When it comes to home remedies as fertilizer, coffee grounds are the secret weapon. You can read here whether it is also suitable as growing soil in dried form.
In a nutshell
- Coffee grounds are nutrient rich
- Seedlings and seedlings need a nutrient-poor substrate
- Coffee grounds are not suitable as growing soil
Table of contents
- potting soil
- coffee grounds
- Coffee grounds as potting soil
- Coffee grounds as fertilizer
- Tolerance of coffee grounds
- frequently asked Questions
potting soil
Cultivation soil, also called seed soil, is a special soil to from seeds or cuttings to grow plants. It is loose, permeable and poor in nutrients. In addition, it is free from germs that can harm seedlings and seedlings. Their lack of nutrients ensures that the little plants develop strong roots and do not shoot up too quickly.
coffee grounds
Coffee grounds contain numerous nutrients such as:
- Potassium (K)
- Phosphorus (P)
- nitrogen (N)
- antioxidants
- tannic acid
Since these substances are also contained in commercial fertilizers, coffee grounds are often used to fertilize plants. The question of whether coffee grounds can also be used as potting soil is therefore not unfounded.
A notice: Which coffee you use does not matter in terms of nutrients. For coffee pods, you should remove the filter paper.
Coffee grounds as potting soil
Although many hobby gardeners swear by coffee grounds as fertilizer, they are not suitable as growing soil. This is because it is too rich in nutrients. If seeds or seedlings come into nutrient-rich substrate, they feel like in Cockaigne. However, this has the consequence that they develop weaker roots due to the oversupply and often grow too quickly. Instead of strong young plants, weakened plants develop that struggle in normal soil because the nutrient content is too low for the spoiled little plants. Diseases and pest infestations often set in quickly because the young plants lack resistance.
However, the oversupply of nutrients is only a danger for seedlings and cuttings. Furthermore, the plantlets are more threatened by mold. This is because coffee grounds tend to mold comparatively quickly when exposed to moisture. However, the latter – in the form of a greenhouse climate – is necessary for many plants in order to promote development.
Coffee grounds as fertilizer
Coffee grounds should only be used as fertilizer when the young plants are treated like older plants. The application as a fertilizer depends on the culture form:
- Garden: work in or spread over the surface of the soil
- Potted plants: add to the irrigation water, apply once a week in a ratio of 1:1
A notice: With freshly repotted plants, you should avoid coffee grounds, as the new substrate contains enough nutrients.
Tolerance of coffee grounds
While coffee grounds contain many nutrients, they are not suitable for all plants. In general, species that acidic soils prefer coffee grounds, while plant species with a preference for an alkaline environment do not tolerate the fertilizer from the coffee machine so well. example for coffee-loving plants are:
- Vegetables: cucumber, potatoes, turnips, tomatoes
- Herbs: Arnica, Parsley, Peppermint
- fruit: blueberries, raspberries and blackberries; rhubarb
- Ornamental shrubs: ferns, hydrangeas, rhododendrons
- Flowers: begonias, heather, lilies, pansies
Caution is advised with the following plants, as the soil quality can shift to slightly acidic if coffee grounds are used continuously dislike these plant species:
- Vegetables: carrots, leeks, celery
- Herbs: oregano, sage, chives
- Fruit: gooseberries, grapes
- Ornamental shrubs: boxwood, ivy, Buddleia
- Flowers: Columbines, asters, carnations, peonies
frequently asked Questions
Coffee grounds may only be used when they have cooled down. Due to its susceptibility to mold, you should let it dry before use. To do this, put it in a wide, open container.
Coffee grounds neutralize very alkaline soils. To do this, put two spoons in the irrigation water. To improve depleted potting soil, mix it with compost and fold in small amounts of the powder. If the coffee grounds go to the compost, their share should not exceed 20 percent.
For garden beds it is sufficient if you spread the coffee grounds on them once or twice a year and work them into the soil. If used as an instant fertiliser, brew up the old powder again and water with the cold extract.
