Can You Water Plants with Diluted Coffee? Find the informative answer in this post and make your plants thrive at a low cost.
There are so many people around the world who begin their day with coffee for an extra boost to stay fresh. But have you ever thought this applies to plants as well? For that alarming kick, Can You Water Plants with Diluted Coffee? Find the answer below.
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Can You Water Plants with Diluted Coffee?
Using coffee as a fertilizer is not new. Many gardeners put coffee grounds in compost, where it mixes with other natural stuff to make great soil.
This is about coffee grounds, not the cold cup of coffee on your desk. Now the question arises– Can you water plants with regular coffee? The answer is that coffee grounds have about 2 percent nitrogen, which is good for plants. When you compost grounds, it brings in tiny organisms that break down and release nitrogen, making the compost useful for plants.
Brewed coffee also has magnesium and potassium, which are important for plant growth. So, it seems like a good idea to water plants with coffee. But don’t use the coffee in your cup with cream, flavoring, sugar, or sugar substitute. Real sugar is okay, but milk or fake creamer is not good for plants. We don’t know what artificial sweeteners might do to plants, but it’s probably not good.
Remember to mix the coffee with water before watering your plants, and don’t add anything else to it.
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How to Water Plants with Coffee
Coffee is a bit sour, with a pH level of 5.2 to 6.9, which means it’s a little acidic. Most plants like slightly acid to neutral soil, around 5.8 to 7. Tap water, on the other hand, is a bit more alkaline, with a pH higher than 7.
To make things right for your plants, you can dilute your brewed coffee with the same amount of cool water. Let the coffee cool down first. Then, mix it with an equal amount of water and use it to water plants that like a bit of acidity in their soil, such as:
- Blueberries
- Azaleas
- African violets
- Gardenia
- Hyacinth
- Impatiens
- Amaryllis
- Cyclamen
- Phalaenopsis orchid
- Roses
- Hyacinth
- Impatiens
- Begonias
- Bromeliad
- Aloe
- Gladiolus
- Ferns
- HydrangeaThis way, your plants get a little treat with the right acidity without any fuss.
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Direction for Watering Plants with Coffee
- When you’ve mixed your coffee with water, use it to hydrate your plants, just like you would with regular tap water.
- Be careful! Only use this coffee mix for plants that like a bit of acidity in the soil. Don’t use it every time you water, though.
- Too much acidity can make plants sick or even die.
- If you see the leaves turning yellow, it might mean there’s too much acid. If that happens, stop using the coffee mix and consider repotting your plants into different containers.
Coffee is excellent for many indoor flowering plants, and you can also use it outdoors. The diluted coffee gives your plants a little organic boost, making them grow better and look healthier.