Coffee is the favorite of many people whenever they want a little pick-me-up, yet it can cause some other plants to perk up, too, since plants, in some cases like this, behave like humans. However, we will be emphasizing some plants, which is why you must know plants that like coffee grounds.
There are several gardening tips on using coffee grounds in your garden, but it is only required in specific situations. Coffee grounds are acidic; hence putting them on plants that prefer neutral or alkaline soil is not advisable.
However, they are ideal for plants that love acidity to change the pH level of your soil. Here are plants that like coffee grounds and how to feed them.
Jump to:
- What Is in Coffee Grounds & Its benefits?
- Popular Plants That Like Coffee Grounds & How to Feed Them
- 1. Azalea & Rhododendron species (Rhododendron spp.)
- 2. Camellia (Camellia spp.)
- 3. Hydrangea (Hydrangea spp.)
- 4. Cyclamen (Cyclamen spp.)
- 5. Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)
- 6. Radishes (Raphanus sativus)
- 7. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)
- 8. Broccoli (Brassica Oleacea)
- 9. Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum)
- 10. Potato (Solanum tuberosum)
- 11. Peppers (Capsicum annuum)
- 12. African Violet (Saintpaulia ionanthia)
- 13. Jade Plant (Crassula ovata)
- 14. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum spp.)
- 15. Daffodils (Narcissus spp.)
- Conclusion
What Is in Coffee Grounds & Its benefits?
This question explains briefly what coffee grounds are made of, which makes them beneficial to some plants. Generally, coffee grounds contain nitrogen, which is an essential plant nutrient. They are also full of caffeine. Surprisingly, these grounds have neutral pH levels rather than acidic, as you would expect.
Most importantly, coffee grounds contain minerals essential to several plants' growth and health. These basic minerals include nitrogen, magnesium, calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, and chromium. Amongst them is NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium), the primary nutrients for plants.
But how about caffeine? Even though humans like the effects of a caffeinated cup of coffee, plants enjoy coffee, and chocolate developed caffeine to stop the competition.
Caffeine helps to alter other plants' growth, thus allowing the caffeinated plant to use every available water and nutrient in the soil. Applying caffeinated coffee grounds may stunt your plant's growth.
Popular Plants That Like Coffee Grounds & How to Feed Them
1. Azalea & Rhododendron species (Rhododendron spp.)
One of the most popular plants that love coffee grounds is the azalea and rhododendron species. The azalea plants thrive in full sun to partial shade and can reach up to 5 feet tall and 150cm wide, depending on the species.
In comparison, the rhododendron varieties are huge and can reach 15 around 15 feet tall and 4.5 meters wide.
In USDA zones 5 to 9, these species do best in well-drained loam or sandy loam soil but can also survive loose and well-drained clay. However, even though both plants belong to the same plant genus, azaleas can hardly grow in gardens, as they are more delicate than rhododendrons.
How to Feed Them
If you want your azaleas to grow healthy, you must keep them happy by providing them with nutrient-rich but loose and well-aerated soil. They also do well in low soil pH levels, around 4.5 and 5.5. They all have to come together to prevent illness and weakness.
They have delicate roots that can hardly perforate heavy soil, such as clay or chalk, so they need coffee grounds to stay fresh and reward you with their beautiful colored flowers.
2. Camellia (Camellia spp.)
Camellia is a specie that loves partial to full shade and can reach around 10 feet tall (3 meters) and 6 feet spread (1.8 meters).
In zones 7 to 9, this plant requires loam or sandy loam to grow well but will survive in acidic and well-drained clay. It is another popular plant that likes coffee grounds.
How to Feed Them
Given that the camellia specie is a very delicate plant and an acidophile, the best way to feed it is by using a coffee ground, even raw and new, as it will provide nutrients and address the soil's acidity level.
It would be best to sprinkle coffee grounds by the base of the plant, ensuring they are slender but covered in every part of the roots.
3. Hydrangea (Hydrangea spp.)
Hydrangea is a long and large flower plant that will do well in full sun or partial shade. In zones 3 to 9, this plant can grow to about 10 feet (3 meters) tall and spread, depending on the varieties. It is a fresh coffee ground plant growing well in well-drained loam, sand, or clay soil.
