Are coffee grounds really suitable as fertilizer? How does fertilizing with used coffee grounds work and why you shouldn't throw them away from now on!
Plants need fertilizers to grow nicely. But you don't have to use expensive fertilizers from the hardware store - the best example is coffee grounds as fertilizer.
Did you know that every German consumes an average of 7.2 kg of coffee beans per year? These then simply end up in the trash.
Which is a real shame.
Table of contents
Because there is hardly anything better for plants than to use coffee grounds as fertilizer.
We tell you why you should collect the coffee from now on and not let it disappear in the organic waste garbage can.
Why coffee grounds are suitable as fertilizer
Coffee beans and powder contain quite a bit of nitrogen, which many plants love.
The nitrogen-, phosphorus- and sulfur-rich protein content in coffee beans is eleven percent, which is really a lot for a plant.
In 5 steps to homemade flower bombs!
Roasting breaks down the protein, but the nutrients in the beans are retained.
In coffee grounds you will find
- Potassium
- Nitrogen
- Phosphorus
When you make coffee, you flush out a very small percentage of the plant nutrients. But most of it remains and unfortunately ends up in the trash.
Humic acid is produced when coffee beans are roasted. This gives coffee grounds a slightly acidic pH when used as fertilizer. In boggy soil, where many plants have problems growing, you can lower the pH with coffee.
This is how you multiply basil infinitely!
Do you have very calcareous water? Many plants do not like that either. Coffee grounds in soil neutralize calciferous water.
Earthworms love coffee. They are magically attracted to it and loosen the soil in the garden and flowerbed. Your plants will love loose soil!
Tip: Have you ever thought of a worm composter? With this you can make your own worm humus from your organic household waste such as vegetables or fruit. So you always have good compost for your plants at hand.
Coffee thus attracts earthworms, which loosen the soil. But it can do even more. He is a great Home remedies against slugs in the garden - that is, the greatest enemy of any gardener.
When you fertilize your plants with coffee grounds, you also save yourself money and don't bring chemicals into your flowerbed. Because coffee beans are the most natural nitrogen fertilizer of all.
Coffee grounds as fertilizer is suitable for all plants that love acidic humus soil. These include:
- Hydrangea
- Rhododendron
- Berries especially blueberries
- Peony
- Ferns
- Rose
- Azalea
- Fuchsia
- Tomato
- Cucumber
- Pumpkin
- Zucchini
Did you know that you can make a scrub from coffee grounds?
If you are interested in natural gardening, I can recommend this book to you. You will find great tips and tricks on how to protect your garden and balcony against pests and pests and strengthen the plants in a natural way.
You will see how rarely you really need to resort to the chemical club and that coffee and other home remedies are wonderful helpers. It's easy on your plants, insects and your wallet.
How you can fertilize plants with coffee grounds
It's best to use coffee from a filter machine, a fully automatic coffee machine or coffee pods. Of course, you can also make coffee from capsules, but that's a lot of work.
Tip: I take low-acid coffee. It's good for the stomach and doesn't overacidify the plants so easily. My favorite at the moment is the low-acid coffee, the brand 360° all-around honest. You can order it from Amazon.
No matter where you get your coffee grounds as fertilizer: You have to collect it first. It doesn't pay to run into the garden with small amounts every time.
- Let the coffee grounds cool and dry
Never use coffee grounds hot or warm! Collect the coffee in an airy, dry place in a bowl or bucket. To prevent the coffee grounds from starting to mold, it is worth putting a very fine sieve in the bowl or bucket. The coffee grounds dry and are then ready for use. - Grab some gloves. Sprinkle the dry powder on the soil.
- Work the coffee grounds flat into the soil and cover with a bit of mulch. If it remains on the surface of the soil, it will decompose and provide little fertilizer.
By the way, if you have a lot of ants in the garden or in the flower pots, coffee grounds can help. They do not like the smell and will stay away from the plants.
It's so easy to grow your own peppers!
Coffee grounds as fertilizer for balcony and pot plants
Of course, as soon as flowers and plants are placed in pots, sooner or later they run out of nutrients. They become puny and hardly bloom.
Coffee grounds can help you there, too. Mix a handful of coffee grounds into the potting soil when planting. This will enrich the soil with additional nutrients and trace elements.
But you should not use much more. Too much of a good thing can lead to your plants being overfertilized. This also leads to the fact that they do not develop ideally.
How often you should fertilize your plants with coffee
Of course, this depends on the plant species. But you should not overdo it with any plant.
If you want to use coffee grounds as fertilizer for houseplants, it is enough to mix some coffee into the soil 1x at the beginning of winter and 1x in spring. However, you should not take coffee grounds. Because that is simply too concentrated.
For this purpose, better take cold black coffee from the pot. Dilute it 1:1 with tap water and water already planted houseplants, potted plants and balcony flowers with it.
But be careful: no more than half a cup of diluted coffee per plant. Otherwise the houseplant will sour!
It is important that the liquid coffee does not get on the leaves, but really in and on the ground.
Also interesting for you:
- Small black mosquitoes in the apartment? This is how you get rid of them!
- Dry banana peels as fertilizer for these plants!
- Make a greenhouse out of egg cartons!
- How to plant sweet potatoes on the balcony!
Our conclusion
Coffee grounds as fertilizer is a free and natural alternative to other fertilizers. Let the powder dry and work it into the soil. But do not overdo it!
If you don't drink coffee or can't get enough together, you can ask at a catering company you trust. Here comes together oodles of coffee powder. And you can fertilize with coffee grounds for free. All you need is a small bucket and ask nicely. :)
That's why you should put coffee grounds in your hair!
To browse further:
* Advertising & affiliate links: Our website is financed by advertising and affiliate links. As a partner of linked stores (e.g. Amazon) we earn from qualified sales.
Read more
