Don't be quick to toss out leftover coffee when it cools down! If you have plants in your garden or pots, you can take advantage of this liquid to enhance their nutrient environment. Coffee is rich in essential elements for plants, such as potassium, calcium, nitrogen, and phosphorus.[1] X Source
Make Sure Your Plants Love Coffee
Step 1. Determine if coffee is suitable for your plant.
Ensure that your plant can tolerate coffee. Research its type and find out how it reacts to acidic substances. Many herbs and houseplants will happily receive coffee. Here are some plants that will benefit from coffee:
- Climbing vines
- Hydrangeas
- African violets.
Step 2. Apply coffee to other plants.
You can water other plants too. The liquid absorbs quickly, while the coffee grounds remain on the surface. They can be mixed with soil or fertilizer for specific types of plants. Later, this mixture will help with the growth of the following plants:
- Gardenias
- Azaleas
- Hibiscus.
How to Prepare and Use Coffee Mixture
Step 1. Brew coffee as usual.
Make coffee as you normally would. Decide on the strength you want, keeping in mind that you'll need to add some water later.
Step 2. Use only plain coffee.
Be sure to use only black coffee. Beverages with added sugar or cream are not suitable.
Step 3. Dilute the coffee.
Dilute the coffee by adding 120 ml of water to achieve the desired consistency.
- For example, if you have 240 ml of leftover coffee in your cup, add 350 ml of water.
- Adjust the water volume based on the strength of the brewed coffee.
Step 4. Pour the mixture into a watering can or spray bottle.
Step 5. Water the plants.
Choose one day to water your plants with coffee. This is a powerful fertilizer, so use it less than regular water.
- Start with a small amount. It's better to water the plants a little and observe their reaction. The key is not to exceed the safe limit of coffee.