How to Feed Them
Unlike azaleas and camellias, hydrangea species are not very delicate and can grow in various conditions as long as they grow in acidic or neutral soil.
But for the best condition, you must ensure its fresh herbaceous foliage stays green and its long, round blooms remain bright and lively by giving it good spraying of coffee grounds at the base of the plant.
4. Cyclamen (Cyclamen spp.)
Cyclamen is another unique fluorescent plant that does well in coffee grounds. Like the lily of the valley (more on that later), you can mostly see this plant in wooded areas.
It does best in light shade and can grow up to a foot tall and similar spread. In USDA zones 4 to 8, the cyclamen thrives in loam and sandy loam but can survive well-drained clay.
How to Feed Them
One unique feature of the cyclamen specie is that it can thrive where almost no other bloom can, like underneath conifers where needles cover the ground, making it acidic. Therefore, you can feed them with some fresh coffee grounds often. Again, they like coffee, cyclamen, coum specie, or other houseplant varieties.
5. Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)
Unlike hydrangeas and rhododendrons, the lily of the valley is a little garden plant. However, like them, it still loves coffee grounds.
It is a flowering perennial with white bell-shaped blooms and can thrive in partial to full shade conditions. In USDA zones 2 to 7, this plant can reach 1 foot tall and spread and will do best in well-drained loam or clay-based soil.
How to Feed Them
The lily of the valley plant has its uses, and several people believe it can serve many medicinal purposes. It will survive in acidic, alkaline, or neutral soil but grow best in loose and brittle soil.
If you want the best out of them, you must feed them with coffee grounds, as they provide the Convallaria majalis with the fine texture and rich nutrients it desires.
6. Radishes (Raphanus sativus)
One interesting feature of radish is that it is ready for picking in about three weeks from seeding; hence, it will require all the help it can get during this short period. Radishes thrive in full sun, even though they can survive partial shade.
Harvest time is between 22 to 70 days, while it can do well in various soil types as long as they are well-drained and aerated.
How to Feed Them
The best way to feed radishes is to give them a perfect head start by sprinkling some used coffee grounds into the soil immediately after planting. The ready-to-use nutrients present in the coffee grounds will positively impact the crop.
7. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)
Regarding vegetable plants, tomato is another popular one that will thrive in coffee grounds. It is a sun-loving species that needs lots of light to thrive and requires spacing of about 18 to 24 inches.
Depending on the variety, you can harvest between 50 days or 60 to 80 days from planting, and it does best in loose, well-drained soil, but the most ideal is sandy loam.
How to Feed Them
Tomato plants like used coffee grounds, given that they require lots of energy to grow. They eat and drink a lot; hence, they will need every help they can get.
The best way to feed them is by scattering some used coffee grounds around every tomato plant once they begin to flower, once the first fruits have arrived, and again once or twice during fruiting, as it will help them deep into the season.
8. Broccoli (Brassica Oleacea)
Broccoli is a very nutritious plant filled with vitamins, but it still needs lots of energy from coffee grounds. It is a sun-loving plant that requires 18 inches of spacing and will be ready for harvest around 100 to 150 days from transplant.
Growing well requires well-drained soil with plenty of nutrients and organic matter with neutral pH.
How to Feed Them
Broccoli species need help to pack every nutrient into their stunning florets using coffee grounds.
The best way to feed them is to continue to add some used coffee grounds to the soil, starting from when you sow them to around three weeks before harvesting to ensure better yield. Ensure you do it every month or so to care for your plant.
9. Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum)
Still, on vegetables, rhubarb is one of the most popular plants that love coffee grounds. It is rich in vitamins, yet unlike other plants, it is packed in its renowned red stalks.
It is a sun-loving plant that requires 3 to 4 feet spacing and well-drained, organically rich, moist soil. Perfect harvest time is when the leaves reach about 7 to 15 inches long.
How to Feed Them
Several people believe that rhubarb can cure mouth ulcers and is great for the mouth and gums. It is a strong and vigorous plant that requires some energy boost all the time.
You feed them by adding a little used coffee during planting and continue every three to four weeks until time for harvest. Serving them some used coffee grounds when you pick stalks will enable them to produce new ones.
10. Potato (Solanum tuberosum)
Potato is almost like tomatoes; they are both similar genus and require energy and coffee grounds. It is a sun-loving species that needs 12 inches of spacing and is usually due for harvest every 60 to 200 days, depending on the potato. It thrives in well-drained, rich organic matter such as loam or sandy loam.
