Nobody likes to throw away leftover coffee that has become cold and undrinkable. If you have any acidophilic plants, in the garden or in your pots, you can recycle the leftover coffee to make a nourishing treat. Coffee contains several nutrients these plants will love, including potassium, calcium, nitrogen, phosphorus, and other minerals.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Check the Compatibility of Coffee with Plants
Step 1. Do some research to find out if your plant is acidophilic
Check the type of plants you have to see if they can properly absorb acid products. Many herbs and houseplants lend themselves to this liquid coffee treat. These are some examples of plants you can spray a coffee blend on:
- Spider plants or Phalangium;
- Rose;
- Hydrangeas;
- African violets.
Step 2. Use the coffee grounds on other plants
In addition to using liquid coffee, you can also recycle coffee grounds which are beneficial for certain plants. For example, you can combine coffee grounds with soil, compost or fertilizer. These products can then be given to plants such as the following, to encourage their growth:
- Lettuce;
- Gardenia;
- Azalea;
- Hibiscus.
Part 2 of 2: Making Coffee and Using It on Plants
Step 1. Prepare the coffee as usual
Decide if you want to make regular or strong coffee, as this will determine how much water you need to use next.
Step 2. Use only coffee, without adding other substances
Consume, store or discard any coffee that has been mixed with sugar and / or milk.
Step 3. Dilute the coffee
Mix 3 parts of water and 1 part of coffee.
- For example, if you have 1 cup (240 ml) of coffee left over, mix it with one and a half cups (360 ml) of water.
- The amount of water can be a little more or a little less, depending on how strong the original coffee is.
Step 4. Pour the diluted coffee into a spray bottle
Step 5. Water the plants
Choose a day of the week to apply the diluted coffee to the plants. Coffee can be quite acidic, so it will be necessary to use it sparingly compared to plain water.
Start with small amounts. It is better to just give a little and understand how the plants react, rather than overdoing it and causing problems for the plant. You can increase the dosage slightly until you realize that it is enough
Advice
- On wihiHow and on the Internet you can find different methods of using leftover coffee in the garden.
- It is also useful to know the pH of the soil, so as to avoid making it too acidic for the plant.
