Coffee grounds are a gift that keeps giving, from the heavenly flavor they provide beverages to high caffeine content. But that’s not all; coffee grounds have essential nutrients necessary for plant growth. Therefore, consider fertilizing your plants with it instead of disposing of it.
However, not all plants are equally receptive to coffee grounds as a soil amendment. So the question is, which plants like coffee grounds and which don’t?
In this post, we will explore 20 plants that thrive when coffee grounds are incorporated into the soil, as well as a few that should be kept away from this caffeinated treat.
20 Plants That Like Coffee Grounds
Before exploring a few plants that don’t particularly like coffee grounds, let’s first handle plants that like coffee grounds.
1. Roses
Roses, also called the queens of the garden and coffee grounds, have a blooming partnership. It benefits rose bushes by improving soil structure and promoting healthy growth, with its slightly acidic nature complementing the soil preferences of roses.
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2. Azaleas
I bet you know these acid-loving plants for their captivating and vibrant blooms that grace gardens with a burst of color each spring. Enrich the Azaleas in your garden with coffee grounds to create an acidic, nutrient-rich, and well-draining soil environment, and you will enjoy spectacular blooms year after year.
3. Blueberries
With their sweet-tart flavor and numerous health benefits, blueberries have become a favorite for many. However, you must provide them with specific soil conditions that mimic a Blueberry’s natural habitat. Enter coffee grounds – an unexpected yet effective ally to help create a flourishing blueberry plant collection.
4. Camellias
Like Azaleas, Camellias prefer slightly acidic soil conditions, so coffee grounds are an ideal supplement for their growth. To enjoy Camellias’ breathtaking blooms and enduring beauty, provide them with proper care, quality soil, and nutrient-rich coffee grounds.
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5. Hydrangeas
The stunning, voluminous blooms of Hydrangeas transform gardens into large, colorful blue, purple, pink, or white havens during the warmer months. Hydrangeas’ ability to influence their flower color based on soil pH is genuinely captivating; for instance, add coffee grounds for breathtaking blue flowers.
6. Lilies
Are you enthusiastic about Lillies and looking to enhance your collection’s health and vitality of their blooms? Coffee grounds is an unexpected yet effective solution. For example, coffee grounds contribute to a favorable pH environment for these plants, supply essential nutrients, deter pests, and suppress weeds.
7. African Violets
Coffee grounds contribute to African Violets’ overall well-being and charm by fostering optimal pH levels, enriching the soil with nutrients, and promoting beneficial soil activity. By enhancing their health and vibrancy, your indoor spaces will embody a touch of nature’s elegance year-round.
8. Ferns
The forest floor where Ferns naturally grow is acidic. So, what can you do to make the soil at home more conducive for these versatile plants that are suitable for your indoor and outdoor spaces? Introduce coffee grounds. It helps boost these captivating plants’ health and charm.
9. Christmas Cactus
Coffee grounds can be your secret ingredient to growing healthy, stunning Christma Cactus, thus bringing a touch of festivity and color to your home. With care and ideal growing conditions, a Christmas Cactus can produce many gorgeous flowers. After all, the vibrant blooms are its main attraction.
10. Jade Plant
Add moderate coffee grounds to your Jade Plant’s potting mix once a year or every six months to encourage regular and vigorous blooms. Besides boosting the beauty of these cherished succulents, coffee grounds also make them more resilient.
11. Snake Plant
Snake Plants love a coffee treat from time to time, so consider incorporating coffee grounds into your care routine. Apart from enhancing soil structure, coffee grounds contain valuable nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, which contribute to healthy leaf growth and overall plant vigor.
12. Cyclamen
You can transform your outdoor and indoor spaces into enchanting displays of beauty with Cyclamen, thanks to their dainty and distinctive blossoms. However, these plants must be healthy to achieve your desired look, which is where coffee grounds come in. It enriches the soil and provides the required acidity levels.
13. Daffodils
While Daffodils are low-maintenance, undemanding plants known for their sweet-smelling flowers, they could use some coffee grounds. Therefore, reward them with coffee as winter ends to aid their growth, vibrancy, and beauty.
14. Rhododendrons
The acidity and nutrient content of coffee grounds can massively benefit your Rhododendrons, helping them generate stunning blooms. Spread coffee grounds around the base of your rhododendron plants to lower the soil pH and create a more suitable environment for their growth. It can also help retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and provide nutrients.
15. Holly
Your acidic-loving Holly bush will absolutely relish some coffee grounds as the extra nitrogen boost will stimulate growth, helping these plants withstand winter temperatures. Coffee grounds will also come in handy, especially if you’re aiming to create or maintain slightly acidic soil conditions.