How to Feed Them
Like energy banks, the roots under the ground require many nutrients to develop. Sprinkle coffee ground into the soil before cultivating your potatoes.
Then, do it every four weeks till the harvest period, and you will be sure of the larger and more nutritious plant during harvest. Potatoes prefer very loose soil to enable their roots to grow without barriers.
11. Peppers (Capsicum annuum)
A little plant of bell peppers tends to bear massive fruits compared to its size, thanks to coffee grounds that will enhance this phenomenon.
It is a sun-loving vegetable plant that requires the brightest area of your garden and a spacing of about 18 to 2 inches. Its harvesting period ranges between 60 to 90 days, and it loves loam or sandy loam but well-drained and organically rich soils with a pH of 6.0 to 6.8.
How to Feed Them
As we mentioned earlier, the coffee ground will help peppers to grow numerous fruits and, within a season, will produce tiny plants with two leaves to adults with hard stems and amazing fruits.
They also consume a lot; hence, it's best to sprinkle them regularly with coffee grounds. Begin immediately after planting them and do so again every month till their fruiting season.
12. African Violet (Saintpaulia ionanthia)
African violet is a houseplant that is so tasty with its fleshy leaves and beautiful blooms, which is more interesting given that it is a potted plant. it loves bright but indirect light and can reach 8 to 16 inches tall and wide.
It requires 50% peat moss or substitutes, 25% perlite, and 25% vermiculite. It is another perfect plant for freshly used coffee grounds.
How to Feed Them
African violets need a lot of energy and nutrients, so it would be best to provide them with a bit sprinkling of used coffee grounds, particularly when you notice that they lack energy and vitality. It will make them appreciative and grow very fast.
13. Jade Plant (Crassula ovata)
The Crassula ovata, commonly known as the jade plant, is lovely, thanks to its green or yellow leaves resembling stones. It features a very Japanese look, and you can imagine placing it side by side with a tea ceremony. However, it loves coffee instead, as coffee grounds will flower regularly.
Jade plants prefer bright, indirect light and well-drained cactus potting soil. if you plant them indoors, they will not grow beyond 3 or 6 feet tall, but in their natural jungle, you can expect them to reach 30 feet tall.
How to Feed Them
Quite simple!!! You only need to apply a small number of coffee grounds to the potting mix every six months or one year. It will be enough to ensure regular and vigorous flowering.
14. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum spp.)
The peace lily is a favorite houseplant that can receive additional shine to its glossy leaves and a little coffee ground boost for its lovely flowers. It is a vigorous and fresh-looking specie that will do best with additional vitality.
Peace lily will do best in medium to moderate indirect light conditions even though it can survive some shade areas. It can grow up to 2 feet tall and 1 foot spread. The best potting mix for this plant is 50 % coco coir, 25% perlite, 15% orchid bark, and 5% charcoal.
How to Feed Them
Peace lilies have a very high nitrogen level, which is essential for their leaves and growth. Therefore, it would be best to provide some used coffee grounds immediately after it has come out of its dormancy and once you discover that it has begun to flower.
15. Daffodils (Narcissus spp.)
It is quite a surprise that even daffodils that many associates with spring as coffee grounds. They are sweet-scented blooms that are undemanding.
In several gardens, all you must do is grow a few bulbs and be patient until they propagate and offer you lots of fresh-smelling blooms every spring.
Daffodils are sun-loving species that thrive in full sun or partial shade conditions and can reach 1 to 2 feet tall.
Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8, depending on variety, this unique plant can adapt to several soil types, be it loam, sand, clay, or chalk-based, as long as it is well-drained and aerated. This plant is a perfect plant for used coffee grounds.
How to Feed Them
If you want your daffodils to produce the best result possible, you must feed them by sprinkling coffee grounds over the soil at the end of the winter season. This period is when they are getting ready to wake up.
Conclusion
From the article above, it is easy to understand why coffee grounds are essential to a plant's health and growth. Amongst other beneficial matters, they contain the basic NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium) that most plants need for the best result.
However, you will need a proper application to ensure they produce the best effects on any of the plants mentioned above. Happy Gardening!!!
