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What Plants Like Coffee Grounds, and Why?

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Brandon Pierce
September 20, 2022

When you think of coffee and gardens, you envision a nice morning brew outside while reading the weekend papers.

However, if you've ever wondered if coffee grounds are good for plants, the answer is a resounding 'Yes—utilizing coffee grounds in the garden is helpful to plants.'

Used coffee grounds, which are left over following the use of a coffee maker, contain a significant quantity of Nitrogen along with Potassium and Phosphorus.

How to Care for Houseplants with Fresh Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds are a rich source of nitrogen. They promote the growth of helpful microbes in the soil, and they benefit plants that prefer an acidic growing medium.

Coffee grounds can be used in the following ways:

  • After brewing the coffee in a pot, use the remaining water to water the plants.
  • Coffee grinds may be utilized as organic matter as well.
  • For optimal results, use 1 part coffee grounds to 3 parts garden soil or potting mix.
  • Adding coffee grounds to your compost bin is also advised.

10 Plants That Like Used Coffee Grounds

You may have heard the gardening tip about coffee grounds, but this approach should only be utilized in certain situations and for certain plants.

Coffee grounds are acidic, and if you use them on plants that prefer neutral or alkaline soil, they will harm them. Change the pH of your soil by combining coffee grounds with plants that require acidity.

The following acid-loving plants like coffee grounds:

1Miniature Rose

Miniature roses, like African violets, are far more acid-tolerant than other plants and grow well in acidic soil.


Instead of watering it, pour it with liquid coffee or add coffee grounds to the potting soil.

Minature Rose

2.Jade Plant

The Jade plant, or Crassula Ovata, is also known as the money plant. The Jade plant originates in southern Africa. Jade plants also produce pink blooms that are quite appealing, and they love acidic soil.


The benefits of coffee grounds for jade plants are thick, stern plant growth and water retention.

jade plant

3.Christmas Cactus

Coffee-enriched water along with composting coffee grounds should be put into your Christmas cactus potting soil twice a week. It will help the plant flourish and blossom if combined with enough light.


For good reason, the Christmas cactus is a popular houseplant. They produce gorgeous, tubular blooms in pink or purple when they bloom.

christmas cactus

4.Azalea

This plant is well-known for its lovely blossoms, and coffee grounds will ensure that it blooms lavishly!


Simply place it in a south or west-facing window in your home, with coffee grounds in the potting soil, and watch your Azalea grow like a beanstalk.

azalea

5.Philodendron

This lovely houseplant comes in a variety of kinds that may be grown inside. Put coffee grounds into the potting mix or simply sprinkle a solution of coffee grounds and water for lush growth. 


The Philodendron thrives on acidic soil, so coffee best suits it.

philodendron

6.Cyclamen

These lovely blooms grow from December to April and prefer acidic soil.


During the flowering season, water the cyclamen often with a water-coffee solution or put coffee grounds in the potting soil to promote dense plant growth.

cyclamen

7.Spider Plant

This indoor air purifier has thin, variegated leaves that resemble spider webs and grows best in mildly acidic soil.


To stimulate growth, mix one-part coffee grounds with three parts water. These are acid-loving plants so coffee grounds make them happy.

spider plant

8.African Violet

This lovely houseplant is a fantastic choice for adding a splash of color to your home. It is a big lover of nitrogen and acid, so for the optimum growth, use a coffee-water combination.


Adding coffee grounds into the soil compost is also a good idea.

african violet

9.Hydrangeas

These plants have circular clusters of pink or blue flowers.


They're frequently sold as houseplants and are acid-loving plants. Adding coffee grounds and water to the potting soil helps these flowers grow faster.

hydrangeas

10. Golden Pothos

Golden Pothos is a revitalizing acid-loving plant. They revitalize the environment in which they are placed.


They are raised in a hanging basket. It may grow in any room if it receives enough sunshine. Adding some used coffee grounds to their soil makes them refreshed.

golden pothos

Why do Coffee Grounds Help Plants Grow Better?

Coffee grounds help your plants grow, enrich your soil, and provide nutrients to it. Which is good for your plants. Coffee shops frequently offer customers free coffee grounds.

Furthermore, because coffee grounds are an environmentally friendly product, they lower the cost of handcrafted fertilizers. Here are some reasons why coffee grounds are beneficial to your plants:

1.Coffee Grounds are Rich in nutrients.

Some of the minerals found in coffee grounds are necessary for plant growth; in particular, they are extremely rich in the following:

  • Magnesium
  • Potassium
  • Chromium
  • Iron
  • Nitrogen
  • Calcium
  • Phosphorus

You have the got NPK mix which is the basic main nutrients for plants:  Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium.

This is the best nutritional mix for acid-loving plants. When it comes to nitrogen, this most basic of nutrients accounts for 2% of the total volume of coffee grounds! That's quite a lot!

2.Coffee Grounds Remove Pollution From The Soil.

You didn't think coffee grounds might help you battle pollution in your soil, did you?

They have a unique property in that they can absorb heavy metals, which are contaminants in the soil. Coffee grounds purify the soil by eliminating toxins, thus making the soil more fertile.

3.Many Nutrients In Coffee Grounds Are Ready For Absorption By Plants.

When you feed coffee grounds to your plants, they will immediately begin to use them, consuming them.

You see, if you add organic material to the ground, you must wait for it to decay before your plants can use it.

However, many of the nutrients found in coffee grounds are readily available to plants. 

4.Slugs Are Killed By Coffee Grounds.

Fresh coffee grounds are an excellent repellant for slugs and snails. Simply scatter the areas around sensitive plants with the coffee ground to form an insect barrier.

slugs killed by coffee ground

When coffee grounds and water are mixed and sprayed on plant leaves or growth media, caffeine effectively repels slugs and snails.

This is due to coffee's inherently abrasive properties: soft animals loathe harsh surfaces.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Used coffee grounds are the best for keeping your plants healthy and happy.


If you still wonder what plants like coffee grounds are, you need to read through this blog carefully. Good luck with that green thumb!


Brandon Pierce

About the author

My name is Brandon and I love cold-brew coffee. If you're a fan of everything homebrew, then we'll get along just fine. I also enjoy riding my Onewheel around town, and going on adventures with my future wife! As an online work-from-home advocate, it's important that I stay connected to the world while being able to maintain a healthy work/life balance.

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