16. Sunflowers
The Sunflowers is another coffee grounds-loving plant. Coffee grounds contribute to vigorous growth, vibrant blooms, soil structure, water retention, and nutrient availability. It will help nurture radiance in your sunflowers, helping generate towering stalks and vibrant, sunny flowers.
17. Tomatoes
If you have ever planted tomatoes, you know they require plenty of water and food, but they will reward you with juicy tomato fruits. Tomatoes benefit from the nitrogen content in coffee grounds, promoting vigorous growth and higher yields. On top of that, ensure they get plenty of sun.
18. Carrots
Carrots thrive in a variety of growing conditions, but you can help enhance these conditions for a higher yield and bigger carrots. Used coffee grounds during the planting period will provide the seeds as well as seedlings with nutrients, particularly nitrogen, and boost their growth.
19. Radishes
Typically, you don’t have to wait long before you enjoy the unique flavor of Radishes in your cooked dishes and salads. However, you can give them a head start using coffee grounds during the three weeks between seeding and picking. Do so, and you’ll see a huge difference in their growth and production.
20. Potatoes
For potato tubers to swell considerably, they require lots of energy, so ensure your potatoes grow in well-draining soil with plenty of organic matter. In that case, consider adding coffee grounds prior to planting the potatoes and then every four weeks until harvest time.
Plants That Don’t Like Coffee Grounds
Now that you know the various plants that benefit from an injection of some coffee grounds let’s take a look at those that don’t like this nutrient-rich substance.
1. Lavender
Lavender plants thrive in well-draining, non-acidic soil that doesn’t retain excessive moisture. Unfortunately, coffee grounds can retain moisture; hence, they are unsuitable for lavender. Moreover, they could alter the soil’s pH, rendering it more acidic.
2. Asparagus
You can only grow asparagus under specific soil conditions. Adding coffee grounds to it may not be ideal since this plant prefers slightly alkaline to neutral soil with a pH ranging from around 6.5 to 7.5. Coffee grounds are often somewhat acidic.
3. Cacti
Considering cacti flourish in dry conditions, coffee grounds’ moisture-retaining qualities won’t do them any favors. Excessive moisture retention can cause root rot in cacti. In addition, the caffeine in coffee grounds hinders cactus growth.
4. Pothos
Adding coffee grounds to this popular houseplant may harm them because of moisture retention and compacting effects. Pothos prefers soil that lets excess water escape easily and is well-draining.
Also, good soil aeration is essential for the health of pothos roots. Coffee grounds, especially in large quantities, can compact the soil and reduce its airiness, potentially affecting Pothos’ root health.
5. Orchids
Orchids don’t have nitrogen-breaking down organisms, so you risk harming your Orchids by adding coffee grounds to the soil. Also, whereas Orchids need weel-aerated, fast-growing soil, coffee grounds can compact it and impact its drainage and aeration properties.
Additionally, coffee grounds can hold onto moisture, leading to excessive dampness around the orchid roots and increasing root rot risk.
6. Rosemary
Acidic soil isn’t ideal for Rosemary, so adding coffee grounds to its potting soil can do more harm than good. However, if you are adamant about adding it, dilute it first to neutralize the acidity.
Remember that excessive use of coffee grounds might lead to compacted soil and hinder proper drainage, which can negatively affect Rosemary’s root health. Therefore, use it moderately.
7. Mums
You can lower the pH of your Mum’s potting mix by adding coffee grounds, making it more acidic, which isn’t ideal for this decorative plant that prefers a well-draining soil with 6 to 7 soil pH. This shift can negatively impact your plants, including their blooms, so it would be best if you avoided it.
Final Remarks
The organic matter, acidity, and nutrient content of coffee grounds can contribute positively to the soil’s structure and the plants’ overall vitality. However, before using this valuable asset on your precious plants, recognize that not all plants thrive under the influence of coffee grounds. Luckily, with our list above, I reckon you now know where to use it.
Hey there, fellow plant enthusiasts! I’m Rachel, the green-thumbed writer behind Rooted In Garden. With a deep-rooted love for all things botanical, I’ve made it my mission to help you cultivate a thriving collection of houseplants. As a devoted plant parent myself, I understand the joys and challenges that come with nurturing these leafy wonders. Whether you’re a succulent aficionado, an orchid enthusiast, or simply adore all potted flora, join me on this journey as we explore the secrets to growing and caring for our beloved green companions. Together, let’s create a flourishing oasis indoors.