22.06.2024

Coffee grounds are a natural fertilizer – here’s how to use it to make your plants grow faster

By Lesia


There are a wide variety of chemical fertilizers for plants. Made to feed them and accelerate their growth, they are obtained from synthetic molecules. But despite their effectiveness, these fertilizers can harm the environment and health. In an eco-responsible logic, gardening lovers are increasingly turning to organic fertilizers made from plant or animal waste. Composed of fine beans, coffee grounds can be recycled and have multiple uses. If you are passionate about gardening but want  to grow your vegetables without using chemicals  , there are some very effective natural fertilizers.

Both economical and eco-friendly, coffee grounds are used by organic fertilizer enthusiasts to grow their plants without the need for chemical fertilizers.

Read also: Your plants will grow twice as fast thanks to this natural fertilizer

How to prepare ground coffee to stimulate plant growth?

Some waste that you throw every day in the trash at home can be recycled to fulfill natural tricks. Like nettle manure, banana peel or eggshells, coffee grounds are a compost activator and can enrich the soil with nutrients. For better fertilization of plants and for the growth of young shoots, you can get an organic and nutritious fertilizer based on coffee grounds.  All you have to do is mix  this fertilizer  with soil or potting soil. or spray it directly at the foot of green or flowering plants or in your flower boxes before watering them. If you want to store your coffee grounds, wait for them to dry and then place them in an airtight bag in the refrigerator for the proper development of your plantations.

Ground coffee, an excellent natural fertilizer

With nitrogen and several minerals, including phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium, coffee grounds have nutrients that improve the compost mix and accelerate plant growth. In fact,  the nutrients available in coffee grounds improve the quality of seedlings  by boosting the growth of young roots and stimulating plant flowering. According to a study presented at the Escola Superior Agraria de Bragança, the application of coffee grounds in lettuce plantations would considerably favor the production of foliar biomass and stimulate the growth of plants in the garden or orchard.

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Thanks to its slightly acidic pH, this residual powder can be beneficial in growing tomato, orchid and hydrangea plants. In fact, its acidity accentuates the color of the flowers and fruits and offers beautiful flowering to your trees and shrubs. In addition, it allows worms to direct organic matter to compost piles and  facilitates the transformation of plants into compost.  If you have a vermicomposter that sorts organic waste, you can simply place coffee grounds in it to activate it.

In addition, coffee grounds are a natural repellent against insects, aphids and parasites. It also repels mosquitoes, snails and slugs that could damage plantations. Thanks to its smell, this organic fertilizer protects plants from pests that may devour them. However,  excessive use of coffee grounds can encourage the appearance of weeds  . Also, wait until the coffee grounds are completely dry before using them in compost or soil to avoid mold.