With the help of a shovel, the earth is dug up to a depth of about 5 cm. Dry thickening is added to the loose soil. For one tree - 1-2 glasses, depending on the size. Then the thick is sprinkled with earth and lightly tamped. nine0003
Helpful hint: don't put too much ground (so that it covers all the ground under the plant).
In this case, when watering, a crust may form, which will interfere with the access of oxygen to the roots. Do not add thickening to the soil for seedlings. It will weigh down the soil and slow down germination.
Sleeping coffee for flowers
Coffee sludge is especially popular as a fertilizer for indoor plants and garden flowers. For fertilizing indoor flowers, it is recommended to prepare the following composition:
- 50% coffee grounds;
- 20% chopped dry straw;
- 30% foliage.
Mix all ingredients and let them rot. To do this, you can use a large tank or an old pan. The mixture should be covered with fertile soil on top, make several holes with a stick and let it mature for about a month. The resulting composition can be used as nutritional supplements, making them into flower pots.
When planting flower beds and laying flower beds, coffee residues can also be used. Forming a flower garden, add them to the ground.
On a bucket of earthen mixture, you should take one glass of dry thick, mix everything thoroughly, after which you can plant flowers. After planting the plants, the soil must be watered abundantly. nine0003
Coffee pomace as compost
Minerals, primarily nitrogen, contained in coffee residues tend to be released gradually under the influence of microorganisms. This makes coffee pomace a valuable component of garden compost. To do this, it is collected and placed in a compost pit. Thick contributes to the speedy decay of the contents of the pit, improves its mineral composition.
Coffee pomace can also be added directly to planting holes for garden ornamental and fruit-bearing plants. To do this, dry cake is mixed with prepared soil. A plant is planted in the prepared soil and watered abundantly. nine0003
Helpful Hint: Try using compost containing coffee residue to grow mushrooms. According to the reviews of those who used this method, the yield increases by 2-3 times.
How else to use grounds
Coffee grounds can not only enrich plants with useful minerals, but also protect them from a wide variety of pests. Insects such as ants, slugs, snails, aphids and others do not like it. Using grounds allows you to safely and inexpensively protect your plantings. It can also be used to prevent the appearance of insect pests. nine0003
Coffee grounds may just be indispensable in your garden. This is an excellent tool for changing the structure of the soil. Adding thickening will make heavy and clayey garden soil looser and lighter. To do this, the cake is added to the soil and regularly loosened.
Drinking coffee and coffee residues can also attract beneficial insects. Including earthworms. This property is especially important for composting. Worms, processing the contents of the compost pit, loosening it, contribute to the rapid maturation of the compost. nine0003
Cats do not like coffee aroma. With the help of thick, you can wean your pet from shitting under your favorite bush.
You just need to sprinkle a dry product in a thin layer and do not water for a while.
Where to get enough grounds
First of all, do not throw away after drinking the drink itself. So, in a few days you can collect a sufficient amount of thick. Good for use as a fertilizer or compost cake from a coffee machine.
In some cafes and restaurants abroad, and in our country, a special table has recently appeared with packages that say "Coffee grounds for your plants" or "Coffee scrub for you." They are a useful and pleasant present for visitors to the institution. Feel free to grab a few bags. They will only benefit your plants. nine0003
Therefore, you should not throw away such a useful product as coffee cake. Following the tips given here, you are sure to find a use for it in the garden or when breeding indoor flowers.
the pros and cons of using coffee in the garden and in the garden - an article on the TCHK
The advice not to throw away the coffee pulp, but to take it under the tomato bush can be found in many collections of non-traditional uses of coffee.
Compost, fertilizer, insecticide and soil acidifier - a variety of useful properties are attributed to this product. In fact, everything is not as simple as it seems at first glance. Below, we will look at a few of the main arguments for using coffee in the garden and see which ones should be treated with caution. nine0003
Is coffee a useful fertilizer?
There is a common belief that coffee grounds can act as an ideal natural way to feed the beds: they contain about 3% of useful micronutrients, including magnesium, potassium, calcium and phosphorus, as well as nitrogen. However, "natural" does not mean "safe" and "useful".
According to a 2016 study by Australian scientists, recommendations for using used coffee grounds either directly in the soil or as compost should be considered... anecdotal. Empirically, the Australians have found that this kind of "fertilizer" not only does not improve growth rates, but even reduces them. nine0003
Why? Looks like it's all about the caffeine.
There is a lot of it even in the sleeping coffee grounds. Now raise your hand if you remember that caffeine is toxic to other non-caffeine plants. In addition, coffee grounds have antibacterial properties, which negatively affects the natural processes characteristic of composting.
However, one cannot fail to mention exceptions. According to the experience of experienced flower growers, azaleas, roses, hydrangeas and camellias respond well to such top dressing, increasing the number of buds. I like the coffee diet and evergreen shrubs, as well as ferns. nine0003
Coffee acidifies alkaline soil
One of the most common gardening tips about coffee grounds is to use them to acidify the soil. It seems to make sense: everyone knows that coffee is sour. The question is how sour the thick will be.
It turns out not very good.
Although the caffeine is still present in this product, the acid present in the grain is water soluble. Therefore, our drink becomes sour, and not the used grounds, which have a pH close to neutral (from 6.
5 to 6.8 pH). nine0003
The conclusion is obvious. Coffee as an acidifier is pure myth. The used grounds practically do not have the acidic properties of the drink.
Coffee keeps pests away
Really, it does. After all, caffeine is toxic not only to plants, but also to insects. Scientists have already proven that coffee grounds are very effective against bugs and midges. There is a version that it also helps to drive away slugs and snails, but this hypothesis requires additional research.
Coffee is an effective soil conditioner
On the one hand, yes, the coffee grounds add some looseness. However, at the same time, its toxic properties continue to work, which means that the active use of such an additive will destroy the gardener's main friends - worms. Many Internet sources write that worms like coffee, but in reality, such a feast will have an extremely negative impact on their health. Well, then it’s easy to calculate: no worms - no natural “baking powder”.
