Don’t rush to throw away the coffee grounds after drinking the beverage since they can also be used to benefit plants.

Coffee grounds for plants have more valuable properties than gardeners may initially think. Coffee contains a lot of micronutrients and can be used as an organic fertiliser for plants. 

However, gardeners can not just pour it into the soil, it is necessary to know how to use it effectively. Melvin Cubian, a gardening expert at PlantIn has shared why coffee grounds are good for plants and how they can be used in the garden.

The expert claimed that coffee is good for plants as it contains the minerals plants are in need of. Melvin said: “Coffee beans are rich in minerals such as magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium. 

“Phosphorus and potassium improve yields, and nitrogen is involved in photosynthesis, which helps plants grow faster. Ground coffee is excellent for both house and garden plants.”

As gardeners have only begun to use coffee grounds in planting quite recently, only a few people know about this unique and useful substance, so here’s how to correctly use it.

How to use coffee grounds as a natural fertiliser 

If plants need nitrogen fertiliser in the garden, have a look at coffee. Melvin said: “Coffee grounds are valuable as a fertiliser for plants containing nitrogen and other elements. In its nitrogen content, coffee grounds are equal to grass clippings.

“It’s hard to overstate the importance of nitrogen for soil, especially for plants, for which nitrogen is a vital element. 

“Nitrogen leads to faster plant growth, strengthens the stem, and helps in chlorophyll production. Therefore, natural nitrogen for plants becomes an excellent fertiliser.” 

Used coffee is also an “excellent source of nitrogen for composting”. It contains about two percent of this element, and with the right proportions, gardeners can make “great” compost.

If gardeners decide to use coffee grounds as fertiliser, it is essential to follow proper watering techniques. The soil must dry out well to prevent the appearance of mould.

How to compost with coffee grounds

Compost is the most effective organic fertiliser for plants. It is suitable for any type of garden and for nourishing houseplants.

Melvin explained that coffee grounds are added to compost to “speed up the process of maturation”. 

He added: “They act as nitrogen compounds that start an exothermic reaction in the compost heap, which warms it up considerably and thereby ripen the compost much more quickly.”

How to use coffee grounds as mulch 

Coffee grounds are also used for mulching to prevent the soil from drying out, protect against pests, and improve soil quality. 

To mulch garden plants with coffee grounds, cover the soil around the plant with well-dried coffee grounds and water sufficiently. 

Melvin explained: “Each watering will release nitrogen from the coffee grits and penetrate into the soil with water, soaking the plant’s root system, thereby strengthening it and protecting it from pests.”

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Post source: Express