Do plants and gardens like coffee grounds?

Question

Is it ok to dump my coffee grounds in my plants and seedlings. Some people have told me the plants like it and others have told me they don't. What's the scoop.

Answer 1

Coffee grounds and even room-temperature coffee can give plants a shot of nitrogen, which prevents plants from getting sickly and keeps leaves green and not yellow.

Unless the plants are very sensitive to pH, the mild acidity of coffee isn't going to hurt them that much, and other materials (such as wood ash, epsom salts or gypsum) can be added to cancel out the acidity.

Most vegetables and berries enjoy a mildly acidic pH anyhow, so it should be great!

Answer 2

Using coffee grounds in the garden is a great way to add organic matter to your soil. Coffee grounds are also a good source of nitrogen for your garden soil. Being naturally acidic in nature, used coffee grounds are wonderful for acid loving plants such as roses, blueberries, camellias, azaleas, rhododendrons and even viburnum. Should you want to use coffee grounds in the garden on plants that do not appreciate the acidity, you may need to add a limestone supplement. Don't add too thick of a pile of coffee grounds or mold may develop. A nice thin layer of coffee grounds around the trunk of the plant is all that is needed. One more added benefit of using coffee grounds in the garden is that earthworms love the used coffee grounds. They will feed on the coffee grounds and in turn aerate and fertilize the soil around your plants. You'll always enjoy the rewards of using coffee grounds in the garden.

Doc

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Do plants and gardens like coffee grounds?
Is it ok to dump my coffee grounds in my plants and seedlings. Some people have told me the plants like it and others have told me they don't. What's the scoop.

Answer 4

Others have already covered Ph changes so I only offer two bits of advise;
Refrain from putting large amounts of grounds near your high foot traffic areas as there is a stale coffee odor best reserved for distant flower beds, etc.

Check out your local Starbucks. Mine gives away twenty or so pounds of grounds at a time free for the asking.

Answer 5

It really depends on the plants - some like acidic conditions, whilst others like alkaline conditions. Those that like coffee grounds would like acidic conditions - such as blueberry bushes, roses, strawberry plantsa azaleas and rhododendrons.

Here is a list that helps you see what likes acid or alkaline soils:
http://www.bachmans.com/tipsheets/Specialty_Gardening/PlantsforAcidAlkalineSoils.cfm

Read this forum about coffee grounds as a planting medium (compost) also:
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/lab/msg022139567362.html?27

Read this also:
http://www.gardensalive.com/article.asp?ai=793&bhcd2=1176316372

Answer 6

Just saw Martha (UGH) on the Today Show yesterday. Any acid loving plants will benefit from this. The trick is to determine what plants love acid.

Answer 7

I didn't post this question, but I was curious about it, so thanks for everyone's responses. The cafe at Borders actually packages their used coffee grounds into 5 lb. bags and gives them to customers for their gardens. I got one, but I wasn't sure if it would be good for the plants I have. From reading this, it seems my azaleas are going to love me.

Thanks again!

Answer 8

coffee grounds are good for making compost.

Answer 9

yes. they are particularly good for vining plants. it keeps them up.