How to Use Coffee Grounds For Plants

Coffee grounds are a natural resource that you can reuse to make fertilizer teas, a soil amendment or even as a weed deterrent for your garden. They are a great way to save money and reduce your waste output while still making your garden look amazing!

Uses for Grounds

One of the most common uses for coffee grounds is to add them to potting soil or compost. They contain the essential nitrogen and other micronutrients that plants need. These nutrients help promote plant growth, enhance flavor, and keep the roots moist.

It’s also a good source of potassium and magnesium, which are important for flowering. They can be added to a homemade potting soil mixture or blended into your own garden nutrient mix to make a slow-release fertilizer.

The pH of raw coffee grounds is very acidic, which means they should never be directly applied to a plant without first diluting it. They can also eat away at beneficial soil bacteria, which can cause the plants to grow poorly.

Shift Soil pH: For example, roses, azaleas, lilies and hollies are acid-loving plants that thrive in coffee grounds. These plants can be mixed into the soil to shift it slightly.

Mulch: Combine fresh or composted coffee grounds with shredded dry leaves, grass clippings, or straw and spread around the base of plants to suppress weeds, retain moisture, and keep roots cool in summer.

Avoid using ground coffee as a thick mulch, since it compacts and forms a barrier that stops water and fertilizer from penetrating the soil. Sprinkle grounds only a few inches deep and cover them with a 2-4 inch layer of other organic matter, such as shredded bark, wood chips or compost.