The Skimmie (Skimmia) comes from the mountains of Japan and Taiwan. More and more hobby gardeners are succumbing to the charm of the easy-care plant. Can you fertilize the Skimmie with coffee grounds?
In a nutshell
- Skimmie suitable as a container or outdoor plant
- slightly acidic soil preferred
- Fertilize with coffee grounds possible
- Fertilize outdoor plants only in the second year
- Coffee grounds fertilization helps with pest control
Table of contents
- Coffee grounds as fertilizer
- Fertilize Skimmie with coffee grounds
- frequently asked Questions
Coffee grounds as fertilizer
People are always looking for ways to put waste to good use. Coffee grounds is an example of this. It occurs daily in almost all households. The brown powder contains valuable minerals and trace elements:
- Nitrogen, which the plant uses to make protein and chlorophyll
- Sulfur, which contributes to the formation of protein and carbohydrates
- Phosphorus, which controls flowering
- Potassium, which allows water supply to the plant
When the coffee beans are roasted, these ingredients are largely retained. Even brewing the coffee flushes out only a small amount. This means that after we have enjoyed the coffee, important plant nutrients are still contained in the coffee grounds.
Only suitable for acid lovers
When the raw coffee beans are roasted, humic acids are formed, which are also found in the coffee grounds. For this reason, only acid-loving plants benefit from fertilizing with coffee grounds. Hydrangeas, for example, are acid-loving, rhododendron or blueberries. Does that include the skimmie?
Fertilize Skimmie with coffee grounds
The Skimmie loves partially shaded locations with humus-rich, well-drained soil. He may be slightly angry. The small shrub is perfect as a companion to bog plants suitable. We recommend lime-free fertilizers for fertilizing. In addition to standard rhododendron fertilizers, blue grain or horn shavings coffee grounds is a good choice.
A notice: Outdoors, the Skimmia only needs fertilization in the second year.
Instructions
- Let the coffee grounds cool down before use.
- Spread it out as much as possible so that it can dry a bit. Drying the coffee grounds prevents mold from forming.
- Distribute the coffee grounds in small amounts over the potting soil. We recommend working it lightly into the soil.
Tip: You can pour the coffee grounds into a watering can and fill up with water. This allows the powder to be distributed more easily and evenly in the root area of the plants.
Pest control as a side effect
Coffee grounds not only provide acid-loving plants with nutrients. The waste product from the kitchen also helps with pest control. Ants and snails don't like the brown powder and give Skimmie fertilized with coffee grounds a wide berth.
frequently asked Questions
Be careful when fertilizing with coffee grounds. Better to fertilize too little than too much. The skimmia in the bucket is sufficiently supplied with fertilizer every two to three weeks between April and September. Outdoors, the plant receives enough nutrients if it is fertilized every four weeks during the growth phase.
Yellowing of the leaves can indicate over-fertilization. Completely stop fertilizing for the next few weeks. Observe if the plant recovers. Pests and diseases can also cause yellowing.
The fertilization ensures a rich flowering and dense, shiny green leaves. They make the evergreen small shrub an eye-catcher in every garden. A nutrient supply adapted to the needs stimulates growth and increases the resistance of the plant.
We recommend repotting the Skimmie in the pot every two years. Use rhododendron soil. Their composition is perfectly adapted to the needs of the Skimmie. Only in the following year does the plant need additional fertilizer.
